In today’s digital world, social media groups on Facebook, LinkedIn or Reddit are common for businesses to connect with their audience. While these platforms are a great starting point for online community building, they come with limitations: algorithmic control, data ownership issues and noise of competing content. For Western Australian businesses looking for deeper connections, richer insights and more control over their brand experience, the power lies in building an online community beyond the confines of third-party platforms.
An owned online community – hosted on your website or a dedicated platform – turns passive followers into active participants, creating a sense of belonging, shared purpose and direct access to your brand. This strategic shift moves you from renting space on someone else’s platform to owning your digital town square, allowing for unparalleled customer engagement, genuine brand loyalty and valuable direct feedback. This article explores why WA businesses should invest in building their own online community and how to do it.
For many Western Australian businesses, digital marketing is all about social media groups. While platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram offer broad reach, they often fall short when it comes to deep connections, proprietary data and loyalty. The smart WA business knows true community building means creating a dedicated, owned hub. This move gives you total control, deeper engagement and direct access to your advocates, driving long term success.
Pros: Customisable and great for Q&A. Cons: More setup. Best for WordPress websites needing integrated forums (WordPress design).
Examples include Mighty Networks, Circle, Kajabi, Thinkific, Tribe. Pros: Feature-rich and easy to set up. Cons: Subscription fees and less infrastructure control. Best for scalability.
Platforms like Salesforce Experience Cloud or HubSpot. Pros: Deep data integration. Cons: Costly, suited for larger enterprises.
Clarify if your community is for support, networking or knowledge-sharing. Purpose attracts the right members.
Invite loyal customers first, engage actively and grow gradually.
Establish rules to ensure safety and respect. Enforce them fairly (ModSquad).
Ask questions, run contests, highlight contributions.
Enable member directories, messaging and encourage collaborative answers.
Promote your community on social media marketing campaigns, email newsletters and in-store.
Track engagement metrics, gather member feedback and refine continuously.
For WA businesses, an online community beyond social groups is a long-term investment. It means moving from rented platforms to an owned hub that builds loyalty, insights and SEO value. Contact us today to learn how to create a thriving online community for your brand.
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