People often ask me: "How can I build a community?"
Over the past 8 years building @freeCodeCamp, I've observed several approaches that seem to work. And I've seen other community builders use them, too.
I hope these community building tips will help you in your journey. 🌄
Over the past 8 years building @freeCodeCamp, I've observed several approaches that seem to work. And I've seen other community builders use them, too.
I hope these community building tips will help you in your journey. 🌄
Note that I am lucky enough to have US citizenship, and to be physically + mentally well. And I'm a white guy in a world largely controlled by white men.
Your mileage may vary.
None of these tips are rocket science. They just require patience, mindfulness, and curiosity.
Your mileage may vary.
None of these tips are rocket science. They just require patience, mindfulness, and curiosity.
Meet with people over video call. Not just chat.
You can learn so much more about people from their facial expressions, tone of voice, objects hanging on their walls, and other context.
And tools like Calendly and When2Meet (for larger groups) make this less of a hassle.
You can learn so much more about people from their facial expressions, tone of voice, objects hanging on their walls, and other context.
And tools like Calendly and When2Meet (for larger groups) make this less of a hassle.
Take notes. I tell people: "I'm taking notes so I can remember better. I won't share these with anyone."
This reassures people that you think they're important. It helps you stay focused and learn about them.
Email these notes to yourself. Reread them before you meet them next.
This reassures people that you think they're important. It helps you stay focused and learn about them.
Email these notes to yourself. Reread them before you meet them next.
Learn people's names.
If I'm not familiar with a name, I ask them how I should pronounce it.
It may take a few tries and corrections. But it's important to pronounce people's names correctly.
After the call, I look up the origin of the name to learn more and better retain it.
If I'm not familiar with a name, I ask them how I should pronounce it.
It may take a few tries and corrections. But it's important to pronounce people's names correctly.
After the call, I look up the origin of the name to learn more and better retain it.
Learn about people's cities.
Is it their home town? If not what brought them there?
Do they live with their parents? Kids?
What do they like about living there?
If I'm unfamiliar with their country, I watch a Geography Now episode about it to learn its history.
Is it their home town? If not what brought them there?
Do they live with their parents? Kids?
What do they like about living there?
If I'm unfamiliar with their country, I watch a Geography Now episode about it to learn its history.
Focus on aspirations, not current circumstances.
"What are your near-term goals?"
"Are you focused on any exciting projects?"
This is better than "what do you do?"
When I worked at Taco Bell cleaning toilets and taking drive-thru orders, I wanted to talk about my future. 🏔️
"What are your near-term goals?"
"Are you focused on any exciting projects?"
This is better than "what do you do?"
When I worked at Taco Bell cleaning toilets and taking drive-thru orders, I wanted to talk about my future. 🏔️
Now that you know a bit more about the person with whom you're talking, you can start to figure out how to involve them.
Are they interested in becoming a mod?
Coding a tool for the community?
Teaching?
Match-make the volunteer with the work to be done. And be adaptable.
Are they interested in becoming a mod?
Coding a tool for the community?
Teaching?
Match-make the volunteer with the work to be done. And be adaptable.
As you secure more resources, hire your most prolific contributors.
I often get CVs from Big Tech people. These people may be great hires.
But I already know that star contributors will be great hires. They're already doing the work.
Help them give you more of their time.
I often get CVs from Big Tech people. These people may be great hires.
But I already know that star contributors will be great hires. They're already doing the work.
Help them give you more of their time.
It can be easy to focus on metrics. But most metrics are out of your control:
- Website traffic
- Email signups
- Revenue
What is in your control:
+ Whether you're shipping
+ How your community is vibing
+ New alliances
Base goals on your output, which you yourself can control.
- Website traffic
- Email signups
- Revenue
What is in your control:
+ Whether you're shipping
+ How your community is vibing
+ New alliances
Base goals on your output, which you yourself can control.
Don't cut down the tree. 🌳
Once your community is creating value, there's value to capture. Fruit to harvest.
Outsiders will approach you and offer to buy wood if you clip some branches.
This can limit future harvests. Only do this if you must.
Never cut down the whole tree.
Once your community is creating value, there's value to capture. Fruit to harvest.
Outsiders will approach you and offer to buy wood if you clip some branches.
This can limit future harvests. Only do this if you must.
Never cut down the whole tree.
In the Age of Sail, captains rose through the ranks, doing every job on the ship.
Swabbing the deck, raising the masts, conning the ship.
They knew a little about everything. So they could delegate tasks then spot-check.
Be the captain. ⛵️
No task is too small to do right.
Swabbing the deck, raising the masts, conning the ship.
They knew a little about everything. So they could delegate tasks then spot-check.
Be the captain. ⛵️
No task is too small to do right.
Don't stop pushing the snowball.☃️
You may have a team pushing the snowball. But you can make it go a little faster if you push, too.
If your snowball isn't growing, it's melting away.
Don't rest on your laurels. It's hard to get it rolling again. Even harder to start over.
You may have a team pushing the snowball. But you can make it go a little faster if you push, too.
If your snowball isn't growing, it's melting away.
Don't rest on your laurels. It's hard to get it rolling again. Even harder to start over.
I hope these tips are helpful for you.
The world needs more communities, run by people who are patient, mindful, and curious.
If you are one of these people – or aspire to become such a person – then you are the hero we need.
Put yourself out there and go for it. 🏗️
The world needs more communities, run by people who are patient, mindful, and curious.
If you are one of these people – or aspire to become such a person – then you are the hero we need.
Put yourself out there and go for it. 🏗️
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