People join communities for benefits, not belonging. They want to learn something new, to achieve a goal, to grow status, to be entertained, to have fun, etc. They only find and value belonging after they've been a member and formed relationships.

People join communities for benefits, not belonging. They want to learn something new, to achieve a goal, to grow status, to be entertained, to have fun, etc. They only find and value belonging after they've been a member and formed relationships.

Your customers are going to join your community because of benefits, not belonging. Belonging comes after someone has been a part of a community and formed relationships. What’s going to get them in the door in the first place is a clear understanding of how the community will help them solve a problem or achieve a goal.

Most people don't join communities for belonging. They join to solve a problem or achieve a goal. It's only once they form relationships that they'll cite belonging as their motivation. Lesson: to grow your community promote benefits, not belonging.