10 Tips for Building an Online Community from Small Business Professionals Who Have Successfully Achieved It

I’ve got some awesome tips for you on building an online community. These tips come straight from small business experts who have done it themselves. So, get ready to learn from the best!

1. Be Authentic: When creating an online community, it’s important to be true to yourself and your brand. Show who you really are and let your unique personality shine through.

2. Listen and Respond: In order to build a strong online community, you need to actively listen to your audience. Pay attention to their needs, concerns, and feedback. Respond to their comments and messages promptly to show that you value their input.

3. Encourage Engagement: Engage with your community by asking questions, starting conversations, and encouraging them to share their thoughts and ideas. Make your community a place where everyone feels welcomed and heard.

4. Provide Value: Give your community members something of value. Share useful information, insights, tips, and resources that are relevant to their interests. Be a valuable resource that they can rely on.

5. Foster Connections: Help your community members connect with each other. Encourage them to interact, collaborate, and support one another. Create a sense of belonging and camaraderie within the group.

6. Show Appreciation: Acknowledge and appreciate your community members. Thank them for their contributions, highlight their achievements, and celebrate their milestones. Make them feel special and valued.

7. Be Consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to building an online community. Regularly post and engage with your audience. Be reliable and dependable, so your community knows they can count on you.

8. Be Patient: Building a thriving online community takes time and effort. It won’t happen overnight, so be patient and stay committed to your goals. Rome wasn’t built in a day, after all!

9. Be Positive: Positivity is contagious. Create a positive and uplifting atmosphere within your community. Encourage members to support and uplift one another. Spread good vibes and watch your community thrive.

10. Adapt and Evolve: The online world is constantly changing, so be adaptable. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends, techniques, and tools. Continuously improve and evolve your community to meet the ever-changing needs of your audience.

So there you have it, my friend! Follow these valuable tips from small business professionals who have successfully built online communities, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a thriving and engaged community of your own. Good luck!

In today’s competitive small business landscape, it’s crucial to find the perfect balance between in-person and online networking to achieve success. Building active and engaged communities that are loyal to your brand is a key factor in this equation.

While having an online presence is important, it’s equally important not to hide behind our websites, blogs, or social media platforms. Potential customers and existing clients want to connect with real people, individuals they can know, like, and trust. It’s essential to put a human face to the online image we promote.

The annual ICON15 Small Business conference, hosted and presented by Infusionsoft.com, is without a doubt one of the most valuable events for small business influencers, leaders, and owners. As a representative of USamerica.US, I had the privilege of attending this conference once again. During my time there, I had the opportunity to gather insights and conduct interviews with some of the incredible keynote speakers and session presenters.

Imagine a gathering of over 3,000 media professionals, small business owners, and inspirational speakers. Sounds pretty amazing, right? Well, that’s exactly what I experienced at an extraordinary event that felt like a big celebration for small business success.

During this incredible gathering, I had the opportunity to interview some of the absolute best in the business. Their wisdom and insights were so valuable that I couldn’t help but include one of the interviews in the video at the end of this article.

From podcasting to sales, focus to branding, and content marketing to video production, these small business leaders shared their personal journeys and poured their hearts out. They revealed the highs and lows of their experiences, their unwavering determination, and the immeasurable joy they find in building and running their own businesses.

Hey there, it’s me, Clate Mask, the CEO and Founder of Infusionsoft. You can call me @ClateMask.

I want to tell you about some changes I made this year to bring growth and peace into my life. It was an interesting journey, let me tell you!

So, here’s what I did. Firstly, I decided to boost my team by promoting someone and bringing in a new team member with more experience. It made a big difference. Secondly, I started meeting with a coach every week. This coach helps me look at things from a different perspective. It’s absolutely crucial for me to help other leaders be more powerful.

Now, let’s hear from John Lee Dumas, the awesome host of EntrepreneurOnFire Podcast. Find him @JohnLeeDumas.

