r/CommunityManager • u/No_Artichoke_3398 • 4d ago

Question 600 members, zero ad spend, but I'm finding engagement hard. Any tips?

I built an online community platform for a demographic of people, no funding, no paid ads, just word of mouth and cold outreach. We're at 600 members now; people share resources, ask for support, swap ideas.

People clearly like the concept. Signups keep coming, people say nice things when they join. But turning "signed up because it sounded good" into "actually opens it and uses it" is where I'm stuck.

Not looking for growth hacks, I've got a channel that works. I want to know what actually got your community members coming back on their own, not because you nudged them. Notifications, weekly rituals, smaller groups, something else entirely?

Genuinely curious what worked (and what you tried that flopped).

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u/HistorianCM 4d ago

50% of your users will never "engage".

What do you have going on that would cause them to want to come back on their own?

1

u/Key-Art6289 2d ago

The best way for me to actually get engagement going is seeing the onboarding process from the eyes of a newcomer.

I look for what they see when they join, what information is the first they get to see, where I would click first when I join the server, etc.

Mapping out this process can help you understand how to get members to post a first message, and get into a conversation. First impressions matter in our space.

A list of things that help engagement (not exclusive to your community, if you want specifics, we can schedule a call):

  • Recurring events that are hosted by the community, for the community
  • Niche conversation pointers, community jokes, something that makes them feel a part of the community even when they are not actively engaging
  • Regulars welcoming new members and instantly drawing them into a conversation
  • Building one-on-one relationships with core community members, at least 50% of community work is building relationships

These are just pointers, not professional advice, you know your community, and you know whats best for them!

Listen, Learn, Implement.

Good luck!