Day 18 of 30: Prompt, Response, Publish: A Community Content Flywheel
Content creation is staring at a blank page, cursor blinking, waiting for the next groundbreaking idea.
It's a common trap for community leaders: believing that they must constantly produce value bombs to keep their members engaged.
This one-sided approach not only places immense pressure on the leader but also stifles the community's potential.
A shift in perspective here is crucial...before you enter the death spiral. 🌪
As a community leader, you're not just the expert who started the party; you're now the host, orchestrating a symphony of voices.
Your role evolves to extracting and amplifying the rich stories and insights your members bring to the table.
This is where the magic happens — when the community transforms into a collaborative platform, a content flywheel powered by its members.
Here's how to nurture this ecosystem:
1️⃣ Define what good content looks like in your community.
Set clear examples and standards. This guidance helps members understand what's expected and how they can contribute meaningfully.
- Do you want hot takes on trends?
- Authentic updates on projects that welcome feedback?
- Deep dives with lots of data?
2️⃣ Encourage your early contributors using a scheduled prompt and shout outs.
Acknowledge their input publicly. This not only rewards their effort but also sets the tone for the community culture — a culture that values and celebrates member contributions.
- The prompt reminds (and makes it open to all).
- The shout out reinforces by giving status.
3️⃣ Turn input into output.
When the content starts flowing, integrate the best into what you publish out into the real world. Include quotes, recognition, or paraphrase if appropriate. These internal conversations are validation of your work and the community vibe -- don't be shy!
The Power Move -- Your time is best spent not in churning out content, but in crafting thought-provoking questions that draw out the unique wisdom of your members.
This post was part of my 30-day community series I ran on Twitter/X. Follow me for instant updates. Explore this site to learn more about community. You can work with me to accelerate your community growth.