Ep 73: Creating Connection: Your Community Engagement Blueprint

Jul 11

Creating Connection: Your Community Engagement Blueprint

As a community strategist, one of the most common questions I get asked is how to increase engagement in a community. It's a challenge that many community builders face, and it can be frustrating to see engagement dwindle over time. But here's the thing: we're not just competing with other Facebook groups or memberships. We're competing for the attention of our community members over everything else in their lives. And that's where the secret lies.

In this episode, I'm going to share with you a little-known fact about the human brain that can unlock more engagement in your community. It's something that came up during a recent presentation I gave, and it's too valuable not to share. So, let's dive in and discover how to keep our communities thriving.

Competing for Attention

When community creators ask me how to get more engagement, they often focus on what type of content to post or how frequently to post it. However, It's about capturing and maintaining the attention of your members. When I work with community leaders, I often find that their group may have started out strong, but engagement dwindles over time. This is because people lose interest if it's not compelling enough for them to stay engaged.

It's important to remember that your community is not just competing with other Facebook groups or courses, but with all the other distractions vying for your members' attention, from TikTok to Instagram reels to their own busy lives. So the question shouldn't be how to get them to engage in your group, but how to capture their attention and give them a compelling reason to show up in your community.

The Power of Novelty: A Look at the Science

One effective way to do this is by providing novel stimuli. Novel stimuli means showing something new or doing something that creates interest or intrigue. This releases dopamine, which is associated with happiness, making it an effective way to keep your community engaged. Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram frequently make changes and release new content because they know that new is a good feeling.

Moreover, novelty increases the plasticity of the brain, allowing it to make more connections and make learning something new easier. This means that every time you do an implementation call or a Q&A call, you need to mix things up a bit to give your community members a new experience. It's an opportunity to take advantage of what happens in the human brain when people have a new or novel experience. Mixing things up will make your community members more likely to retain the information you share and stimulate their memory.

Remember that novelty is important because it creates new and noteworthy experiences that stand out in the brain, solidifying the memory. Routine day-to-day tasks, on the other hand, are quickly forgotten. As a community creator, it's important to keep your community fun and engaging by constantly providing new experiences. People like to have fun, and if you're not creating new experiences for them, it will be challenging to keep their attention.

Balancing Stability and Spontaneity

Now, for those of you that throw structure and routine out the window and nobody knows what to expect, that's actually not good either, because people can't trust you. When it comes to finding the balance between stability and novelty, it's important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one community or program may not work for another. However, armed with the knowledge of how the human brain responds to novelty and routine, community builders can start experimenting with new approaches to engagement.

It's essential to listen to the community's feedback and be open to trying new things. Don't be afraid to mix things up and try new features or formats for calls, meetings, or events. Encourage your community to participate in the process of trying new things and having fun while doing it. This can help to create a more dynamic and engaging community that keeps members coming back for more.

Remember, finding the balance between stability and novelty is a continuous process, and it requires ongoing experimentation and adaptation. Don't be afraid to make adjustments along the way based on what works and what doesn't. With a willingness to try new things and a commitment to listening to your community, you can create a thriving, engaged community that is both stable and exciting.

Actionable Steps: Trying Something New

We have the power to create a sense of novelty and excitement within our communities. By implementing new ideas and mixing up the routine, we can keep our members engaged and interested in what we have to offer. The key is to strike a balance between stability and spontaneity, giving our members the predictability and structure they crave while also providing them with new and exciting experiences.

If you're feeling stuck on how to create this balance in your own community, don't worry. Head over to connectionideas.com to grab a free guide with over 77 ways to create connections within your community. Highlight the ideas that interest you and pick just one to try out. It doesn't have to be a huge commitment - just try it once and see how it goes. And if you're feeling brave, share your experience with me by sending a DM on Instagram to @shanaspeaks.

Remember, the key to success in community building is to keep things fresh and exciting. With a little creativity and a willingness to try new things, you can create a community that your members will love to be a part of.