Less is More: The Art of Using Creativity in Community Building

Picture this: You've meticulously planned every step of your community event, from start to finish. It's perfect, right? Wrong.

The biggest mistake you can make with your community is creating a full experience from end to end.

If people already know how things will end, what's the point?

Community is about creativity—both for you as a builder and for the people who participate.

Today, I'm diving into how you can avoid this common pitfall and create experiences that are as engaging as they are unscripted.

Controlled is Contrived: The Problem with Over-Engineered Community Experiences

Imagine an event with 17 predefined steps, each station rigidly connected to the next, leaving no room for flexibility.

Congratulations, you've just built something for robots. Beep boop hi-five.

We're not in the business of programming people; we're here to connect them.

What if, instead, you left it open after the first three steps for people to choose their own adventure? It has the same setup and the same content, but a totally different structure and a completely different experience.

Why does this matter in the long run?

People can smell a pre-planned future from a mile away, and let's face it—it's not exciting. This might work for an 8-year-old's birthday party, but it falls flat for adults who want to come together and create.

Instead of viewing your event as a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, think of it as a catalyst—a spark of inspiration that people will carry with them.

It's about creating a memory that serves as a foundation for connections, creativity, and relationships that extend far beyond the event itself.

Rule: The more rigid you are with design, the less effective it's going to be in reality.

Attraction and Connection: Why Pop-Up Communities Rule

This is why running the pop-up community playbook matters.

It gives you a chance to be creative with very low risk. If it doesn't work, it's already over or you can turn it off if you need to.

It's also a unique moment in time for your audience. It's just a one-time thing. You have to show up. Who knows what will happen?

It's the power in the connection, the surprise of the event, the delight in who's there, the opportunity to discover something new.

This is just as empowering for you as a designer as it is for the members of your audience.

Focus on the 90/10 rule

Dedicate 90% of your efforts to attraction and connection. This means identifying your core audience, understanding what resonates with them, and creating compelling content that speaks directly to their interests and needs.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify your core audience and what truly resonates with them
• Design experiences that feel like "must-attend" events for your target members

Create moments, not meetings

Develop experiences that feel unique and unmissable. This involves planning events or activities that align with your community's passions, incorporating elements of surprise or exclusivity, and emphasizing the "you had to be there" factor in your marketing.

Key Takeaways:

• Plan events that align with your community's passions
• Incorporate elements of surprise and exclusivity to increase appeal

By focusing on these aspects, you'll create a strong foundation for a community that not only attracts members but keeps them engaged and coming back for more.

Continued Engagement: Beyond Your Direct Involvement

The true measure of a successful community is its ability to thrive even when you're not actively facilitating interactions. Encourage organic connections by providing opportunities for members to connect independently.

You can achieve this by setting up social media groups or forums for ongoing discussions, suggesting ways for members to meet up locally or virtually, and sharing success stories of connections made within the community.

Key Takeaways:

• Set up platforms / places for ongoing discussions among members
• Share success stories to inspire more connections

Designing open-ended experiences is another crucial aspect. Create activities that inspire creativity and personal interpretation. Think big – organizing scavenger hunts with prizes for the most creative submissions, hosting challenges that encourage members to put their own spin on a shared task, or providing prompts or themes that members can explore in their own unique ways.

Key Takeaways:

• Organize creative challenges with room for personal interpretation
• Provide prompts or themes for participants to explore independently

By focusing on these strategies, you'll create a community that continues to engage and grow, driven by the creativity and connections of its members.

Providing Value with Shareable Resources

I apologize for the misinterpretation. Let's adjust the tone to reflect your expertise while maintaining a conversational style. Here's a revised version:

Empowering Your Community Beyond Events

When you're building a community, think beyond the event itself. You want to create resources that members can use and share, extending your impact long after everyone's gone home.

Let's start with merchandise. It's not just about branding—it's about creating connections. Design items that your members will actually want to wear or use. When done right, your merch becomes a conversation starter, helping members recognize each other in the real world. Consider using these items as rewards for active participation. It's a great way to acknowledge your most engaged members.

Key Takeaways:

• Create merch that facilitates real-world connections
• Use high-quality items as rewards for community engagement

Now, let's talk about content. The goal is to provide value that's adaptable. Share content that members can easily modify and make their own. This could be anything from recipes to discussion templates.

The key is encouraging people to put their own spin on it and share their variations. This approach not only provides immediate value but also fosters creativity within your community.

Key Takeaways:

• Provide adaptable content templates
• Encourage members to share their personalized versions

Lastly, focus on making your core messages shareable. Create concise, impactful content that's easy to pass along. Develop visuals or infographics that capture key ideas at a glance.

Encourage your participants to share how they're applying what they've learned. Personal stories are incredibly powerful in spreading your community's message.

Key Takeaways:

• Craft bite-sized, impactful messages for easy sharing
• Highlight real-world applications of community learnings

Reminder: You're not just running events—you're creating a self-sustaining ecosystem where your community can thrive and grow organically.

Final Words: Less Is More

By embracing the art of 'less is more' in community building, you create space for your members to take ownership, get creative, and forge lasting connections.

Your role shifts from providing all the answers to inspiring action and facilitating connections. This approach not only leaves your audience hungry for more but also empowers them to continue the conversation and create value long after your direct involvement ends.

Community is not about crafting a perfect, controlled journey. It's about sparking creativity, fostering genuine connections, and creating a catalyst for ongoing engagement.

So, take a breath, loosen the reins, and embrace the unpredictable. Watch as your community flourishes in ways you never imagined.