Do you want to be heard? 10 tips to create (and energise) a community

Creating a community is a must for any entrepreneur; we experience this daily at Santander X Explorer. However, bringing together a diverse group is no easy task—especially if, as often happens, it is done online without face-to-face interaction. While a large community can be divided into smaller ones, the questions surrounding its management remain the same: How to activate a group that has just been born? What can you do to maintain commitment? How can you ensure sustained interest and participation? Here are 10 tips to help you succeed:

1. Introduce yourself: Host a meeting (even better if it is in person) so that all community members can get to know you and each other. Let them know they are in a safe space to raise their concerns and that they are supported. For example, programme Coordinators often discuss with participants what they will do during the 12 weeks of Santander X Explorer, outlining the steps they should take to advance their projects.
2. Be patient: Not everyone will be able to attend meetings (online or otherwise) from the start. Building a stable community takes time—don’t give up.
3. Be disciplined: Even if it’s quicker, avoid solving queries whose answers are already on the platform or environment you wish to energise. Direct users to resources within reach and show them the tools they need to answer their questions. This will free up time for more valuable conversations with participants.
4. Identify common pain points: Schedule a special day or time to address them. Many group members may not have considered the problem before, but this will help them know how to solve it when they encounter it.
5. Encourage the community to engage in answers: Every perspective is valuable. This approach makes everyone feel like a key part of the group.
6. Create a direct communication channel with members (WhatsApp, for instance, or any messaging system that suits your needs). Ensure they don’t forget that the community is there to support them!
7. This virtual channel will keep them connected if they can’t attend in-person meetings, so it’s vital to keep it active with small games, polls, challenges, or questions.
8. Share content that may be of interest: We often use posts from our blog and social media.
9. Although this tip may seem obvious, it’s important: Respond to all interactions or questions, even if someone else in the community has already addressed them. Your input will add value to the discussion and encourage others to participate.
10. And as a special tip… we reveal the secrets of one of our Coordinators on how to connect with programme participants!

Photo by Helena Lopes in Unsplash.

Sources: https://www.idealist.org/es/accion/8-claves-dinamizar-comunidades-virtuales https://mariasajim.com/