Important about building your herd/cult/community...

5 replies
Hi Warriors!

Quick question: Do you really NEED a message board or similar interactive community when you are building your herd/followers?

The same question in more detail:
Having my pretty successful bussines for a year now, (and also having message board) I don't really found any reason to justify having it.

I have free exclusive video newsletter (autoresponder) series that my prospects gets for whole month period and little more.

It creates pretty good trust building for my actual consulting sales.

But I doubt the need to have a message board for few very distinct reasons (btw my MB have over 3000 members, but only 15-20 are posting contantly):

1. Many of the posts are very frustrated for newbies who comes from one of my serial newsletter that invites him to hte Message Board (MB)

2. Members could use my MB for sharing my products for free (cause I already gethered them)

3. They could spread a negative word about that my paid services are not valuable, mostly because of the fact they not afford it... (don't get me wrong, I have tons of 200% satisfied customers plus a money back guarantee)

So have yo thought about some really good reason to justife having a message board-like community?

I don't mean blogs and twitter-like stuff, because they are YOUR-contant-oriented, from which its ideal to learn from they responses and feedback but I'm speaking about massege boards-like communities, where THEY are creating content for the most part.... so it could be far less controlable...

Your feedback will be much apreciated (and sorry for my bad english)

For example, I don't see Frank Kern or Eben Pegan have their own interactive massege boards... it must be for a reason!

T
#building #herd or cult or community #important
  • Profile picture of the author Greg Jacobs
    I have a hugely active private message board for my Site WPMAGE.com
    and it has over 17000 posts in just a few months

    It is the cornerstone of our community our of which I can count at least 5 user blogs dedicated to helping other users with their Mage sites. (not promo blogs, but actually helpful tips)

    However, keep in mind that most IM's tread very carefully about setting up a message board because it can be a volatile thing and some say it will increase refund rates as users can just read the truth and reality (nothing is perfect, you have to work) and bolt, whereas others will read the same thing and bring them in closer. One very famous IM'er even told me I was either very brave, very naive or just "blessed from above" to create a user-message board, as it "typically" causes nothing but trouble.

    I think the bottom line is if you have a massively effective product then a Message board will be very useful, and exponentiate the effectiveness of your product.

    but be prepared to be on top of it. but if your product is relying more on the "pitch" than the "delivery" then I think you know the answer already.
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    • Profile picture of the author Timur_S
      Thanx Greg!

      So the question is IS it really useful (and not harmful) to introduce you prospects (also clients - that is the second question) to one another?

      I also have "Inner Cercle" in my bussines - pivate (closed) forum for my clients.

      I think it also could be dangerous in terms of repetetive selling on the back-end, although on the other hand it very helpful for the clients themselves!

      Any other thoughts?
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      • Profile picture of the author Greg Jacobs
        Originally Posted by Timur_S View Post

        Thanx Greg!

        So the question is IS it really useful (and not harmful) to introduce you prospects (also clients - that is the second question) to one another?

        I also have "Inner Cercle" in my bussines - pivate (closed) forum for my clients.

        I think it also could be dangerous in terms of repetetive selling on the back-end, although on the other hand it very helpful for the clients themselves!

        Any other thoughts?
        I think it is a trick shot that is worth bonus points

        Meaning if you can pull it off right it is useful and in the long run more profitable, but not pulled off perfectly then it can and will be harmful.

        Basically if you have a massively effective product (that really works and you can stand behind it 110%) and a personality that can hold the group together (solid and patient) then it will be a boon to all

        anything lacking the above mentioned will be detrimental to you and ultimately your customers
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        • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
          I think it depends on your business model.

          If you're using it as a money-making part of your business, then that can work if you can get the ethos, "policing" and content right.

          For example, a board I visit has over 38 million posts and over 360,000 members. It generates a lot of advertising revenue so I don't see them closing it any time soon.

          The problem comes if you're using it as a cheap support - meaning users support each other - that tends not to work too well. It's a cost and it's hassle. The same applies if you promise an ongoing community experience without the revenue to back it up. It's just not going to work in the long term.

          Cheers,

          Neil
          Signature

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          • Profile picture of the author Timur_S
            thanx a bunch guys... very good advices
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