It’s no secret that you need to build a tribe (AKA community) if you want to build a thriving business. Tribes are loyal, tribes help with word-of-mouth marketing, and tribes are very profitable.
So how do you start building your own tribe? By using these five tips and tricks…
1. Connect Around A Common Interest
Sometimes tribe builders make the mistake of trying to build a community strictly around their brand. That works if you have an established brand like Apple or Chevy. But if you’re looking to get established in a niche, then you need to build the tribe around a common purpose, passion or other interest.
So the point is, think about what a community will do for your members – and then build your community around that common benefit. For example, maybe your community:
• Supports each other in dealing with chronic pain.
• Shares the hottest tech trends.
• Helps members reach a goal, like lose weight or run a marathon.
You get the point. 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, something special. To that end, employ these tips where applicable:
• Give your tribe members a name. For example, Oprah Winfrey calls members of her spiritual group “Super Soulers.”
• Point members towards a cause. Make members feel important by pointing them towards ways they can help a cause that’s related to your business. For example, if you cater to dog lovers, then point them towards a relief fund that’s designed to help dogs displaced by a natural disaster.
• Offer tribe members exclusive and valuable items. This includes both content and discounts.
• Consider sending tribe members something via the mail. Anything arriving in the mail will make them feel special – but a “membership card” will really make them feel like part of your tribe.
3. Ask Tribe Members To Invite Others
This creates a feeling of exclusivity if your community is “by invitation only” at the beginning. But what’s more, it also ensures the “charter” members of your community are like-minded individuals who get along well 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).
5. Be Present
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 engaging with your audience every day via your Facebook Group or other gathering spot.
In Sum… 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 to start building your own loyal, engaged tribe!
