Having a community is non-negotiable, especially if you are a creative. Majority of individuals known to be creative/creators on different social media platforms have members who root for them continuously for one reason or the other, and at the end of the day, they are referred to as community members. People deciding to be part of a community can result from sharing interests with the creatives or just simply admiring them. Anyone could view people following certain creatives on social media as just followers but to the creatives, they are more than followers, they are a community.
What is an Online Creative Community?
The word “community” can mean different things to people. But, when it comes to “Online Creative Community”, the definition is almost direct – it refers to a group of people who share the same interest in a particular niche/content and come to the internet to collaborate and engage a particular creative doing the same thing they love. This content could be music, poetry, fashion, or anything at all. If a person loves to hear about books, they go to social media and find a creative way to do something related and follow them. This works the same way for so many people who would love to explore book content and as time goes on, the number of followers begins to increase and a community begins to surface.
Why do I need a community?
Every creative needs a community for support and encouragement, to cheer them up when they don’t feel enough, and to provide the assurance and motivation they need to keep going. As a creative, your community is made up of people who engage with your content and this means that they would want to give feedback too. The purpose of the feedback is to get a fresher perspective of your skills and what ideas you need to input to make your content superb. Also, having a community helps you to be more consistent and accountable.
Creating your own online creative community
Building your own online creative community requires a high level of intentionality, one that is beyond just posting your craft and having a group of people follow you. In the real sense, followers are different from community members and what makes it so is the work that the creative put into building it. Do you have a large following base and looking to build a community around it? See simple ways to achieve this!
Make sure that you are showing up consistently online
While consistency may be a hard nut to crack, every creative must show up now and then. Showing up consistently puts you in the face of followers and intending followers. It also gives them the impression that you are committed to what you are doing and can serve them continuously. Followers may not take a creative seriously if they struggle with consistency and this may even cause them to leave if they don’t get the value they have anticipated. Looking at it, there is really no way to build a community if people start to unfollow you or if you don’t come through every time. An average Nigerian opens their Instagram account at least 10 times per day and usually, the idea is to see their favorite creative at least once or twice.
Read also: Breaking as a creative even in the Nigerian Creative World
Decide on the platform where you want to host your community
Your community can be on any of the online platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Substack, or Medium. Considering that it can be tasking and difficult to have a community on almost all platforms, you may want to focus on just one. Check where your audience is most active and leverage on that. Think about the type of content you create, if it is visual content, you may want to lean towards Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. If you do more written content, trying out Twitter, Medium or Substuck can be a good decision. However, you may also need to investigate the engagement features and community-building tools. For instance, Instagram allows creatives to own a broadcast channel so they can add their followers; this brings their followers into one room and serves the main purpose of community.
Try out community bonding activities
A few weeks ago, the popular content creator, Salem Kinging organized a community get-together in Lagos, bringing together his community members and having a really good time with them. If you are looking to build an online creative community, you must also come up with activities that will strengthen the connection between you and your audience. You can organize meet and greet events, it could be in person or virtually. Also, you can explore question-and-answer sessions using the features on the platform. A feature on Instagram says ” Ask me any question” and there are also many like that you can leverage to have a good time with your community members.
Create boundaries but be accessible
Of course, it is important to maintain a healthy and sustainable relationship with your creative community, at the same time, you must also establish boundaries. Communicate the hours of your availability on your bio or anywhere else so that your community members don’t keep reaching out when you are unavailable. Also, this helps to set expectations and it prevents burnout. Don’t leave direct messages from your community members unattended to when you can respond. If you cannot provide an answer instantly, let them know that you will send a response soon. If you don’t want to forget, you may try pinning the chat/message. Differentiate between private and public conversations and stay consistent with your communication style and availability.
Give back to the community
On social media, it is popularly known as “Give Away” and it signifies a way to show appreciation to your community members for engaging you and your content. However, it is usually important to define the essence of your giveaway to ensure that you are channeling the right route. Some people organize giveaways when they hit a major milestone(maybe ten, hundred, or millions of followers), to increase engagement or to show gratitude. While giveaways may be important, it is also essential to carefully pick out the prizes to be relevant items. If you create visual content, you may give out ring lights, microphones, or props; just be sure that it is something that the community members will genuinely appreciate. If you have a huge number of people in your community, set clear and simple entry rules that can help you to fairly pick the winner(s).
Building an online creative community is likened to taking care of a child. You have to take good care of it if you want it to grow and do well. This explains that so much intentionality must be put into doing this. Give it your best every day, the results can blow your mind.
Examples of online creative communiuty you can emulate to build yours
If you’re looking to establish your own online creative community, drawing inspiration from successful examples can provide valuable insights and strategies. Here are some inspiring examples of online creative communities that you can emulate to build your own:
Behance
Platform Focus: Behance is a leading online platform for showcasing and discovering creative work across various fields, including graphic design, photography, illustration, and more.
Features: It offers portfolio-building tools, project galleries, and networking opportunities for creatives to connect with like-minded individuals, gain exposure, and collaborate on projects.
Community Engagement: Behance fosters a vibrant community through features like appreciations (similar to likes), comments, and curated galleries, encouraging interaction and feedback among members.
Dribbble
Design-Centric Community: Dribbble is a community of designers, illustrators, and other creatives who share their work in the form of shots—small screenshots of their projects.
Showcase and Discover: It serves as a platform for designers to showcase their portfolios, explore trends, and connect with potential clients or collaborators.
Community Building: Dribbble facilitates community building through features like rebounds (where users create their own interpretation of another user’s shot), comments, and design challenges, fostering collaboration and creativity.
Patreon
Membership Platform: Patreon enables creators to monetize their work by offering subscription-based memberships to fans and supporters.
Direct Support: Creators can offer exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, and rewards to their patrons in exchange for ongoing financial support.
Community Engagement: Patreon fosters a sense of community by providing creators with tools to interact with their patrons, such as community posts, live streams, and Discord integration, creating a dedicated space for connection and collaboration.
Skillshare
Online Learning Community: Skillshare is a platform that offers online classes and tutorials across a wide range of creative disciplines, from graphic design to music production.
Learning and Collaboration: It provides a space for both teachers and students to share knowledge, skills, and feedback, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Project-Based Learning: Skillshare encourages hands-on learning through project-based courses, where students can showcase their work, receive feedback, and connect with instructors and fellow learners.
Key Strategies to Emulate while building an online creative community
Focus on a Niche: Identify a specific niche or creative discipline for your community to cater to, ensuring that it addresses the needs and interests of your target audience.
Provide Value: Offer valuable resources, content, and tools that appeal to your community members and encourage active participation and engagement.
Facilitate Interaction: Create opportunities for members to connect, collaborate, and provide feedback to one another, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
Promote Diversity and Inclusion: Cultivate a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes creatives of all backgrounds, skill levels, and perspectives, fostering creativity and innovation.