I googled community management hacks, and all I found were generic pointers everywhere. Snooze-fest! Frustrated by the lack of actionable advice, I decided to compile this blog with never-before-heard tactics specifically for Web3 communities.
Sure, we all know the basics. Define your community's purpose—whether it's to empower Web3 developers or turn crypto newbies into blockchain experts. Pick the right platform, like Discord, because it’s user-friendly and has all the moderation bells and whistles. And yes, creating compelling content like "How to Navigate the Web3 Jungle" or "Top DeFi Projects That’ll Blow Your Mind" is a no-brainer.
Promotion through social media channels and influencer collaborations can spread the word like wildfire, while engaging your community with live Q&A sessions and interactive threads keeps the party going.
But let’s be real—those just account for a teaser.
Community building, in reality, is deeper, bigger and more complicated than you think. On top of it, if budget is a constraint, then merely posting memes and polls everyday will result in absolutely nothing.
Top community building mistakes that CMOs do
If you’re struggling to engage with lackluster communities despite significant budget investments, you’re not alone. Many Web3 projects face similar challenges in building vibrant, active communities.
Based on aggressive community building for 100+ projects at Airlyft, we identified the following as key bottlenecks.
Avoiding these mistakes and focusing on proactive engagement, meaningful interactions, and continuous improvement will enable you to build high-performing communities. Communities are to Web3 what search engines are to Web2
That’s true. That’s why most successful web3 projects have a sturdy presence on platforms like Discord and Telegram. In fact, engagement rates on Web3-related servers often show high activity, with daily active users averaging around 30-40% of total membership, reflecting vibrant community interactions.
For example, major projects like Uniswap and Aave have Discord communities with over 50,000 members each. Telegram groups for popular projects can also reach tens of thousands of members.
So how to join the league?
Top tips to build web3 communities without budget horrors
What’s common between the most successful web3 projects is a solid backing of their communities. Here’s a detailed account of actionable tips to build active, relevant and loyal communities.
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Developer Challenges and Support
How to Implement: Hosting developer challenges or hackathons encourages innovation and collaboration within your community. Organize virtual hackathons using platforms like Gitcoin, offering incentives such as grants or project incubation support for winning projects. For instance, focus on creating DeFi solutions, with winners receiving mentorship and funding.
For example, by hosting a DeFi hackathon, you encourage collaboration and innovative solutions within the community, ultimately driving more engagement and participation. Fact: According to Gitcoin, over $30 million has been distributed to open-source developers through hackathons and grants.
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Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration
Forming strategic partnerships with other Web3 projects, blockchain platforms, or industry organizations can significantly expand your community's reach. Collaborate on joint initiatives, co-host events, or share resources. Partnering with a blockchain education platform to create a certification program offers joint certification recognized by both communities, expanding reach and fostering idea cross-pollination.
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Developer Support Programs
Offering robust developer support programs is crucial for nurturing talent. Provide mentorship opportunities, code review sessions, and enhance technical documentation. Organize a mentorship program where experienced developers guide newcomers through projects on GitHub. For example, monthly code review sessions help improve the overall quality of projects and build a supportive environment for learning and contribution.
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Specialized Sub-Communities
Create specialized sub-communities within your broader community to focus on niche areas like decentralized identity (DID) or tokenomics. Use platforms like Discord to host dedicated channels for each niche area. For example, establishing a sub-community focused on DID allows members to share research, develop standards, and collaborate on projects, facilitating focused discussions and collaboration.
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Regulatory Awareness
Keep your community informed about regulatory developments and compliance requirements. Share regular updates and host discussions on regulatory developments. Organize webinars with legal experts to discuss the implications of new regulations. For example, hosting a quarterly webinar series with legal professionals helps promote responsible innovation and keeps the community compliant with evolving legal landscapes.
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Volunteer Ambassador Programs
Establish a volunteer ambassador program to promote the community. Select and train dedicated community members to act as ambassadors, offering token rewards and exclusive perks. Example & Impact: Rewarding ambassadors with special NFTs for their efforts expands community reach through enthusiastic volunteers, reducing marketing costs.
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Micro-Grants for Community Projects
Provide micro-grants to support community-led initiatives. Allocate a small fund and establish an application process using a DAO for transparent decision-making. For example, using Aragon to manage grant distribution empowers members to take the lead on innovative projects, fostering a sense of ownership and active participation.
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Blockchain-Powered Loyalty Programs
Develop a loyalty program that rewards long-term engagement and contributions with blockchain-based rewards. Use blockchain platforms to manage the program, distributing tokens or NFTs based on member activities. Rewarding users for consistent participation in community events with exclusive NFTs encourages continuous engagement and loyalty.
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Interactive Virtual Meetups in Free Metaverse Spaces
Host virtual meetups and networking events in free-to-access metaverse platforms. Use platforms like AltspaceVR or Mozilla Hubs to organize virtual gatherings, encouraging members to use VR equipment or web browsers for access. Hosting a virtual meetup in AltspaceVR provides immersive, engaging experiences that strengthen community bonds without significant financial investment.
