How to Successfully Turn Event Attendees into a Community

What is an online community?

The world of communication has fundamentally changed with the rapid expansion of new social media such as TikTok and Discord. One of the most notable developments of this era is the emergence of online communities.

Definition of an Online Community

An online community is a group of people who network over the Internet and share common interests, goals, or activities. These groups can come together on a variety of platforms, such as forums, social media, blogs, or specialized websites. Members of an online community interact with each other by sharing information, resources, ideas, and experiences. They can also participate in discussions, ask questions, and provide answers to share knowledge and support.

Advantages of an online community

1. Knowledge exchange and information sharing: online communities enable the exchange of knowledge and information between their members. They provide access to a wealth of resources and experiences that would otherwise be difficult to access.
   
2. Networking and collaboration: an online community offers the opportunity to make contacts and build relationships with people who have similar interests or professional goals. These networks can lead to collaborations, partnerships, or even friendships.
   
3. Social support and sense of belonging: Online communities provide a platform for social support and a sense of being part of a group. Members can share their concerns, successes and challenges and help each other.
   
4. Brand and business promotion: For businesses, online communities are a valuable resource for building their brand, getting customer feedback, and promoting their products or services.

5 Steps from Webinar Attendee to Community Member

In this section, we present effective steps to successfully integrate your event's attendees into a vibrant and engaged community on a virtual event platform.

1. Create value and interaction during the webinar

To encourage attendees to become part of your community, it's important to provide them with value during your online event like a live webinar. This includes not only providing useful information, but also creating an interactive environment and welcoming culture. Encourage communication between attendees by including chats, polls and Q&A sessions. This will make attendees feel more involved and more likely to stay engaged after the event.

2. Offer exclusive content and benefits

To get live webinar attendees to join your community, you should offer them exclusive content and benefits. This could include access to additional resources, such as e-books, checklists, an exclusive newsletter, or recorded webinars. These incentives make it attractive to become part of your community and can help keep your participants active.

3. Set up an online platform or group

Some online event apps like Veertly, dedicated online community platforms, or a group (e.g. on LinkedIn, Facebook, or a dedicated website) are great places to nurture your community and encourage sharing among members. Invite webinar attendees to join your group and ensure from the start that everyone feels comfortable actively participating in the conversations to maintain engagement.

4. Communicate regularly and stay authentic

Regular and authentic communication is critical to keeping your community members interested and engaged. Send updates about upcoming events, share interesting articles or studies, and ask for feedback on your webinars. Be sure to also respond to comments and questions from your community members to build a real connection with them. Very importantly, offer your help to members in the community and create an atmosphere of mutual support.

5. Organize regular events and activities

Regular online events and activities can help keep your community engaged and build member loyalty. We have plenty of other ideas for hosting successful events. Schedule regular webinars or online workshops on relevant topics and invite your community to attend. You can also organize networking events, virtual coffee meetings, or thematic conferences and discussion groups to promote exchanges between members and build a stronger connection within the community. Good examples for putting this into practice successfully are the playstation community events and the Fortnite community events, but many other brands and topical communities are doing it as well!

The best strategies for monetizing your online community

An online community can be a valuable tool for bringing like-minded people together on ONline platforms or even in the physical, sharing information and building relationships. But if you want to effectively monetize your online community, there are several strategies that can help you generate revenue while maintaining value for your members.

1. Membership fees: One of the easiest and most effective ways to monetize your online community is to introduce membership fees. You can offer different membership levels, each with different benefits and exclusive content. This way, you can offer both free and paid membership options to meet the needs of different members.
2. Advertising and sponsored content: Advertising revenue can be an important source of income for your online community. You can use banner ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing to generate revenue. Make sure the ads and sponsored content are relevant to your community and not too intrusive so as not to detract from the user experience.
3. Selling digital products and services: Selling digital products and services, such as e-books, online courses or webinars, can be another lucrative way to monetize your online community. Make sure that the products and services you offer meet the needs of your community and add value.

3. Events and workshops: Hosting events, such as online workshops, webinars, or virtual conferences, can be both beneficial to your community members and a source of revenue. You can sell tickets to these events or enter into sponsorship partnerships to generate additional revenue.
4. Partnerships and collaborations: Another way to monetize your online community is to enter into partnerships and collaborations with companies or industry experts. These partners can promote their products or services in your community or provide special offers to your members. In return, you receive a commission or a share of the revenue generated by your community.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed strategies to integrate webinar attendees into an engaged community and promote long-term retention. The role of an online community was also addressed, focusing on its importance for sharing knowledge, making new contacts, and strengthening your brand. Finally, we looked at monetization strategies that can help you maximize the value of your online community and generate additional revenue for your business or organization.

In summary, the key to success in these areas is the combination of the right technical solutions, an engaged community, and a clear strategy for monetization. By carefully selecting webinar software, integrating attendees into your community, and implementing effective monetization strategies, you can build lasting relationships, strengthen your brand, and increase the long-term value of your online events.

Photo by Emma Dau on Unsplash