Building a Community around your Business

The Power of Online Communities in Modern Business

With the rise of social media, building online communities around your business has become one of the most effective strategies to engage with your audience, increase loyalty, and generate word-of-mouth referrals.

Rather than simply pushing content, successful businesses are now pulling people together—connecting customers, clients, and fans through shared interests and value.

1. Leveraging Existing Platforms

The easiest and fastest way to get started is by using existing social platforms such as:

• Facebook: Ideal for B2C businesses. Many retail brands create Facebook Pages where customers can leave reviews, post photos, and interact with others. These mini-testimonials and public discussions become powerful social proof.

• LinkedIn: A better choice for B2B businesses. Unlike Facebook, businesspeople typically don’t want to mix their personal and professional lives. LinkedIn Groups allow for private, professional discussions restricted to members.

• Twitter/X: Great for real-time conversation, thought leadership, and sharing industry news—though less structured as a community platform.

However, there’s a major downside: you don’t own the platform. That means you’re subject to algorithm changes, content limitations, and potentially even loss of access. Your data, your posts, and your audience all technically belong to the host platform

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2. Creating Your Own Community Platform

If you have an established client base—or want full control over your content and connections—building your own private online community can be a valuable long-term asset.

You’ll be able to:

• Control the user experience and design

• Facilitate knowledge sharing and networking between clients

• Retain all user data and community insights

• Bypass platform restrictions or ad algorithms

A Budget-Friendly Solution: BuddyPress

If you’re using WordPress, the free plugin BuddyPress can transform your website into a private social platform. You can add:

• Discussion forums

• Member profiles

• Groups and interest threads

• Private messaging

• Activity streams

It’s like your own branded version of Facebook—but one where you make the rules.

Choosing the Right Approach

Consider:

• Who your audience is

• How they prefer to engage

• Whether you want control over data and branding

• Your budget and technical skills

For many, a hybrid approach works best, start by leveraging existing platforms to build awareness, then gradually migrate your audience to your own controlled space.

Need help choosing the right platform or integrating your online community with your business strategy? Get in touch with the team at Dolman Bateman for tailored advice that fits your goals.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial, legal or tax advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this content at the time of publication, tax laws and regulations may change, and individual circumstances vary. Dolman Bateman accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage incurred as a result of acting on or relying upon any of the information contained herein. You should seek professional advice tailored to your specific situation before making any financial or tax decision.