Why Community is the New Currency for Digital Creators

In the past, digital creators only needed to create great content and gain thousands of followers. However, in an era when the reach of organic content is decreasing and social media platforms are considering engagement rates when recommending content, influencers and creator CEOs need to think outside the box. One way they can do that is by building a thriving loyal community that grows and makes a long-term impact.

A Community vs. Audience: Key Differences

Suppose you have social media followers on your personal or Facebook business page. In that case, it's easy to conclude that you have a community, but that's more of an audience than a community. That means your followers can be classified as an audience or a community.

An audience is a group of people who consume your content for knowledge or entertainment. On the other hand, an online community is an audience that is highly engaged with your page, connecting with the brand at a personal level and providing feedback.

A community is often a shared space where members engage online with one another, showcasing their creativity and passion. An audience can be essential for increasing views, but a community helps people keep coming back to your community, increasing brand loyalty.

Why is Building a Royal Community Important

There are several reasons why digital creators should create a loyal community. These include:

Bigger Authenticity

There is a difference between having many followers and building a strong community. While followers may subscribe and later leave, a community will stick with you in the long-term. It's not there just to like that one post before scrolling past. They are more interested in your brand, its journey, and what it stands for. Such a relationship helps build authenticity and trust.

When you focus on creating authentic content as a creator, you can attract people who will connect with your values, lifestyle, or messages. Such a community is more likely to support you, engage with your posts, and share them with your friends. With social media users having a lot of content, having a tight-knit community has never been more critical.

Long-term Engagement

A strong community isn't just there to engage with your content. It is there to interact with one another. Such a community will comment on your posts, share them, and even offer advice to one another. This means that engagement is more than superficial likes and shares. It helps members feel that they belong somewhere, and that they can be seen and heard by digital creators and other users.

When your social media page receives more engagement, it will grow more organically. When other social media users see the high level of engagement in your community, they will be curious to know what's driving such high engagement. You will have new followers who are more than just passive participants.

Longevity and Sustainability

One of the characteristics of social media trends is that they don't last long. However, one thing that doesn't change is the power of strong relationships. Once creators focus on building a strong relationship with their audience, they invest in their future.

Even when a social media creator changes platforms, their community will follow them to their new one. For instance, a creator can move from a podcast to YouTube, and their dedicated community of followers will still follow them. Such a level of loyalty offers creators stability in an area that sometimes feels unpredictable.

More Support Than Engagement

A close-knit community offers creators more than just engagement. It is also there to provide them with the financial and emotional support they need. This could be donations, buying their merchandise, or even collaborating on projects. In other words, your community members are more likely to invest in your posts, making them your champions rather than just consumers.

We have many digital creators who were strongly supported by their communities during hard times. The community also celebrated with them when they won and gave them essential feedback that helped them to improve. On the other hand, creators also offer their community financial and emotional support. 

Lasting Impact

Digital creators with a large and dedicated following are often best positioned to define trends, shape thoughts, and drive societal change. A close-knit community helps to amplify this power. You will have a dedicated group of followers who believe in your mission and values. This could be in areas such as increasing awareness for a specific cause, supporting local businesses, or promoting sustainable living.

A community helps to make your voice louder and provides a clearer message. Such collective power increases a community's impact on both its members and the creator.

How to Turn Your Audience Into a Community

While there are different ways to build an online community, one of the easiest is to turn your audience into a community. You can do that in several ways, such as:

Share Personal Stories

Personal stories and moments can help you bond with your audience easily, as they have a way of bringing people together. Members will open up and also share their stories. You can even go a step further and ask your audience to share their stories. This can provide insight into the type of content your audience is interested in.

Offer Rewards

There is no doubt that social media users love freebies, whether in the form of discounts, giveaways, or even early access to your community. This can be an excellent strategy for encouraging social media users to share your content, taking your brand to the next level.

Interacting with Your Audience

When your social media users see your questions and comments, make sure you respond to them. Doing that will show them that you are listening. It can also take the dialogue to the next level as they will feel more welcome. When your audience provides feedback, incorporate it into the content. This will show your members that you value their contributions and are ready to meet their needs.

Host Events

When creating a community, also ensure that you provide members with opportunities to interact with one another. This could be through meetups, webinars, and forums. For instance, you can also host a live stream on a platform like Instagram or a webinar. This way, you increase interactions and engagement among the members. Connecting with your community also enables you to showcase your brand and what it stands for. Such events will also help you gain more followers.

Final Thoughts

It has never been so important to create online communities. A 2023 Statista study showed that there will be over 5 billion social media users by 2024. This means it is now harder to make your content stand out. The good news is that online communities can solve this problem by offering personal and targeted interaction within a community. This ensures long-term relationships, increases brand recognition, and builds your revenue stream.