Community-building Book Review:
The Business of Belonging
The Business of Belonging by David Spinks
Over the past few months, a few Find Calm Here Community members have been meeting monthly to discuss this book. We’ve gone over a chapter or two during our book club meeting. You can grab his book here.
To say this is a good book for business owners who want to build an online community — is an understatement. This book is brand new (2021) and has extensive case studies, resources, and proven strategies that large corporations have used to build, launch, and grow their online communities.
I’ve met with David and several members of the CMX community. I enjoy David’s writing style; it is just like his speaking style: straightforward to understand.
I’ve compiled some of my favorite quotes, questions, and links to the CMX website with frameworks that have helped many companies build an online community. These frameworks can assist entrepreneurs in approaching community-building with logic and intentionality by aligning business and community goals.
Thought-provoking quotes
“Building community as a hobby is nice. But if you want to sustainably build a community at scale and expand beyond your abilities and resources, you need to consider it a business.”
“Some members might spend years in your community and never quite get to the point where they feel motivated to increase their commitment. And some members will move up and back down the curve as their life and needs change or the community changes.“
“For a large, mature community to work, you’ll ultimately need all four levels: leaders, a core group of power members, a consistent group of active members, and an often larger group of passive members.”
“An engaged community is an ecosystem of people moving up and down the commitment curve over time.“
“We intentionally avoided using jargon instead of using simple, accessible language. Many people used a negative tone when discussing the opportunity to work in community management, but we wanted to make CMX a positive, highly energized space. We wanted our community to feel relatable, down-to-earth, and fun. That personality shows up in everything from the copy on our website to the design of our events to how we welcome members into the community.”
Thought-provoking questions
What do you want them to know?
What do you want them to feel?
What do you want them to do?
Do people need this?
Who doesn’t belong?
Can you make your community space feel like a unique home for your members?
Do you want people to feel relaxed or energized in your space?
Do you want them to be productive, or do you want them to chill?
Community-building Frameworks and ideas for Building Community
21 Quick Tips for Fueling Engagement in Your Community
The CMX Social Identity Cycle: How to Build Thriving Communities
How to Increase Community Engagement: 9 Tips That Work
How to Create Inclusive Business Goals for Your Community
How to Re-Engage Inactive Community Members
The SPACES Model: The Framework for Defining Your Community’s Business Value
During our session, you can decide whether you want to focus on strategy or implementation as the primary focus. If you have a structure and a plan, we can discuss how to implement that better and improve your process. If you don’t have a structure or a plan, we can work to create a roadmap for the next 30,60 and 90 days.
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