How to Form a Specialized Social Media

Community According to HubSpot, 86% of social media managers believe building an online community is important for a successful social media strategy in 2024.

Also, 27% of social media users actively participate in online communities, with this number rising to 40% among Gen Z and Millennials.
Social media communities, now a standalone marketing channel in 2024, thrive on networking, engagement, promotion, and valuable content through consistent, active participation. However, to build a successful community, you need effective community-building strategies and examples of successful social communities.
In this article, we will investigate how developing a social media community can enhance your social media ROI in 2024 and improve your social media marketing strategy. What is a social media community?
A social media community is a group of people who interact with each other on social media platforms around common interests, shared goals, or values.
These communities can form on various platforms, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, and others, and they offer a space for members to share content, engage in discussions, support each other, and build relationships.
Recently, we hosted a webinar with Christina Garnett, community builder, CX strategist, and author, where she shared invaluable insights on what it truly takes to build and sustain a thriving brand community.
From the psychology of engagement and the challenge of activating passive members, to evolving community metrics, and customer advocacy, Christina offered a fresh perspective on why communities matter now more than ever.
Difference between social communities and social audiences
audience versus group Your community might be a part of your audience, but it extends to a deeper brand connection.
If you want to build a community, it needs to be an oasis… a safe space where people don’t feel sold to, judged, or ignored. – Christina Garnett
Social communities are groups of individuals who actively interact with each other and with your brand, emphasizing community engagement as a key aspect.
Members participate in discussions, share content, and contribute to the group’s overall experience, often driven by a shared purpose or interest. They have a sense of belonging and are more deeply involved in the interactions within the community.
In contrast, social target personas refer to a broader group of people who follow or consume your content but may not engage deeply. They might look at your posts, listen to your updates, or watch your videos, but most of the time, they don’t do anything. Unlike community members, they do not typically contribute to discussions or share a common goal, making their engagement level lower and less interactive.
Consider the Facebook Group (community) of a brand, for instance, where members actively discuss new products, provide feedback, and attend exclusive events. In contrast, the brand’s broader social media followers (audience) may like or share posts but rarely engage in discussions or participate in activities. The members of the group are extremely involved and engaged, whereas the more general followers may only consume content passively.