Building Online Communities

Amanda Lewan

Writer & Storyteller

Amanda@michipreneur.com

www.michipreneur.com

www.amandalewan.com

Michigan Startups & Creatives

Niche online publication

Publishing news, startup stories, interviews, and resources

85 Michigan based businesses

109 Resources

Live coverage of tech and startup events

Tech, Retail, and Food

• An online community unites us. It serves as a way to connect and inform others with similar interests. As a storyteller, I believe in creating art and work that unites others.

• Michipreneur Team• Amanda Lewan, Editor & Community Manager• Marc Hudson, Web Developer• Noelle Sciarini, Contributor• Lauren Ebalt, Contributor• Kyle Pollock, Contributor

Our Community

Let’s Get Digital

A quick history on this digital publishing thing.

Today’s Top Sites1448 – Print Press Invented

1792 – Ben Franklin, Pennsylvania Gazette

1846 – Associated Press Founded

1833- 1900 – Journalism becomes “big business”

1900-1974 – Weekly magazines, broadcast

1965- 1995 – Conglomeration of news

1999- Blogger.com launched, online journaling

2004 – Facebook is founded

2006 – Twitter and micro blogging movement

2006- Buzzfeed founded

2014 – Where are we now? Content Marketing (aka Digital Marketing) Media

All businesses and individuals are now media.

Alexa Ratingtop news sites by traffic.Technoratimost popular blog list.

Content MarketingDigital Media Trends

Lists (Listicles) Click bate – Upworthy Titles “Buzzworthy” – Detroit $500 house story Shorter and shorter content Syndication sites/Roundups Visual content

Instagram Pinterest

Rise of content marketing for businesses/individuals Blogs as community watchdogs, leads for national news

stories, connections to the local PR as social media too Hybrid traditional + digital pieces

NYT’s Snow Fall

Businesses

• Amex Open Forum Blog

• Shinola Blog + Storytelling

• General Electric – 6 Second Science Vines

• Ford Social

• Chalkfly Blog

Individuals

• Danielle Laporte

• Justin Musk

Starting Your Online Community

Content guidance for getting started, and growing.

Getting StartedValues To Grow By

1. Authenticity -- Is there a human connection?

2. Personality – Do I want to pay attention?

3. Reliability – Are you trustworthy and consistent?

4. Awareness – Are you listening?

5. Respect – Are you responding?

Community: Who are you trying to serve? What’s your larger story? What are they looking for online? What problems do you solve? How do you connect them with?

My larger story: grounded in place: growing Michigan’s creative community, uniting others in Detroit

1. Audience

2. Content Focus

3. Channels

4. Management

5. Reporting

Content Guidelines – create and identify the voice for your brand.

Writing Tips Blogging Basics – Types of Posts

Lists

Storytelling

Tips & advice

Case studies & examples

Interviews

Roundups (news/resources)

Guest posts

Video/visuals

In depth industry stories

Brainstorm

Subscribe to industry blogs/news

Create writing habit – weekly, daily, morning, night

Make it fun

Set deadlines

Think about timely, newsworthy links, or connections across industries

Write low energy posts when busy – longer/more in-depth when free

Take feedback kindly from editors, give clear, kind feedback to your writers

Think about seasonal stories

Resources Social Media

Voice of your business online

Social media is a part of your overall marketing strategy

Always be responsive, consistent

Use visuals

Encourage sharing, thank others

Get creative: monthly Tweet Chat, rewards, contests, user created content

Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Social Sprout, Recite, Tweet reach,

Facebook’s Business marketing

Twitter lists

Wordpress

Read up on marketing: Hubspot Blog, Content Marketing Institute, Social Media Examiner, Mashable, Copyblogger, Post Advertising Blog

• 33 Resources for your Startup (Michipreneur)

New favorite resource: free infographic templates

Growing Your Community

Echoing in a chamber of Tweets.

Content PartnersStrategies for Growing

Establish strategic content partners

Guest post for yourself/biz

Measure content and all posts, increase what you see working “lean startup approach”

Grow email subscribers & social following

eBook content or free content to download

Reward social sharing, check ins, etc

Create really, really great content that includes storytelling. People remember stories that emotionally move them.

Established similar audience

Regularly share, support online

In person & online relationships

Help others first

StorytellingStanding Out

Use storytelling strategies for your brand/business Theme, emotion, scene

Craft Sharable Stories

Best tweet examples

“At the core of a person’s life is a narrative. This is why, if you’re trying to convey a message, simple, relatable storytelling will enable your audience to see themselves through the eyes of the people you are trying to help. This is the beginning of empathy. The story is the glue that bind together the human experience; it’s the device through with both understanding and a desire to help emerge.” – Randi Zuckerburg

From a Community Builder’s Journey

Have a mentor in your life

Be creative – try new things, enjoy

Don’t do it all on your own – talk about your ideas, get emotional support, get feedback

Don’t be afraid to get out in person too

Always thing of ways to serve your community

Don’t give up until your ready

Questions?