Audience vs. Community: What's the Difference for Your Brand?

Author Chris Brogan once said, “the difference between an audience and a community is which way the chairs are facing.”

Audiences must be engaged by you; Communities engage with you on their own.

An online community can generate new leads, improve customer retention, add value for your existing customers, and give you deeper insight into who you’re talking to. Your audience is merely a part of this.

Good break down of how bilateral engagement is what makes a community a community with a few examples of audiences (unilateral engagement) vs communities (bi-directional engagement)

A community goes beyond simply the group or number of people experiencing your brand on their own. It brings them together in one place for a shared experience.