5 Community Trends You Can't Ignore in 2026

In this inaugural episode of Community, Off Script, I'm breaking down my predictions for what's shifting in the community building space in 2026—from the platforms that matter to how we think about engagement, monetization, and sustainability.Whether you're just starting to build community or looking to level up your strategy, these predictions will help you see where the opportunities are and what to focus on this year.In this episode:Why you need to measure community like product, not marketingWhy founder presence is non-negotiable (and what sustainable engagement actually looks like)How the freemium model is becoming standard for community businessesWhy community budgets are getting bigger—and why that's a good thingThe massive opportunity in the current community education gapPlus, I'm introducing The 4 S's Framework: Strategy, Simplify, Systems, and Scale—your roadmap for building community infrastructure that actually works.Resources mentioned:The 4 S's Community Infrastructure Audit: www.form.typeform.com/to/kzllGq6xConnect with me:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-strayhorn-mps/Website: www.notedd.com