Many business owners treat their social media accounts like a megaphone, using them as a platform to shout their marketing messages and hope someone hears. The result? Low engagement, stagnant growth, and a brand that feels disconnected.
But the most successful brands understand a powerful secret: social media isn’t just about broadcasting; it’s about building a community.
Community management is more than just posting. It’s about creating a space where your audience feels seen, heard, and valued. Here are three crucial lessons I’ve learned as a community manager that can help you authentically transform your brand and grow your audience.
Embed within your community:
Your community isn’t just a platform; it’s a living, breathing ecosystem where conversations are happening every single day. A huge mistake is to just observe from the sidelines. As a community manager, you must embed yourself within the community you serve and become integrated with it.
This means more than just liking comments. It means becoming a trusted voice and an active participant. By doing this, you’re in a prime position to collect valuable data and insights directly from your members. I make sure to report this feedback to business owners, providing insights on how to improve online products, services, or even business processes based on real-time community needs.
Don’t just focus on monetizing. Serve:
The biggest mistake an entrepreneur can make is to prioritize monetization over community. You’ve seen it before: groups or pages created solely to sell, with a stream of “one-way” marketing messages. The members either leave the community or call you out on it publicly. Both are bad for business and should be avoided at all costs.
There may be some initial sales from this approach, but there is little to no long-term benefit or repeat business. Remember the old saying: “It takes more to acquire a new customer than to sell to an existing one.” By focusing on serving your community first—by listening, engaging, and providing value—you build a loyal audience that will trust you when you do offer a product or service.
Don’t just listen, get the community involved:
Listening is a good first step, but it’s not enough. Building strong client loyalty means actively involving your community. This is how you win client trust and become a truly believable and authentic brand.
The challenge for every coach or entrepreneur on social media is to move beyond passive listening and start acting on what you hear. Get the community involved by asking for their feedback, running polls, and even co-creating content with them. This shows that you truly value their opinions and makes them feel like a part of your journey, not just a consumer. When you remember to be yourself and lead with authenticity, you make it easy for your community to trust you.
Ready to Go from Disconnected to Community-Driven?
Building a thriving community takes time and a clear strategy. If you’re tired of shouting into the void and are ready to create a loyal, engaged audience, you don’t have to do it alone.
My social media strategy-in-a-week service is designed to help you transform your online presence, build an authentic community, and attract your ideal clients.
