When I first started

When I first started building a fragrance community around my video blog, FragranceTalk.com, I didn’t have a single member, follower, or fan.  It was hard trying to create a community from nothing, and at times I felt really lost. However, along the way I managed to connect with likeminded individuals and build a strong community to support my business.

Once my community was established, it was amazing how they were there to support my brand, becoming ambassadors and helping my business to grow. Members of my community are always the first to comment on my videos and blog posts and they’re always supporting me when I need it the most.  Building a loyal community takes time and effort, but it’s definitely worth it! Here are some tips to help you get your community started.

Decide who you want to be a part of your community

Knowing your community members is like knowing your target market; you want to make sure that you have the right people supporting you. Ask yourself these questions: Where do they spend their time online? What do they care about? What is their character? Where do they want to be in the future? 

Decide the focus of your community

Will it be your brand, a topic, or a social movement?  If it’s revolving around your brand, it’s a bit harder, because the community isn’t surrounded by a specific hobby or interest that draws your members in. My community members were interested in fragrance and that was all I needed to focus on – great fragrances that are unique and of high quality; fragrance lovers noticed and followed.

 

Building a community around your brand can be challenging, but doable – especially if you’re confident about your product or service and how it adds value. Focus on how your product or service benefits your customer. Perhaps you can relate it to something that your target market is interested in. For example, if you’re building a community around your maternity store, build a community of new mothers so they have a place to discuss and share pointers.  You could even focus it more, by building a community around eco-moms (mothers who buy and use only natural, eco-friendly baby products). Your options are endless as long as it relates to your business in a way that logically and effortlessly brings your brand to top of mind.