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Utilizing Social Tokens for Community Engagement
Issue social tokens that represent community reputation or influence to drive engagement and participation. Mint social tokens on platforms like Roll or Rally, distributing them based on contributions like content creation or event participation. For example, rewarding active forum participants with social tokens for voting on community decisions or accessing exclusive content incentivizes active participation and builds a sense of belonging. Fact: Social tokens can increase community engagement by 40%, as seen in case studies from Roll.
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Token-Gated Content and Experiences
Create exclusive content or events accessible only to token holders. Use affordable blockchain solutions like Polygon for low-cost token issuance, and host events on platforms like Discord or Zoom, gated by token verification. For example, providing token holders access to a private webinar series featuring industry experts drives token value and fosters exclusivity and loyalty without significant investment
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NFT-Based Skill Badging and Recognition
Organize peer-to-peer learning sessions and webinars led by community members to enhance knowledge sharing. Schedule regular sessions on platforms like Discord or Zoom, allowing knowledgeable members to share expertise and offering tokens or NFTs as appreciation. For example, hosting a weekly webinar where members present on Web3 topics, rewarding presenters with special tokens or badges, enhances community knowledge and engagement.
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Peer-to-Peer Learning Sessions and Webinars
Organize peer-to-peer learning sessions and webinars led by community members to enhance knowledge sharing. Schedule regular sessions on platforms like Discord or Zoom, allowing knowledgeable members to share expertise and offering tokens or NFTs as appreciation. For example, hosting a weekly webinar where members present on Web3 topics, rewarding presenters with special tokens or badges, enhances community knowledge and engagement.
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Leveraging Free and Open-Source Tools
Utilize free and open-source tools for community management to reduce costs. Adopt open-source software for forums, chat, and collaboration, like Discourse or Mattermost, customizing these tools to fit community needs. For example, setting up a Discourse forum for structured discussions provides robust community management solutions without the need for expensive proprietary software, enabling effective communication and engagement at a lower cost.
1-month Calendar for a web3 community
Crystallizing the discussion so far, here’s a detailed calendar that you can use, as it is; only if you are too lazy to customize.
Advanced Automation Tactics for Web3 Community Building
Automation is a game changer in streamlining Web3 community management by handling repetitive tasks and enhancing member engagement. More:
Scheduled Announcements and Content Sharing
How to Implement: Use tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Discord’s built-in scheduling features to plan and automate your announcements and content posts. Set up regular updates on project progress, upcoming events, or new blog posts to keep your community informed and engaged.
Automated Onboarding Sequences
How to Implement: Utilize bots like MEE6 and Dyno on Discord or Combot on Telegram to create an automated onboarding process. This includes welcoming new members, assigning roles, and guiding them through community rules and resources.
Event Management and Reminders
How to Implement: Use EventBot on Discord or CalendarBot on Telegram to automate event creation and reminders for community meetups, AMAs, and webinars. These bots can send reminders and provide links to join events.
Polls and Surveys for Feedback
How to Implement: Regularly collect feedback through automated polls and surveys using tools like Simple Poll on Discord, PollBot on Telegram, or Google Forms integrated via Zapier.
Automated Moderation and Security
How to Implement: Set up bots like Nightbot on Discord, Guard Bot on Telegram, and Akismet integrated via Zapier to detect and handle spam, inappropriate content, and rule violations. Configure filters and automatic actions (mute, ban) based on specific triggers.
Engagement Tracking and Analytics
How to Implement: Use analytics tools like Statbot on Discord, Combot on Telegram, or Chainfuel to track engagement metrics like message frequency, active users, and popular topics. Set up automated reports to regularly review community health.
Reward Systems and Gamification
How to Implement: Implement reward systems using bots like MEE6 on Discord, Gamebot on Telegram, or Tip.cc on both platforms. Automate the distribution of points, badges, or tokens for participation, task completion, or winning competitions.
Content Curation and Aggregation
How to Implement: Automate content curation by setting up RSS feeds from relevant blogs, news sites, and social media channels to post updates directly to your community channels using tools like Zapier.
Beyond Disord, Twitter and Telegram
If you are in web3, then you ought to be in atleast 5 of the below platforms
| Platform | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| Host topic-specific discussions and share long-form content in dedicated subreddits. | |
| Clubhouse | Audio-based social network for live discussions, AMAs, and panel discussions. |
| GitHub | Collaboration on open-source projects, code sharing, and issue tracking for developer communities. |
| Substack | Newsletter publishing platform for sending regular updates, insights, and exclusive content. |
| Discourse | Open-source discussion platform for structured, in-depth discussions and long-term engagement. |
| Twitch | Live streaming platform for webinars, live coding sessions, and community hangouts. |
| Mattermost | Open-source team chat and collaboration platform, customizable and self-hostable. |
| Loomio | Decision-making tool for collaborative groups, supporting community votes and consensus building. |
| Commonwealth | Platform for community governance and discussions, integrating forums, voting, and treasury management. |
| Aragon | Platform for creating and managing DAOs, supporting governance, voting, and treasury management. |
| Snapshot | Decentralized voting platform for community decision-making using governance tokens. |
Communities attract people and fortune
Remember, communities are the lifeblood of Web3. With these innovative strategies, you're not just surviving—you're thriving in the decentralized future! As the digital frontier evolves, those who master community building will shape the next era of online interaction.