“Connecting to another is one of the most important things in the world and you can keep expanding that connection – one person, a family, a community, a country, a society, a culture.”

— Eric Fischl

Why is Building Community So Integral to Business?

According to a 2018 study by Cigna, almost half of Americans report feelings of loneliness and isolation. Now, as we approach the end of nearly three years of pandemic life, people are craving community more than ever. And with the rise of decentralized technologies, the need for authentic and engaging communities has never been more important. For creative brands and enterprise businesses, building a community for clients and customers is crucial for success. But building a community requires more than simply bringing people together or accumulating product sales. People want to be part of a community that shares something they feel passionate about, something that makes the world a more connected experience. Being part of a community gives us a sense of belonging and purpose, and brands should strive to create this kind of experience for their audiences.

According to a 2019 study by Vanilla Forums, 90% of brands reported using feedback from their communities to improve products or services, and 68% said their community had helped them create new leads. Furthermore, 57% of brands said that their communities had led to an increase in brand SEO. A company's community should be a place of growth opportunity, brand trust and loyalty, exponential marketing, and future sales. By cultivating a strong, authentic community, brands can build lasting relationships with their customers and clients, while increasing their reach and impact in the market.

How is With Community Different?

As an experienced facilitator and designer, I specialize in developing one-of-a-kind, immersive tools that cultivate human connection. From ideating gathering spaces to executing memorable experiences, my focus is on bringing vibrancy, happiness, and a sense of community to all attendees. While logistics are crucial, my primary goal is to create events that spark excitement, unity, and a feeling of belonging. I collaborate closely with event planners to craft experiences that unite like-minded individuals and leave a lasting impression on all involved.

One standout example of how to build an engaged and loyal community is Daybreaker, the wildly successful sober sunrise dance party. They've managed to convince adults to wake up at 5am on a weekday, don glitter, sequins, tutus, and animal costumes, and dance before work. Daybreaker has been able to scale to 25 cities per month for eight years, which is a remarkable achievement. I'm proud to call the creators of Daybreaker my dear friends, and I was one of the people they originally had to convince to attend their events!

So, how did Daybreaker do it? They make their community feel included in big decisions, engaged between events, use connective rituals as part of their run-of-show, and leave people feeling 'alive', 'joyful', 'expressed', 'excited to meet new people', and so much more. The key to Daybreaker's success is that they create an experience that makes people feel connected and positive in a way they're not used to feeling. This leads to word-of-mouth marketing that brings new people to their events, and keeps the existing community coming back for more.

These "feelings" are what I will create for your business's community!

As a community expert, my focus is on creating meaningful connections and positive experiences for your and your target community. I believe in going beyond just the numbers and instead, using different communication platforms to create a ‘physical’ space in a digital world where your community can gather and connect on a deeper level. I strive to create bespoke experiences that center around your brand and company, while keeping the needs and interests of your unique audience in mind. By focusing on how we want people to feel and who they will connect with, I help you build a community that is loyal, engaged, and invested in your brand.

Whether you're starting from scratch or building on an existing community, I'll use refined means of communication, data research, user feedback, and specialized events to create exponential growth and deep loyalty for you. And with my help, you can offer your customers the kind of in-person activations and experiences that they won't get from your competitors.

Think of me as your community Genie in the Lamp, guiding both new and already loyal people into deeper connection with one another, while centered around what your brand or company offers. Let's create a community that people will rave about and keep coming back to!

Let's Build Together

CRITICAL COMPONENTS

Leads to Community Satisfaction

Achieving impactful community satisfaction is essential for businesses, and the key lies in creating the perfect product that aligns with their needs. By constantly gathering feedback and making improvements, it is possible to make this integration. Successful brands are leveraging communities to continually ask for input on pain points, desired improvements, and expectations. The beauty of this approach is that feedback is given freely and is genuinely helpful in creating better products & expereinces.
Reliable Community Discovery

Communities are a crucial factor in facilitating growth for businesses. They provide invaluable and honest feedback, helping brands gain a deeper understanding of their customers' needs and desires. False advertising does not resonate with customers, but authentic and demonstrable promises do. Brands that treat their customers as a community and engage with them, can expect to be rewarded with loyalty and user-generated content such as reviews and comments, which are viewed as more authentic.
Creates Brand Loyalty

Building a loyal customer base/community is key to success. While gaining new customers is important, keeping current ones engaged is just as crucial, if not more so. In fact, having a group of loyal customers is more valuable than a large number of one-time purchasers. This is due to the high cost of acquiring new customers - according to Harvard Business Review, it can be up to 25 times more expensive than retaining an existing one. Research by Accenture has also shown that two-thirds of customers are willing to spend more on brands they are loyal to. As individuals invest more time and effort in a product or service, they develop a stronger attachment to it. For creative brands and enterprise businesses, this means that prioritizing customer engagement and loyalty is a wise investment that can pay off in the long run.
Brand Awareness Growth

Each year, millions of dollars are poured into brand awareness campaigns. However, if you have a dedicated community, you can relax and let your members take care of spreading the word. Your brand community will passionately share their personal stories of how your brand has positively impacted their lives, resulting in maximum exposure. Word-of-mouth remains the most effective way to promote and grow a business, with 84% of people trusting recommendations from friends or personal referrals. Therefore, having a loyal brand community is more crucial than ever. Although building a loyal brand community requires patience and trust, it is undoubtedly worth the effort.