So you want to build an online community with your members? Way to go! After all, connecting your members is also a core digital task for your association. Now, how do you do this? If you're looking for practical advice on starting and growing your online community, check out these 10 tips, which I shared in a knowledge bank file for DNA - The Dutch "association for associations". Here's the 10 tips in short: 1. Develop a strategy 2. Ensure relevance to both your target audience and your association 3. Build the community together with your most active members 4. Get commitment from the board, management and your entire organisation 5. Consider your organisation’s position within your sector’s ecosystem 6. Facilitate and amplify your association member’s existing culture 7. Find and cultivate common denominators 8. Consider offering a digital marketplace for your sector as part of your online community 9. Take your time, opt for organic growth 10. Keep it simple ?? Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e2wFdTuA Do you feel anything is missing? Please share! (Tagging some Community Consultants Collective friends: Catherine Hackney, Todd Nilson) Thanks for the opportunity to contribute Maureen van Gent - Verschoor and Cécile Veldman! #OnlineCommunity #associations #futureproof
#3 and 9 are my favorite and a few of the most important things to do for a sustainable and highly engaged community! Thanks for sharing, Mathijs! I would also add to see how you can incorporate volunteers in your community, maybe a mentoring program to provide extra value, and events to connect community members in real time.
Dank je wel voor jouw waardevolle bijdrage!
Community & Talent Strategist | Driving B2B & Nonprofit Growth Through Engaging Online Communities and Digital Workplaces
6 个月I emphasize the discovery and validation elements of this list, Mathijs Vleeming. That would include #2, 4, and 5. Understanding members' needs, internal expectations and goals, and the overall ecosystem for your vertical or category are critical to success of your strategy. What would I add? I think I might offer #11, having a plan for Accountability. How will you measure and communicate the success of the strategy. I would not wait until the community has launched to address these questions. As soon as I know what the organization's goals are for the community, I would be documenting them and suggesting metrics that will speak to these, along with a cadence for reporting that fits the organizational culture.