People are, by nature, pack animals that seek to belong to a larger group. Whether it is families, friends, or our shared interests, our desire to be included in others is part of our DNA.
The digital age shows evidence of this through the rise of social media platforms. These have allowed people to connect in real-time.
Social media provides an opportunity for e-commerce businesses to connect with their customers. It allows them to build stronger relationships with potential customers and improve sales.
An online community is a type of social media platform that allows users to interact with each other. It can be a small group on Facebook or a massive one on Instagram. In practice, these types of platforms are very profitable.
According to a study conducted in 2022, 82% of online community site visitors would like to see brands participate in such platforms. Not doing so puts e-commerce businesses at risk of missing out on the opportunity to build strong brand loyalty and maximize sales potential.
Learning Communities
A learning community is an online platform that allows teachers and students to interact with each other and share knowledge about a particular subject. It can focus on Pokémon card strategies or quantum physics.
There are often multiple open-source resources that are used by learning communities to provide members with self-serve access to information.
Local Communities
A local community with a focus on the geographical area tends to be smaller and considers its members’ local idiosyncrasies.
They may talk about local news or events. When investing in areas with a solid local following, e-commerce businesses should only go there if they have a physical presence.
Brand Communities
A single brand or company-focused online community is the most popular community. It is typically very desirable to an e-commerce business.
Members of a company-focused community are highly engaged individuals who will be valuable customers. They can help you gather valuable insight into how your products work with buyers.
Hobby Communities
A hobby community focuses on sharing a common interest in a particular activity. It can also include related topics, such as cooking and reading. Members of this type of community are likely to be open to trying new products.
There are many more, like religious, social, and political communities.
Finally
Getting started with an online community can be very challenging, but it can also benefit your business. A great third-party marketing tool can help boost sales and improve community engagement.