Community entrepreneurship unlocked
As community managers, we’re usually people’s people.
We think about our community members, their challenges, and the value we can provide for them. We put an effort into finding interesting discussion topics and exciting online activities to generate more engagement.
When we started off, we regarded our role as community managers as a hobby, a side hustle that wasn’t really paying off. But the last couple of years has shown us that leading a community and being followed by a large audience can be quite profitable. It requires some creativity, a dash of courage, a business-oriented mind, and a spark of common sense.
I’ve listed some efficient ways to make this journey easier and more enjoyable.
Is your community is targeted audience of customers?
Just collaborate with brands that are relevant to your customers.
Leading a community of DIY enthusiasts? Collaborating with a company that sells toolkits would be perfect. This collaboration would not work with a community of cooking lovers.
Are you leading a community of foodies? You can promote local restaurants.
Well, it sounds great, you say, but how do I get paid for this? Do I have to reach out to everyone?
The answer is usually — yes, especially when it’s local businesses we’re talking about. If you’re set on reaching larger audiences, you may try Convosight.
In some places, you’ll find local agencies that connect community managers to brands.
By the way, if you’re an influencer in your community, there are a number of platforms designed to connect you with brands; once the connection is made, you can promote their content in your community. Tiktok does this, and there are plenty more.
Another idea is to use referral links to products that might interest your community.
Almost all major eCommerce platforms have referral codes, which you can share if you think your community might benefit from a product or service. For example, parenting community members are likely to shop on Amazon before Halloween; why don’t you recommend some great costumes and collect your referral fee?
Another way to help out your community is to share your knowledge with its members. You can offer lectures, meetups, online or offline courses, etc. Multiple platforms are available to spread the word, such as Teachable, Podia, and Kajabi, to name a few.
Is your community a targeted audience for recruiters and customers?
When your community is actually a group of professional talents or service providers, it’s crucial to understand that the post-COVID “Great Resignation” economy has turned them into the hottest commodity for recruiters.
Hiring new talents for companies has become an even bigger challenge than it used to be, and the high demand for new recruits prompts companies to offer recruiting platforms and job boards generous sums.
You, as the leader of a targeted professional network, can tap into their desire to recruit by offering these companies an easy way to reach out to your community members, and even make money as you do this.
You can always use Comonetize to build a career website with a monetizable job board and provide an easy venue for recruiters to meet your community members.
When you realize how powerful your network is and how valuable each individual is for the ecosystem, you will begin to collect the members’ data and offer them relevant career opportunities.
You’re welcome to check Comoetize’s smart recruitment platform
