How to Build a Strong Online Community in Web 3.0 Era?

What is Web 3.0?

Dubbed the next generation of the internet, Web 3.0 is still evolving and being defined. Underpinned by blockchain technology, it boasts the great concept of decentralization and relies upon shared user consensus and agreement to function. Data ownership, ubiquitous access to data, transparency, fewer intermediaries and improved security are among the many advantages it has over its predecessors. With the world scrambling to embrace Web 3.0, it is vital for businesses to adapt to the trend so they can flourish when the time comes, rather than becoming obsolete.

Why is an online community important?

Community is at the heart of Web 3.0 as the key to making decentralization work is having a community that agrees with the core principles and mission and comes together to support it. It’s more about people coming together as a community to make decisions instead of a few people making decisions for the masses.

Plus, individuals share the value created with their actions and ownership. In a Web 3.0 community, each member can create, share digital ownership, and get paid to develop their skills in the blockchain-based ecosystem.

As Web 3.0 allows brands to build communities on their own terms and members are fully invested in their community’s success by holding tokens as well as other benefits, more engaged, loyal, and profitable communities can be expected.

In this new space, Web 2.0 marketing strategies are becoming less than effective, so it works better for brands and organizations to talk with their communities directly rather than talking to an audience. There are ample reasons for brands not to ignore the importance of building their own Web 3.0 community.

How to build a strong online community?

1. Understand the Web 3.0 culture

It would be impossible to build a robust community without first understanding the culture of a specific field, especially when it’s evolving at a fast pace. What are the latest trends? How do people express themselves and interact with each other? Any popular jargon?

Telegram, Twitter, and Discord are the three most popular social networks in the Web 3.0 community, which thousands of people use every day to communicate with each other, share ideas and promote deals and events. It is also noticeable that the Web 3.0 community uses a lot of memes, which could be fun, witty, and speak more than words could convey. Being savvy with those basics, keeping updated with the latest trends and investing the time to learn and research can give you an edge in winning over and growing a devoted community.

2. Know your community

To successfully build a community, you need to understand who your audience is. Listening to them and learning to know them would make you more aware of your target. They could be people who are already following your brand or those who are interested in your products and services. They will eventually bring value to the project, contributing in one way or another. A few key things to keep in mind are knowing whom you’re targeting, finding out what they need and providing it in due time, and finding out what they like and giving them more of that.

Meanwhile, you need to be observant of the community’s reaction. Who receives the project better? What kind of audience is helping you to grow the community? Who doesn’t appear to be keen and why? What kind of content do they share? What you could have done better? When you have a clear understanding of the community’s needs, there’s no doubt that you would be able to nurture it more effectively.

3. Be clear, consistent, and transparent

Letting your fans and users know your intentions and goals is vital. They must know that you’re in it for the long haul, rather than making a quick buck. It pays off by communicating your vision and demonstrating your commitment to growth. Anyone would appreciate a project that is visionary and committed.

It’s important to remember that your users are not just consumers of your product but are also the backbone of the project. They can be the best contributor to what you’re building and it’s important to take them along with you in terms of any changes and developments. If there are any rules, they need to be consistent as well.

Besides, challenges and difficulties are almost inevitable, but your community would appreciate it if you were being honest and transparent with them. You don’t have to be perfect, but you need to show that you are responsible, reliable, and trustworthy. 

4. Reward your community and show appreciation

Who wouldn’t like to feel appreciated for their efforts and enthusiasm? You need to show your community that you are always putting them first. You can give early members exclusive access to certain rewards or initiatives or run some community-only giveaways. Think about how to best reward your community, which doesn’t only limit to gifts, but can also be opportunities within a project or free access to certain events. Making your audience feel connected, special, and appreciated helps grow the bond between them and your project, which in turn will produce a strong community. Sometimes getting involved on a personal level could also make the community feel special and help build rapport and trust.

5. Collaborate with other communities

Though numerous projects and initiatives are coming into being daily, all in all, Web 3.0 is still a relatively small space. Oftentimes, things that are happening in one area could have big implications for another, so it is important to reach out to other communities and make friends, whether it’s just for exchanging ideas, starting an initiative together or co-hosting an event. Staying in the loop would only bring advantages in this competitive environment. In the end, what Web 3.0 builders are hoping for is a more connected, inclusive and better world for all.

Conclusion

Web 3.0 is rewriting the rules of how people interact with each other. A business should keep in mind that your community is not only your consumers, but they mutually own your products and services to a certain extent. It could be a very rewarding experience if you keep them involved and utilize their knowledge and wisdom to together build something that all of you can feel proud of. Understand them, be honest and appreciative, listen to their feedback and make improvements, then you can’t go wrong in harvesting a committed, contributing and thriving community.