It’s hard to build a community using a blog. Some tell you to talk about the industry. This might get industry recognition, but it wont grow your business
Ezekiel would tell you to talk about your customers. Ezekiel is growing his gym’s online community through the CrossFitCoastal blog.
Ezekiel celebrates members when they hit new personal records, even if it’s just your first pull-up. He welcomes new members with a post just about them. If it’s your birthday, you get a post too. This is mixed in with work-out advice, event news and challenges to the community.
The lesson here is use your blog to talk about your customers, talk about them a lot.
Most amazingly, his business website is the most popular website in Wilmington, NC. That's incredible.
Another very interesting example of Community Building is JustFinish.com This site for marathoners, bikers, triathlete and those who only wish they were found me when they were only 10 members strong. The founder picked me up from Twitter where I'd just linked to my blog post about doing the Las Vegas Marathon (I did the Half. I walked. Slowly. I limped across the finish line. I still got a medal.)
IN just a month, I've seen the community mushroom to nearly 200 VERY ACTIVE participants. Funny thing is, after following you on Chuck Westbrook's forum, I kept comparing their efforts to your excellent advice. They apparently played it completely by the Richard Millington Playbook and to great success. Proof of the pudding.
P.S. The new photo is great. Very distinguished!
Posted by: Lisa Paul | Wednesday, 07 January 2009 at 01:10