How being active in a global community empowers your brand by Valerie Forgeard

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The Power of Community for Building a Brand: A Session with Valerie

Introduction

Welcome to our blog post where we dive into the enlightening session led by Valerie, a seasoned community builder and brand consultant based in the UK. In her session, she dug deep into the intersection of community building and brand development, highlighting the often underestimated power of being part of a productive community. Let's dissect the key findings together.

Community and Brand Building: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Have you ever thought about the connection between community involvement and brand building? As Valerie outlined, they go hand in hand! A community is about people and connection. Engaging in a community presents opportunities for brand development, strengthening connections, and raising awareness. In essence, it becomes a platform where your brand or business can interact with potential customers and stakeholders on a more personal level, fostering meaningful relationships.

The Multiple Benefits of Community

In her talk, our expert broke down the multiple layers of advantages that come with being an active part of a community:

  • Learning: You can learn a range of skills or niches from marketing to technology.
  • Networking: You get opportunities to connect with various interested individuals.
  • Making a difference: Every community has a purpose, and being involved offers a chance to contribute positively to that mission.

She concluded this section by stating, "communities really are all about connecting, learning, giving."

Understanding Community Members: Active vs Passive

For a deeper connection with your community and reaping more benefits, Valerie advises understanding the two types of community members: active and passive. Active members are the ones who participate in all activities while passive members prefer to observe. Both have unique values and can contribute significantly to your business or brand.

Community Tips for Success

During the session, Valerie highlighted some crucial elements that could help you make the most out of your community membership:

  • Always check the community's mission, vision, and values before joining.
  • Explore how to get involved in the community.
  • Try to balance both social connection and professional networking.

Avoiding Common Community Mistakes

She also underscored some behaviors to avoid when partaking in a community environment, including

  • Not reading the vision, mission, or values of the community carefully.
  • Constant self-publicity, which may feel invasive to others.
  • Creating competition with other community members that might cause unnecessary strife.

The session ended with an interactive Q&A session where attendees asked their burning questions. To delve deeper into topics related to communities, visit [insert links here], where you can access Valerie’s articles on community building.

Conclusion

Community involvement can be a gold mine for resources and connections when leveraged correctly. As Valerie expertly explained, building a brand is not solely about marketing or selling a product; it's also about making genuine connections with people who share a common interest. By participating in a community, you're given the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of individuals, learn valuable skills, contribute to a shared vision, and ultimately, build up your brand organically.


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