I just love how Dumas gets so excited on his amazing EntrepreneurnFire podcast. He interviews the most inspiring Entrepreneurs every single day of the week!

The best thing about podcasts is that you can listen whenever you want. If you miss it, you can always go back and it’ll still be there. I don’t have to stick to someone else’s schedule anymore.

One of the people Dumas interviews is Wes Schaeffer, also known as The Sales Whisperer. He’s all about motivating sales professionals to be their very best. He shares sales ideas, tools for automation, and even has his own podcast called Think Like a Man. Plus, he has CDs, books, and gives speeches and workshops.

Before you talk to someone, make sure you understand what they’re thinking. Learn about them first so you can give them information they’re interested in.

Greg Head, CMO Infusionsoft.com, @GregHeadAZ

I’m in charge of marketing at Infusionsoft.com. I lead a team of awesome sales and marketing professionals who help entrepreneurs like you build successful businesses and live a great life. Our motto is Focus to Grow, and that’s exactly what we do.

Here’s the secret: instead of trying to reach everyone, focus on a smaller group of customers that you can serve really well. By narrowing down what you offer and using fewer strategies, you can actually focus more and grow your business even better.

Andrew Davis, BrandScaping.ca, @TPLDrew

I want to introduce you to Andrew Davis from BrandScaping.ca. He’s a talented guy who has worked with The Muppets and written for Charles Kuralt. He’s helped tiny startups and big Fortune 500 brands with their marketing. His new book, Brandscaping: Unleashing the Power of Partnerships, shares his smart and practical approach to growing small businesses.

Discover your speciality and concentrate on being something to someone.

Hello, I’m Carey Ballard, the Director of Content Marketing at Infusionsoft. I oversee our efforts in content marketing, which involves blogging, social media, and video.

Now, let me tell you about the importance of content marketing. It’s a powerful tool that can help you educate others and establish yourself as an expert in your field. You don’t have to create all the content yourself. Instead, you can be a content curator who brings valuable information to your community.

These insights come from Rohit Bhargava, a member of the Influential Marketing Group. He is an experienced marketer, speaker, trend curator, and author of popular books like Non-Obvious: Connecting Data to Action in a Data-Crazy World and Likeonomics.

One of the hot new ideas that’s gaining popularity right now is ‘glanceable content.’ It’s about presenting information in a way that grabs people’s attention quickly and holds their interest in a short amount of time.

I, Anita Campbell, the founder and CEO of USamerica.US, @US AmericaTrends, believe in this concept. USamerica.US is a highly regarded online publication that serves small business owners and entrepreneurs. We provide valuable information, breaking news, and invaluable advice on topics that are crucial to the success of small businesses.

But here’s the real secret to achieving success as a small business: perseverance. Too often, people give up too soon, just before things start to take off. That’s a big mistake! You have to stick with it and find ways to motivate yourself, no matter how tough things may get.

Let’s talk about Sognonvi and their awesome marketing strategy in Brooklyn, New York.

When you have a business in the neighborhood, it’s super important to get out there and connect with people face-to-face. That’s exactly what Sognonvi did! They used traditional methods like flyers, signs, and even set up booths at street fairs. This helped them gain their first 100 clients in just 6 months.

2015 Icon Small Business of the Year

Brian Young, Home Painters Toronto, @HomePaintersTO

Guess what? Brian Young from Home Painters Toronto was voted as the winner of the 2015 Small Business ICON Grand Prize by our awesome community! He scored a mega prize of $10,000 and there are even more exciting opportunities on the horizon for Brian to keep growing his business.

So, what’s Brian’s secret to success? Well, he says that having good role models has really made a difference for him. Whenever he’s feeling down, he looks to these role models for inspiration. Believe it or not, movies have also played a part in his journey. Brian is a huge fan of the movie Rocky, and whenever he watches it, he’s reminded that no matter how tough things get, there’s always a way to overcome them.

Now, I had the chance to sit down and chat with Clate Mask. Here’s a sneak peek of our conversation: