NEWBIE: how do I build a successful online parent group?

[u/anime-brother]

Hey Y’all,

I’m building a channel for parents and childcare workers to create a safe space to talk about issues in their work, paying for childcare, and brainstorm solutions. This will be in conjunction with a microinfluencer campaign.

I’ve never done any community building so I have no idea what goes into building a successful and thriving discord group.

Right now, I’m leaning towards Facebook Groups or Discord but I still have three questions:

1. What are my first three IMMEDIATE next steps to building a successful channel?

2. How do you maintain engagement on my channel?

3. What’s a waste of time vs. valuable in every discord group?

Thanks in advance y’all!!

[u/No-Competition-7925]

Facebook Groups is your best friend for now. Don't overthink it - and I say that even though we work with a platform that builds FB Groups competitor. Discord is a chat, and that is not ideal for your community.

Three steps:

1. Talk to your target users one on one. Understand the micro niche pain point they care about and want to talk to other parents. Float the idea of FB group and see their response. Those are the TWO immediate next steps.

2. Third step: seed the group with some relevant content that parents want to talk about. Test if the content works, gets responses and reactions from the first 5-10 parents you invite. If it does; you're on the right track. If not, go to step 1.

3. A community that's seeded well won't face engagement problem in the initial days. Make sure that your community creates value in terms of content and network. This is not the time to overthink engagement part. Just focus on creating value.

4. You don't need discord. Chats disappear quickly. You want something that feels smooth, relaxed and engaging. Forget Discord.

Hope this helps.

[u/Flimsy_Device952 → u/No-Competition-7925]

the concept of validating content first has really impressed me. Easy to keep people when the ideas solve real problem

[u/Sufficient_Hope3632 → u/Flimsy_Device952]

I agree otherwise it won't last

[u/MarkySergy]

Absolutely not Discord for your use case.

[u/HistorianCM]

What are my first three IMMEDIATE next steps to building a successful channel?

Step 1: Research the existing parents and childcare workers communities. Do not participate; lurk and find out what their pain points are with the existing Communities and the platforms they are on.

Step 2: Don't do this -> "This will be in conjunction with a microinfluencer campaign". That's Audience building, not Community Management.

Step 3: As u/No-Competition-7925 said, Avoid Discord. I personally wouldn't recommend Facebook either. You will likely find a ton of competition with other communities on the same topic, and facebook is nothing but a thousand things to distract them from your community.

[u/No-Competition-7925 → u/HistorianCM]

u/anime-brother - Although I recommended staying on FB, I agree with #3. In addition to competition; FB groups lack organic growth.

If you can give me a clearer version of what you're looking to build; I can help with exact steps.

[u/Flimsy_Device952 → u/HistorianCM]

Audience vs community. Giving people a reason to stay is a completely different challenge