What is a micro-community and why do you need one?

Two businesses are selling similar items, however one is growing faster, attracting better customers, and quickly expanding into new market.

What is the distinction between the two? A micro-community is where customers hang out and share their feedback. They basically tell the company owners what attributes and enhancements they'd like.

If you want to build quality relationships with customers, improve lead conversion and provide the best value to your target audience the niche community might be the perfect solution. Although they may seem smaller (as the phrase "micro" indicates) yet they can provide big benefits to businesses and customers alike.

Are you curious about micro-communities and what you can do to use them to create impact and expand your business? Stick with us for a quick, but thorough review.

What exactly is a micro-community?

micro-communities are exclusive, highly-focused online groups which are run by a business to support clients or potential customers. While micro-communities may be small (up to, say, 100 people), "micro" doesn't necessarily indicate the community's size. Instead, "micro" refers to the niche or micro aspect of the community and not the size of the community.

Examples of micro-communities

Micro-communities come in a wide variety of formats and structures. What you do with the structure and layout of your micro-community will depend on the purpose of your group. Let me offer some ideas for your own...

Glossier's communities of customers

Glossier also known as the "people-powered beauty ecosystem," has developed the art of staying connected with customers. It does this by inviting its top customers to Slack chat groups, where they can connect and keep in touch.

They are extremely local, and members exchange over 1,100 messages each week, creating an interaction loop with Glossier's most engaged fans.

Doodle Institute's member clubhouse

Doodle The Institute offers online courses to help people learn to draw. Students get basic training in the course. As a bonus students also have access access to the Doodle Clubhouse.

The Clubhouse gives students a safe place to discuss their creations, and interact with other doodlers.

MyYogaPal's Community

MyYogaPal helps people connect with themselves and their yoga practice. It also offers the yoga community, where yoga participants can meet other individuals who share a passion for yoga.

The big benefits of micro-communities are the benefits that come with them.

Micro-communities encourage feedback

Micro-communities are typically small and informal, they are an environment where members can share their mindsets and goals. This makes them an effective method of gathering real feedback about your products and services.

A study conducted by Zak has revealed that 60% of people under 30 prefer sharing their opinions in safe spaces like private groups and are less comfortable chatting in open forums. However, this isn't a purely age-related concern. If a group is comprised of individuals "like me," the people be more comfortable in sharing their opinions.

If you establish the feeling of a community that makes your customers feel heard (and engaged) and feel connected, they're more likely to share their experiences and opinions.

A tip to follow: Don't let good feedback get lost. Take action on it and your customers will be feeling extra special and appreciative, like this customer of Payment processor Stripe.

From anonymity to genuine connection

It can be difficult to establish a face for an individual's name when you're receiving comments from your clients on the Internet. Even though Google reviews and the comments posted on open forums act as an excellent source of evidence of your company's social standing however, they're not the same as you believe they might be. They may include people that aren't in the ideal customer profile - who that you could learn the most from.

However, if you establish the micro-community of 100 best customers, you'll be able to ensure that you count on their comments.

If you are able to interact with them within the local community, you'll get to know the people. It will become clear what the goals they have, and how they're attempting to reach them. By understanding this it will be possible to design new features and products to help them reach their objectives.

Establish a mutually beneficial and supportive support network

Since community members share common objectives and desires They can develop solid bonds. In turn, they will support one another, making your job simpler.

If your clients post questions about your product or service on a micro-communitysite, you're likely to get responses from a variety of like-minded people willing to share their experiences as well as ideas and tales.

They are rich and engaging interactions that revolve on your brand. A win-win for your business and the people who follow you.

What are the reasons to start a micro-community?

We've talked about how micro-communities are a valuable addition to every business. But you might still think about whether a community is the perfect fit for you. In order to make the decision more straightforward, here are top three reasons to consider setting up the micro-community.

It's more than just an individual service provider.

In the event that you help your customers feel connected (through micro-focus communities or any other way) and you are more than just a familiar brand or star personality. Communities help foster authentic relationships with your customers, increasing their sense of belonging and loyalty.

Now, you're seen as a mentor, friend, or friend, not just another online course creator. This expands your circle and makes it much easier to design and promote new products.

It's simpler to cater to many different kinds of customers.

Micro-communities can be a fantastic way of serving customers in many different industries and niche.

For example, let's say that you offer corporate training for big companies. You also sell self-guided classes that cover similar concepts to people. Instead of creating a single community that isn't able to serve both groups effectively, you could create a unique community for each segment.

You can laser focus on the needs of your customers, and tailor your content according to their needs. This way, each customer will receive the help that's best for them.

It is a form of social evidence.

Micro-communities offer " social proof" to your business. Once someone signs up to your group and sees other postings and how much respect they show for you. If they don't know about you in advance it will be easy for them to see that you're a leader who is reliable.

Positivity is contagious. Members who are new will absorb the positive energy of the group and adopt the same positive attitude. Take note that if the product you sell is in trouble or your brand is criticized for its ethical business practices (may that not be true) Communities can turn into an outlet for expressing frustrations.

How does a micro-community develop to become something larger?

If you establish a micro-community and provide members with a safe space to connect with you as well as other members, it engenders loyalty.

In the world of business, loyalty is worth more than gold. It's the only thing that cannot be bought, no matter the amount you invest in marketing.

Customers who are loyal to you are not only more likely to buy from you, but they're more likely to talk highly of your products and services among other like-minded individuals, thereby increasing your sales.

By fostering loyalty as well as improving customer service Micro-communities can be growth engines for your business--leading to customer retention, new customers, and even great ideas for new items and services that you are sure customers want!

Here's a great way to grow a micro-community into something more substantial.

In the group, discuss your plans for creating your course. Examine your material with group members, and get their opinions. When you have a clear understanding of what the group members want, you'll be able to design the final course.

You can use your group to create an environment for the development of other items as well. Once you release the course, ask your best students to join your micro-community. Invite them to offer comments on the course, and get their opinions in the process of create your next course.

Then, you can establish a spin-off social network that is where your students engage each other, work through your course materials together as well as answer each other's inquiries.

Start building your micro-community

Convinced about the power and promise of micro-communities? If so, your next step is to create one. Below are our recommendations for getting started:

Decide on your approach. It is possible to create micro-communities on your own or partner with influential people. Influencers already have a loyal audience, but the creation of your own will make the micro-community feel more important.

Invite your members. Make sure to spread the word about your local community. Invite people to assist you in creating an active, positive environment you envision.

Nurture relationships in your community of interest. Make sure to engage with members. Keep yourself in contact and available. It's also a good idea to give them first peeks into new products and services. Give them a sense of exclusivity with exclusive access.

Be fun and engaging. Be empathetic, friendly and focused. Don't use the group to sell or market. It's about developing relationships and sharing the knowledge.

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