Ep. 039 - Strategies for Successful Social Design with Bri Leever

In this conversation, Host, Raven O'Neal, and guest, Bri Leever, founder of Ember Consulting, delve into the intricacies of community building, focusing on the different types of communities, the challenges of engagement, and the importance of diversity. Bri shares her insights on the distinctions between free and paid communities, the role of education and connection, and the unique strengths women bring to community building. They also discuss the balance between accessibility and exclusivity, and Bri offers practical hacks for those looking to start their own communities.KEY TAKEAWAYSCommunities come in four typesFree communities struggle with the value propositionWomen excel at community-building but often hesitate to monetizeMember engagement is harder in free communities due to lower investmentPaid waitlists help gauge interest before launchDunbar's number suggests an optimal community size of around 125 peopleBalance accessibility with exclusive elementsAllow communities to develop organicallyTest with events before full launchStart conversations early to build interest and gather feedbackDISCUSSION TIMELINE06:30 The Four Types of Community12:06 Navigating Community Dynamics20:48 Building Diverse Communities23:42 Value and Engagement in Communities28:13 The Value of Paid Communities30:08 Understanding Engagement in Communities32:24 Habit Formation and Community Interaction34:05 Prompts and Rules for Engagement36:16 Community Size and Connection38:23 Accessibility vs. Exclusivity in Communities43:50 Learning from Men's Community Building45:11 Monetization Strategies for Communities50:14 Practical Hacks for Building CommunityCONNECT WITH BRIJoin Bri's Community: www.emberconsulting.co/join-communityBri on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/briannaleeverBri's Website: www.emberconsulting.coBri on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@emberconsulting