49. Turning Audiences into Engaged Communities: Online Community Building with Carrie Melissa Jones

Send us a textCan you differentiate between building an audience and building a community? If you're curious to learn more and unlock the power of brand communities, you're in the right place. Join me as I sit down with the phenomenal Carrie Melissa Jones, community expert and founder of the CMJ Group. Together, we dissect the magic and serendipity that goes into creating a strong community, a realm far beyond one-way communication.Managing a brand community, especially for nonprofits, can be incredibly challenging. Limited resources and small teams often add to the struggle. Carrie and I share practical strategies and insights to combat these hurdles. We discuss the power of entrusting vocal champions and experts to help run your community, creating a robust platform without bearing all the responsibility. By the end of our conversation, you'll be equipped with a trove of effective strategies to build and manage your community, irrespective of your organizational size.But we don't stop there. We dive deep into the concept of reciprocity and donor engagement, emphasizing the potential of reciprocal relationships in adding value to both your organization and your community members. We delve into the crucial role of symbols in creating a sense of belonging and alignment with your cause. As we wrap up, I remind listeners that the journey of building a community is filled with learning opportunities, even from failures. So, gear up, embrace the journey, and let's build powerful, impactful brand communities together.About Carrie Melissa JonesCarrie Melissa Jones is an entrepreneur, author, researcher, and advisor to community businesses. She has helped hundreds of organizations build thriving online communities that further their success—including Airbnb, Google, Microsoft, Project Management Institute, two U.S. presidential campaigns, and small businesses and non-profits worldwide. In addition, she is the co-author of the book Building Brand Communities with Charles Vogl and holds an M.A. in communication with a concentration in virtual communities.carriemelissajones.comSign up for her Free workshop: How to Design Meaningful Community Experiences Get Carrie Melissa Jones' book, Building Brand Communities  Save $50 with code PODCASTResources: Purpose & Profit Club™ Coaching Program [Get on the waitlist for bonuses] Instagram, LinkedIn, website Purpose and Profit Club weekly newsletter Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of small and medium-sized nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more at bloomerang.co. May contain affiliate links