How to Build a Thriving (and Profitable) Community Without the Freebie Seekers

Stop Giving It All Away: The Art of Authentic Community Growth

Introduction

Let’s get one thing straight—your community is not a daycare and you are not running a charity. If you want to build a thriving, engaged and (gasp!) profitable community, you need a strategy. That means being picky about who gets in, knowing when to show the door to energy vampires and striking the perfect balance between free content and paid exclusives. Buckle up, because we’re getting into the good, the bad and the “oh, honey, no” of community building.

TL;DR (Because Ain’t Nobody Got Time for Fluff)

• Be selective about who joins your community. This isn’t a free-for-all.
• Clients are part of the community, not just the audience. Treat them like VIPs.
• Freebies should serve a purpose. Don’t give away the whole cow when a taste of cheese will do.
• Repurpose content like a pro. Stop reinventing the wheel every time.
• Hybrid events are the future. Elle Kersey spilled the tea on making the switch.
• Upcoming hot topics: Small biz collabs, event promotions, and more repurposing gold.

Your Community is Not an Open House—Be Selective

Listen, we all want to be inclusive, but not everyone deserves a seat at your table. Your community should reflect your values and mission, not be a dumping ground for lurkers, complainers and folks who think “networking” means asking for free stuff. If someone’s not vibing with the culture? Bye. ??

Clients vs. Audience—Know the Difference

Your audience watches; your clients engage. A real community isn’t just a spectator sport—it’s interactive. Treat your clients like insiders, not just names on an email list. Give them access to the good stuff and let the freeloaders watch from the sidelines.

The Freebie Trap—Why Less is More

Dropping value bombs is great, but if you’re just handing out free content like Oprah (“You get a guide! You get a webinar! You get a soul!”), you’re doing it wrong. The goal? Strategic freebies that funnel people into your paid offers. Give them a taste, not the whole meal.

Repurpose Like a Boss (Ahem, Like Me)

Creating content from scratch every time? That’s amateur hour. I (Ericka) have mastered the fine art of repurposing—turning one piece of content into a dozen valuable touchpoints across different platforms. If you’re not doing this, you’re basically setting money on fire.

Like this newsletter so far? It's a repurposed transcript that I added my own 2 cents to. The transcript is from an event on Community wtih Elle Kersey, titled: Engage to Elevate: Building Communities That Drive Success. Catch the replay!

Hybrid Events: The Future is Now

Elle Kersey , knows what’s up. Virtual-only events were cute for a minute, "There Still Very Usefull By The Way!" but hybrid is where money is at. With the right tech and approach, you can engage both in-person and online audiences without sacrificing quality. More reach, more impact, more $$,$$$.$$

What’s Next? More Fire Content Coming Your Way

The conversation ended with a preview of what’s ahead—killer sessions on Small Business Collaborations, Better Together: Strategies for Effective Small Business Collaboration, With Thomas Ballard, PG, CHG and (surprise!) even more content repurposing. If you’re not already in the loop, it’s time to fix that.

Ready to Build a Smarter Community?

If you’re done playing small and ready to turn your community into an engaged, profitable powerhouse, it’s time to take action. Join us live on Friday's @ 10am ET. and get the strategies that actually work. Can't join us EVERY Friday morning? No worries, we also have a On Demand membership, Lucky You!

(Or keep giving away all your best content for free. Your call. ??)