What's cooler than a big community?
A high-affinity one.
How we built a high-affinity community:
A high-affinity one.
How we built a high-affinity community:
Quick backstory...
In 2020, I co-founded @FosterCoWriting.
We're a community of writers who edit & contribute to each others' work.
Since launch, we've helped 100's of writers collaborate on thousands of pieces of writing.
These are the community principles we've followed:
In 2020, I co-founded @FosterCoWriting.
We're a community of writers who edit & contribute to each others' work.
Since launch, we've helped 100's of writers collaborate on thousands of pieces of writing.
These are the community principles we've followed:
1. Define a clear purpose
A purpose is the core reason a community gathers.
But most communities never define this. They only pick a category.
• Category: “We're a community of designers”
• Purpose: “...who help each other find better clients.”
Purpose guides everything.
A purpose is the core reason a community gathers.
But most communities never define this. They only pick a category.
• Category: “We're a community of designers”
• Purpose: “...who help each other find better clients.”
Purpose guides everything.
2. Run a tight door
The quality of your community is a direct function of who you say "no" to.
At @FosterCoWriting, you can't join unless you've already published work without our help.
This attracts dedicated writers.
Better to pour gas on a fire that's already burning.
The quality of your community is a direct function of who you say "no" to.
At @FosterCoWriting, you can't join unless you've already published work without our help.
This attracts dedicated writers.
Better to pour gas on a fire that's already burning.
3. High-Friction attracts High-Affinity
Once you've established an admissions bar, add strategic friction to the member experience.
At @FosterCoWriting, you can't view anybody else's writing until you share yours.
This is partly a test for who cares.
Once you've established an admissions bar, add strategic friction to the member experience.
At @FosterCoWriting, you can't view anybody else's writing until you share yours.
This is partly a test for who cares.
https://twitter.com/DruRly/status/1430222506988695553
But strategic friction does another thing:
It guides new members to the core ritual of your community.
In @trends_vc, members post daily standups.
That's the right type of friction for who they serve: entrepreneurs & creators seeking clarity and support from peers.
It guides new members to the core ritual of your community.
In @trends_vc, members post daily standups.
That's the right type of friction for who they serve: entrepreneurs & creators seeking clarity and support from peers.
4. Charge money!
Charging money is a measure of value, but it also:
• Projects a sense of worth
• Makes members commit! (Gym Effect)
• Gives you resources to improve the experience
Offer scholarships and sliding scale prices to help out qualified people tight on cash.
Charging money is a measure of value, but it also:
• Projects a sense of worth
• Makes members commit! (Gym Effect)
• Gives you resources to improve the experience
Offer scholarships and sliding scale prices to help out qualified people tight on cash.
5. Early on, don't obsess over growth
The value of your community is determined by the *quality* of the contributions members make.
Focus on nailing the core member experience early on. @ycombinator ran tiny batches for years.
Conveniently, this makes growth 10x easier.
The value of your community is determined by the *quality* of the contributions members make.
Focus on nailing the core member experience early on. @ycombinator ran tiny batches for years.
Conveniently, this makes growth 10x easier.
6. Small behaviors self-replicate
New members will replicate whatever behavior they see in others, especially from leaders in the group.
So, do the things you want to see more of!
I edit an ungodly amount of drafts in @FosterCoWriting.
New members will replicate whatever behavior they see in others, especially from leaders in the group.
So, do the things you want to see more of!
I edit an ungodly amount of drafts in @FosterCoWriting.
Aaaand one more for fun:
7. Avoid building a cult of personality
Communities return massive ROI for their members because of their interactions with each other, not you.
Inject energy and momentum, but do it while spotlighting other members, introducing people 1-1, or otherwise getting out of the way.
Communities return massive ROI for their members because of their interactions with each other, not you.
Inject energy and momentum, but do it while spotlighting other members, introducing people 1-1, or otherwise getting out of the way.
/ Fin.
These are all things that have worked for us at various stages.
What did I miss, Twitter fam?
These are all things that have worked for us at various stages.
What did I miss, Twitter fam?
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
