Building Communities from Scratch or from Existing Ones

I created a Poll sometime this week to ask people about their opinions on Building Communities from Scratch or growing an existing one. If you are just reading this, it is never too late to share your insights on the subject.

Building a community from scratch is like trying to figure out what to paint on a blank canvas. In some ways, it offers an amazing level of freedom and creativity, but it also presents its own set of challenges.

Building from Scratch

Advantages of Building from Scratch:

1. Creating a community from scratch allows you to define its purpose, values, and culture without any inherited biases or constraints from the previous manager.
2. Early community members often become the most passionate advocates. Engaging with them directly helps lay a strong foundation of trust and loyalty.
3. Starting fresh means, you can experiment with strategies and pivot quickly without the need to align with pre-existing structures.

Challenges of Building from Scratch:

1. Attracting the first few members can be huge, especially when you do not have existing social proof; convincing people to join may require significant effort and a lot of patience, not just from you but from your team and your CEO.
2. Establishing a new community demands time, energy, and resources, especially during the early stages. However, some of these resources may be wasted, especially when experimenting with different strategies to determine what works best for your community.
3. The process of building communities from scratch involves trial and error, and success is not guaranteed. Let's tell ourselves the truth: Identifying the right value proposition for your audience takes time, and you have to be willing to keep at it till you figure out what works.

Growing Existing Communities

Expanding an existing community involves leveraging its existing structures to promote further growth and engagement. While it benefits from established structures, it requires careful navigation to respect the community’s history and identity.

Advantages of Growing Existing Communities:

1. Existing communities come with members, content, and a recognized identity, providing a solid foundation on which to build.
2. With a proven concept, the risk of failure is reduced compared to starting from scratch.
3. Leveraging the existing network effect and resources can make scaling more efficient.

Challenges of Growing Existing Communities:

1. Existing conflicts, outdated practices, or archaic mindsets can hinder progress.
2. Introducing new ideas while respecting the community’s history requires diplomacy and tact. You may be canceled by members if you are not careful about this.
3. If the existing community has experienced neglect or mismanagement, rebuilding trust may take significant effort. You have to be ready not to give up and to be consistent in rebuilding the community back to what it was or even better.

The results of my poll highlighted a split in preferences among community managers:

Interestingly, most of the Community Managers who took part in this poll expressed a strong preference for starting from scratch. This inclination likely arises from the chance to draft the community’s culture, structure, and goals right from the beginning. Additionally, there’s a sense of creative fulfillment that comes from watching their efforts develop and flourish organically.

Key Takeaways for Community Managers

1. Before you embark on your community-building journey, decide whether your objective is to create something entirely new or to enhance and grow what already exists.
2. Consider your time, budget, and expertise to determine which approach best suits your capabilities. Be sure to communicate with your company every step of the way. It may be difficult, especially when things do not go well, but just try.
3. Whether you are starting fresh or building on an existing community, prioritize the needs and experiences of your members. Their engagement is the cornerstone of any thriving community. Create useful engagement activities and also participate in those activities to motivate your community members.
4. Finally, be prepared to pivot and adjust your strategies based on feedback and evolving circumstances.

Truth be told, both approaches have their merits and challenges, and the right choice often depends on the specific context and goals of the community you are building. So whether you’re creating something entirely new or breathing new life into an existing group, the essence of community management lies in fostering connection, trust, and engagement. By understanding the nuances of each approach, community managers can make informed decisions that lead to vibrant, thriving communities.

I still want to hear from you. Has your mindset changed? Would you still prefer to build from scratch or build on existing structures? What are your reasons for choosing either?

Till I write to you again!

XOXO Lady Bella