1/ How to build a thriving web3 community. 🧵
2/ It's 2021, and people are unlocking unprecedented value in communities. The kind you would never sell.
And with the additional financial and social incentives enabled by web3, the benefit of finding your tribe has never been so rewarding.
We are entering a renaissance.
And with the additional financial and social incentives enabled by web3, the benefit of finding your tribe has never been so rewarding.
We are entering a renaissance.
3/ Creating that kind of value is one of the most difficult things you can accomplish. It is a delicate balancing act, and you are competing in a fierce attention economy.
In my opinion, it it more difficult than building any startup.
Here’s what I’ve learned. 👇
In my opinion, it it more difficult than building any startup.
Here’s what I’ve learned. 👇
4/ Don’t silo
It can be tempting to organize people into niches. But communities thrive on exposure to new ideas. When people with diverse expertise interact, they learn, and there is exchange of value.
Some people love organizing more than engaging—don’t fall into this trap.
It can be tempting to organize people into niches. But communities thrive on exposure to new ideas. When people with diverse expertise interact, they learn, and there is exchange of value.
Some people love organizing more than engaging—don’t fall into this trap.
5/ Distribute points of failure
The beauty of communities is they are not dependent on any one individual. The more you can reward responsibility to leaders with vision, the more de-risked and diversified your community will be.
Don’t take on all the responsibility.
The beauty of communities is they are not dependent on any one individual. The more you can reward responsibility to leaders with vision, the more de-risked and diversified your community will be.
Don’t take on all the responsibility.
6/ Create memes
As themes emerge within the community, codify them with memes.
Creating symbols and iconography around insider experiences reinforces kinship. It’s also a vital form of marketing.
Don’t be too serious.
As themes emerge within the community, codify them with memes.
Creating symbols and iconography around insider experiences reinforces kinship. It’s also a vital form of marketing.
Don’t be too serious.
7/ Centralize engagement
Your new Discord server does not need 15 channels.
Instead, create a single hub of engagement. When the time comes, the community will let you know exactly what to build next.
Your new Discord server does not need 15 channels.
Instead, create a single hub of engagement. When the time comes, the community will let you know exactly what to build next.
8/ The Discord problem
Are you sure you even want to be on Discord? You’ll be competing for attention.
Ask whether your project is better suited for Telegram or WhatsApp, where it’s more likely that members are opening the app specifically for your community.
Are you sure you even want to be on Discord? You’ll be competing for attention.
Ask whether your project is better suited for Telegram or WhatsApp, where it’s more likely that members are opening the app specifically for your community.
9/ Think like a media company
To keep members coming back, communities need fresh content.
Try sprinkling in materials that your members are already posting on Twitter. Share polls, trends, and your authentic reaction to industry news.
Keep the conversation flowing.
To keep members coming back, communities need fresh content.
Try sprinkling in materials that your members are already posting on Twitter. Share polls, trends, and your authentic reaction to industry news.
Keep the conversation flowing.
10/ Let it ride
There can be so much alpha shared in communities that members get FOMO. This is a true sign of a thriving community.
Highlight key topics, but don’t obsess over documenting everything. A little chaos keeps things natural.
Don’t overthink.
There can be so much alpha shared in communities that members get FOMO. This is a true sign of a thriving community.
Highlight key topics, but don’t obsess over documenting everything. A little chaos keeps things natural.
Don’t overthink.
11/ Leverage authenticity
Communities can spring up overnight, but they’re usually led by individuals who have spent months (if not years) developing domain expertise.
Lean into your specialty, and show up with it every day. Like a magnet, you'll attract the same.
Communities can spring up overnight, but they’re usually led by individuals who have spent months (if not years) developing domain expertise.
Lean into your specialty, and show up with it every day. Like a magnet, you'll attract the same.
12/ Community size is a vanity metric
Fact: There are group chats with 20 people creating more value than Discords with 10k members.
If your chat looks like this, it’s not a community—it’s a multi-level marketing model.
Don’t play the numbers game.
Fact: There are group chats with 20 people creating more value than Discords with 10k members.
If your chat looks like this, it’s not a community—it’s a multi-level marketing model.
Don’t play the numbers game.
13/ Share wins, spotlight your members
Shout out every community win from the rooftops. Share every testimonial. Show the world that every member in your community is deserving of honor, and you will form unbreakable bonds.
When your community wins, ring the f*cking bell.
Shout out every community win from the rooftops. Share every testimonial. Show the world that every member in your community is deserving of honor, and you will form unbreakable bonds.
When your community wins, ring the f*cking bell.
14/ Never shill
Promotion is hard, and it can be tempting to resort to hype mechanics. But shilling for quick pumps will only devalue your brand.
If you have to give away ETH, whitelist spots, or tweet engagement farming hacks, you are not a community—you are a lottery.
Promotion is hard, and it can be tempting to resort to hype mechanics. But shilling for quick pumps will only devalue your brand.
If you have to give away ETH, whitelist spots, or tweet engagement farming hacks, you are not a community—you are a lottery.
15/ Change your mind, speak your mind
Every community begins with a vision, but as its needs come to light, it’s critical to change course. Don’t assume what people want… let them tell you.
However—don’t decentralize yourself out of leadership. Own your point of view.
Every community begins with a vision, but as its needs come to light, it’s critical to change course. Don’t assume what people want… let them tell you.
However—don’t decentralize yourself out of leadership. Own your point of view.
16/ Put a price on it
If your community is driving exceptional value, consider charging for it.
Not every group should be gated—but I believe that community work should be rewarded.
The beauty of web3? Members can participate in that upside.
If your community is driving exceptional value, consider charging for it.
Not every group should be gated—but I believe that community work should be rewarded.
The beauty of web3? Members can participate in that upside.
17/ Diversity
If your community doesn’t represent diversity, it represents the status quo.
The last thing we want web3 to stand for is the reinforcement of norms that have held back underrepresented people from participating.
Let people in, or get out of the way.
If your community doesn’t represent diversity, it represents the status quo.
The last thing we want web3 to stand for is the reinforcement of norms that have held back underrepresented people from participating.
Let people in, or get out of the way.
18/ Thx for reading. Follow me @chriscantino for more on web3 and growing community.
And if you’re interested in joining mine, check out @CPGclub!
And if you’re interested in joining mine, check out @CPGclub!
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