Written by: Kimberly Viera, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It's no secret that nurturing a vibrant community, or tribe, is key for a successful business today. Tribes are more than just a group of customers – they're loyal advocates, word-of-mouth champions, and a driving force behind your profits.
So, how exactly can you gather your own devoted tribe? By using these five expert strategies:
1. Connect through shared passions
While some may think building a tribe revolves solely around branding, the real magic lies in creating connections around common interests.
Especially if you're carving your place in a niche market, center your tribe around a shared purpose, passion, or goal.
Think about what a community will do for your members – and then build your community around that common benefit. For example, maybe your community:
Provides unwavering support for those grappling with chronic pain
Excites members with the latest in tech trends
Guides people to achieve goals, like shedding pounds
The key? Pick a purpose, and then seek to build a community around that purpose.
2. Make tribe members feel special
You want your community to feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves, a special part of a remarkable whole. Here’s how:
Give your tribe members a special name. For example, Oprah calls members of her spiritual group “Super Soulers” and has “Super Soul Sunday”.
Point members towards a cause. Help members feel important by making a difference. Link them to ways they can help a cause that’s related to your business – think dog lovers contributing to a disaster relief fund that’s designed to help dogs displaced by a natural disaster.
Offer tribe members “insider” stuff. Valuable things like exclusive content, discounts, opportunities, and access.
Send tribe members something by mail. Anything arriving in the mail goes the extra mile and will make them feel special – a “membership card”, special mug, t-shirt, poster, or stuff to show during a webinar.
3. Ask tribe members to invite others
This grows your community quickly, gets like-minded enthusiasts you wouldn’t have otherwise found, and creates a feeling of exclusivity if your community is “by invitation only”.
Incentivize your members by:
Allowing them to look generous to their friends and family (by letting them offer an exclusive gift like a discount or free ticket)
Helping them look cool (by being part of an exclusive club or trending movement)
Making them look smart or informed (Create something they can share that passes on great tips or insider information that makes them look smart to their friends and family)
Giving them a commission (set up an affiliate program and offer them 50% of each membership they bring in)
Offering them a deep discount (Two For the Price Of One / Do It Together)
4. Create a gathering spot
You want this to be a place where you and your members can interact with one another.
One easy way to do this is by setting up a Facebook Group. The advantage is that most of your tribe likely is already on Facebook, so there are no additional logins to remember (which would be the case if you set up a forum on your own site).
The point is, your gathering spot creates:
Knowledge Sharing: Members can exchange ideas, insights, and experiences, which can lead to increased learning and personal growth. The group becomes a platform for sharing expertise and gaining valuable information from others.
Support: Interacting within the group provides an avenue for members to seek advice, guidance, or emotional support from others who may have faced similar challenges or experiences. This supportive environment can be comforting and uplifting.
Engagement and Motivation: Interaction keeps members engaged and motivated. Active participation can stimulate interest, encourage ongoing involvement, and provide a sense of achievement as members contribute to discussions or help fellow members.
Credibility and Authority: A group with active interaction and engagement tends to be seen as more credible and authoritative. When members can share their experiences and learn from one another, it enhances the group's reputation as a reliable source of information.
Exponential Promotion: Active members are more likely to share group content, discussions, and events with their own networks, extending the group's reach and potentially attracting new members who are interested in your topic.
5. Be a presence, not a talking head
Every tribe needs a leader, and you’re that leader. But you can’t make a connection with your community if you’re not present. So be sure to make a point of being engaged and actively participating in discussions with your audience every day.
It is an ever-evolving relationship.
In a nutshell
Building a tribe doesn’t need to be complicated, but you do need to be consistent.
So put these tips to work for you starting today and build your own loyal, engaged, devoted, enthusiastic tribe that will propel your business to new heights.
Ready To Get Started? JoinTheEveolution.com
Kimberly Viera, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Kimberly Viera is on a mission to help every woman become financially independent and gain control over her life by starting an online business. As the founder of JoinTheEveolution, she helps women build transformational coaching and wellness businesses that earn them a sustainable living within a year while giving them the time and lifestyle freedom they've been dreaming of. Stop Letting Things Happen. Start Making Them Happen. Join the Evolution.
