Building an organic community is the goal for many companies in today’s digital marketing environment. Getting more likes, shares, and comments is the goal and many have attempted to buy this kind of engagement. Creating content to go viral and adding more followers can become something of an unhealthy obsession that can cloud judgement and lead some to down a slippery slope. When your focus becomes solely fixed on adding likes, followers, comments instead of communicated with a real audience you start to loose the purpose of digital marketing. Your messages are only effective if your online community is made from legitimate human followers. Don’t fall into the ego trap by buying a online community. Instead cultivate a real organic community through hard work and consistent content.
Like all things organic it tastes a bit better, its more healthy, and it takes more work. Building an organic online community is no different. With each piece of content you create strive to add a little value. You can gauge the effectiveness of this value by having a strong understanding of who your target audience is and what they want. Through blog articles, videos, and posts you can create a conversation with your community that both promotes your business and adds value to your community. This conversation is your way to convert customers. You cannot build this kind of communication with a paid-for community. The organic method of community building is the only way to create this kind of engagement so don’t short sell yourself.
To build your online community stick to this four part plan.
Attract- Search for and follow your target audience online and anyone who is like them.
Engage- Engage your new audience with creative, informative, and entertaining content.
Inform- Educate your audience about your brand and how your brand is in alignment with your community.
Convert- Ask your audience to be apart of your brand by creating a call-to-action. Tell your community what you want them to do, how to do it, and when they should do it.
