Modern technology is moving at such a fast pace, to the point that we’re all pretty much-becoming tech robots. Beep.boop.beep.
Seriously though, all terrible introductions aside, technology is pushing us all into a new era of digital transformation. Leadership executives, organizations and even people who just want to make a difference in the world are now building huge online communities in order to educate, share, and collaborate with their members.
Through solid community management, creators are able to engage and inspire their audience by producing unique and individual experiences for people around the world. This allows them to build on opportunities for improvement in overall customer experience, or growth through the power of digital transformation.
Definition: Online Community
Online communities can also be referred to as internet communities, web communities, or ‘the holy place’. Their purpose is to allow interaction between the key influencer who keeps community management on top, and members who interact with each other primarily via the online world (and not just through memes).
For many people, online communities give them a sense of home, when done right, it can be compared to something similar to having a family of invisible friends, and regardless of what your mom might say, no that doesn’t make you a loser.
Reason 1: For Businesses
Online communities do so much more than just fill that lingering void of hopelessness. Especially in the business world. They provide companies with so many outstanding benefits and allow customers to get even more value from a product or service. Along with so many other benefits, by making use of solid community management strategies, businesses are able to gain vital customer feedback and learn things about themselves in the process in order to create better roadmaps for future products and services.
Reason 2: Social Collaboration
When you bring people of the online world together through community management, you’re able to use the platform to discuss new ideas, figure out problems, and find unexpected solutions. And, no, when we say internet problems, we’re not talking about something like why isn’t eleven pronounced onety one. Seriously, people do ask this, just google it. At its most basic level, you’re able to use the power of digital transformation and online communities to socially collaborate with people online who have the same interests and hobbies as you. When skilled and enthusiastic individuals who have the same passion work together to make a positive difference, everyone wins.
Reason 3: Become a Key Influencer In Your Online Community
In this particular case, becoming an influencer doesn’t mean that you need to have a picture of yourself in a sea of wildflowers or look fabulous with 100 filters on your picture.
A big part of becoming an influencer in the world of community management is to make your audience feel appreciated. When you show your online community that you value them and their engagement and find ways to reward and celebrate them, you’ll find that they start to interact and engage with you even more; ultimately allowing you to influence them. Share success stories result from existing customers, encourage every single person to share user-generated content and reviews to strengthen what you have to offer. This is all a big part in allowing you to create raving fans.
Not only that, but you should be fully prepared to listen, gain vital feedback, and connect with your online community on a deeper and more emotional level. It’s a given, if your audience feels connected to you, they are so much more likely to consistently interact and even purchase what you have to offer.