There is no one correct answer to this question — a community can be a group of people with common interests, beliefs or values - or it could be a group of people living in the same space. “Community management” may seem new, but in fact, community is as old as the hills and has existed since the first humans walked the Earth. Communities have one amazing effect in particular, and that is giving the feeling of a trusted and safe environment where people can participate socially and talk to others with similar interests more inclusive.
"In a community, everyone’s voice can be heard. That’s why communities are more important than ever. Many people feel lonely because of COVID-19 isolation, and may be feeling as though they have lost true connection in our technologically connected world. Communities help them change that, by creating a sense of belonging."
From a psychological point of view, this sense of belonging is what makes human life worth living. So, communities are primarily about building long-term relationships.
But why are communities so important for the business world? A community gives your company a competitive advantage because the most valuable thing is loyal customers. The business objectives are varied — brand awareness, relevant and truthful feedback on your product or service, better customer experience, retention, and increasing sales.
Business helps cultivate our environment and society. If you implement community building in your business strategy you get a powerful combination with which you can lead the world towards a better tomorrow and achieve a positive impact.
As Romain Aubert wrote in his article: “Community is an asset. Your community is your asset."
Quick copy/paste from Oxford dictionary: “An asset is an economic resource. Anything tangible or intangible that can be owned or controlled to produce value and that is held by a company to produce positive economic value is an asset. Simply stated, assets represent value of ownership that can be converted into cash.”
Remember that building a community is all about caring for your members and trying new things to keep them engaged. Do not hesitate to build your own community and don’t give up if something does not go as expected. Building community is one of the most powerful ways to change the world we live in. Are you up for it?
