What I'm about to share has cost me quite a bit of stress, and most people still get it wrong to this dayโespecially when they come from the coaching world and try to build a community here.
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๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ - ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐
๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐
Many are familiar with this. Itโs an area where you gain access to watch various videos and courses. Nowadays, some platforms allow group interaction where members can exchange ideas. However, the main focus is on watching videos and learning from the person who created them.
๐พ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐
You have a person you learn from, who gives you tips and guides you toward your goals. In many cases, this could also be a trainer who works with you (like a personal trainer).
๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ
You join a network of many people who all have the same goal. You exchange ideas and team up with a few to perhaps even collaborate or learn from one another.
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Now, some coaches come to this platform and try to use the community like a membership area or even as a coaching platform.
I want to make the difference clear with the following metaphor:
Letโs say you want to become a better โboxer.โ You have several options:
1๏ธโฃ You regularly attend events where boxing trainers and pro boxers give talks, which you watch and take notes on (Membership Area).
2๏ธโฃ You find a coach who trains you regularly and helps you improve (Coaching).
3๏ธโฃ You join a boxing club, where you regularly train with others under the guidance of a trainer (Community).
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In all three examples, there is some sort of โexpertโ involved. But the level of involvement varies in each case.
If you ask me which method is the best, it obviously depends on the type of person you are and your budget.
๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐โ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ช๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ญ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ก๐ช๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐๐ก๐.
Thatโs why Iโve decided to dedicate my future to the topic of communities.
Memberships and Member Areas, as well as purely video-based courses, are personally on the decline for me and will soon be unnecessary. Personal coaching is still interesting, but itโs much more expensive and is purely an exchange of time for money. Still, itโs a valid option.
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐
When building a community, focus on the "club principle."
- If you want to coach, do it outside the club.
- If you want to sell courses, do it outside the club.
If you follow this advice and apply this tips, you'll be able to build something that genuinely impacts your target audience and makes you great money.
Did the comparison make sense?
What do you think?
Itโs really just a metaphor, but I hope it helped bring some clarity.
Best regards, Calvin ๐ซก