Ten easy to implement ways to grow your online community. A thriving community offers you greater opportunities and be perceived as an influencer and expert in your field of expertise.

2. Top 10 Ways To Accelerate
Community Growth
Sue Reddel & Diana Laskaris
Co-Founders of Food Travelist

3. Why Do you Want A Thriving Community?
• People are hungry for real communities that share their
personal interests
• A thriving community offers you greater opportunities and the
perception of being an influencer and expert in your area
• The primary way to make money is to have influence over a
large number of people with common interests that can be
marketed to

4. #1 Engage Your Audience
• Create unique and focused
content
• Make interaction simple
• Welcome new members
and encourage
participation
• Cultivate key members
Quick Tip: Use Google Analytics to learn
where your audience is coming from
and build on it.

5. #2 Connect With Other Influencers
• Don’t be afraid to reach
out
• Be friendly and be yourself
• Comment and interact
with them
• Add value
• Stay on topic
Quick Tip: Follow influencers, comment on
their posts tell them how the information
helped you & share with your audience.

6. #3 Make Content Sharable
• Make the headline
catchy
• Use high quality visuals
• Make it easy to share
• Share everywhere
relevant
Quick Tip: Use a headline generator like:
www.internetmarketingcourse.com/free
headlinegenerator

7. #4 Clearly Define Your Niche
• Be obvious and stand out
• Be consistent in your
messaging
• Provide unique value
• Include in all
communications
Quick Tip: Find successful influencers
in your niche and learn from them.
Don’t copy – learn and refine.

8. #5 Listen For What They Want
• Find the common interests
• Ask and answer questions
• Pay attention to trends
• Spend time with your
analytics
Quick Tip: Respond to every comment and
question as quickly as possible. Set up email
alerts.

9. #6 Make It Rewarding For Them
• Say thanks
• Respond to questions
• Be part of the conversation
• Celebrate their wins
• Acknowledge evangelists
Quick Tip: Everyone needs encouragement.
A quick thank you or share of their work
can make someone's day.

10. #7 Be Consistent
• Post regularly and often
• Use your own voice
• Be honest and respectful
• Be concise
Quick Tip: Create an editorial calendar
and use scheduling tools like
HootSuite, TweetDeck and Buffer to
make your life easier.

11. #8 Let Your Personality Shine
• Be natural & use your own
words
• Imagine you’re talking to
friends
• Use humor and tell stories
• Share appropriately
Quick Tip: Share your experience and
expertise. Don’t tell them about your
vacation tell them why they need to go.

12. #9 Keep Quality High
• If the photo is fuzzy don’t use it
• Don’t use 10 words if 3 will do
• Proofread before publishing
anything
• Would you read it?
Quick Tip: Use photo editors like VSCO
Cam & iMajiCam on your phone to do on
the fly photo editing. Also take more
photos than you’ll think you need.

13. #10 Have FUN!
• Remember you are asking for
their spare time
• Keep it light
• Entertain, inform and educate
• Inspire them with your ideas
Don’t ever permit the pressure
to exceed the pleasure.
Joe Maddon, Cubs Manager
Quick Tip: Take time to celebrate the wins.

14. Examples of Vibrant Communities
• Gypsynesters

15. Examples of Vibrant Communities
• IAmAileen

16. Examples of Vibrant Communities
• Food Travelist

17. Tools You Can Use
• Sharing tools: Hootsuite, TweetDeck, Buffer
• Content Creation: Feedly, Pocket, Canva, Stock Photos,
IFTT
• Managing Followers: JustUnfollow, Twitter Counter,
Iconosquare
• Find Influencers: Communi.it, Buzz Sumo
• Managing Your Brand: Google Alerts, Mention
• When to post: Tweriod

18. Contact info:
Sue Reddel sue@foodtravelist.com
Diana Laskaris diana@foodtravelist.com
foodtravelist.com
@foodtravelist
#foodtravelchat Wednesday Nights 8pm ET