Best place to build a community
Looking to create a community around your cause? You have plenty of options.
There are three basic ways to establish a community in the real world.
You can build a physical community, which may be less difficult than you think. You can build an online community, which is also possible.
You may prefer the online variety, which gives you the ability to reach people from all over the world. In either case, here are some best places to build a community?
Best place to build a community
1. Coffee shops
Coffee shops have a few key elements that make them more conducive to community building than other places:
- The atmosphere and culture. In a coffee shop, it can be easier to meet new people. There are lots of things going on and plenty of opportunities for getting things done or just relaxing.
- Social interaction. People go to coffee shops because they offer something different from meeting at home, working from the office, or studying in the library: the chance to interact with each other, have conversations, and build relationships.
- Coffee shops tend to be central locations, meaning people from all over come and go from them. Plus, they have WiFi and lots of outlets for people who need to do work in public spaces. So, if you’re a freelancer or digital nomad, coffee shops are good places to meet new people who might share your interests. I’ve met several friends this way!
2. Church or other religious organization
A church or other religious organization can be a great place to build your community. A religious community provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment to its members, as well as helping them in practical ways like providing food, shelter, and companionship when they need it.
Religious communities also provide a safe space to worship, which is extremely important to many people.
However, not everyone wants or needs such a community. If you decide that this kind of community isn’t for you, there are many other options out there!
3. Family
Your family is an amazing resource, providing you with a number of different things. First, they are always there for you. No matter what happens in life, you will always be able to get advice and help from your family members.
In addition to this, family members are great people to learn about life from. Kids that grow up in a positive environment are more likely to do well as adults than kids who have had a rough home life.
Kids that grow up around good role models tend to follow their example and achieve success as adults. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes kids don’t have good role models and end up having trouble later on in life because of it.
However, if your kid does have good role models then he or she will most likely be just fine when it comes time for them to start making decisions on their own (which is inevitable).
4. School or college
School is a great place to build a community because it provides you with the opportunity to meet people who share your interests, learn new skills and make long-lasting friendships.
It offers a diverse range of people from all walks of life. You can join societies or clubs that have been created for students by students. You are then able to develop your existing hobbies and find many new ones!
5. Your neighborhood
- Introduce yourself to your neighbors.
- Start a book club with the lady next door.
- Organize a street party to meet the whole neighborhood at once. Everyone loves food and fun, so plan a potluck or barbeque and invite everyone you know on your street – even the quiet ones who are usually holed up in their houses.
- Invite your neighbors over for a barbeque. Make some friends while making some delicious food! You can get to know people better one-on-one, or do it as an impromptu get-together where several of your neighbors pop by throughout the evening while they’re walking their dogs or getting home from work.
- Join a local sports team (or start one!) to meet like-minded people who share similar interests and want to be active in their community just like you do! There are lots of groups online that cater specifically to expats and foreigners living abroad, so check out those too if you’re new in town!
6. Co-working space
We’re all busy, but we need to be able to work in a relaxed environment. A coworking space is one answer: it’s an environment with the same casual vibe as a startup, but with more professionalism and organization. Coworking spaces are organized around particular industries (IT, legal services, food or fashion), with certain amenities like private offices and cooked meals available for members.
The benefits of coworking spaces for startups:
- Every co-worker has someone to talk about the problems you solve for your clients or your customers. It’s social life at the office
- You don’t have to worry about annoying loud phone conversations taking place in the office down the hall because everything happens in front of you on transparent glass walls
- You can meet other entrepreneurs, recruiters, investors and industry experts who can give advice on how best to deal with problems and opportunities
7. Meetup
We’re all busy, but we need to be able to work in a relaxed environment. A coworking space is one answer: it’s an environment with the same casual vibe as a startup, but with more professionalism and organization. Coworking spaces are organized around particular industries (IT, legal services, food or fashion), with certain amenities like private offices and cooked meals available for members.
The benefits of coworking spaces for startups:
- Every co-worker has someone to talk about the problems you solve for your clients or your customers. It’s social life at the office
- You don’t have to worry about annoying loud phone conversations taking place in the office down the hall because everything happens in front of you on transparent glass walls
- You can meet other entrepreneurs, recruiters, investors and industry experts who can give advice on how best to deal with problems and opportunities
8. A conference or trade show
We’re all busy, but we need to be able to work in a relaxed environment. A coworking space is one answer: it’s an environment with the same casual vibe as a startup, but with more professionalism and organization. Coworking spaces are organized around particular industries (IT, legal services, food or fashion), with certain amenities like private offices and cooked meals available for members.
The benefits of coworking spaces for startups:
- Every co-worker has someone to talk about the problems you solve for your clients or your customers. It’s social life at the office
- You don’t have to worry about annoying loud phone conversations taking place in the office down the hall because everything happens in front of you on transparent glass walls
- You can meet other entrepreneurs, recruiters, investors and industry experts who can give advice on how best to deal with problems and opportunities
8. Don’t be shy!
Connect to people that may be very different from you. Talk to people. Go out to your comfort zone to create a community. Just be yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of other members and share your knowledge, even if you think it is silly.
Don’t forget the power of showing up! One of the best ways to build a community is by just jumping in feet first by attending local events within your area and going out into public spaces where people gather.
Benefits of Physical community
1. A real-life place.
A community isn’t just a place. It’s a group of people who live in the same area and share the same interests and values. Online communities are groups of people who share interests and values but meet each other online.
2. If you meet real people, then you can get to know them better.
When you meet people in real life, you can get to know them better. Talking with someone online is like talking with them over the phone—you’re limited in how much information you can convey.
When you talk to someone face-to-face, it’s easier to understand what they’re saying and how they feel based on their body language, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues. (Have you ever gotten into an argument over text?)
If your conversation partner says something that makes no sense or seems too good to be true, it’s easy to realize this when they’re standing right in front of you.
If they tell a joke that isn’t funny at all, it’s still polite to laugh because they might have misread the room and really thought it would be a knee-slapper.
Meeting new people can also lead to a more meaningful relationship than just chatting online with your friends from high school who are now scattered across the country or world.
Through getting together for hobbies or volunteering for a charity group, you’ll build trust and find common interests that could lead to lifelong friendship if given enough time together!
3. Physical community is a good way to make friends.
I will be the first one to tell you that physical community is a good way to make friends.
A positive benefit of participating in physical communities is that you can meet people with similar interests. You can talk about things that you are interested in and learn new things.
Another benefit of participating in physical communities is that you can meet people from different backgrounds who share similar interests while doing so.
This means you can learn more about other cultures and people around the world while also making new friends.
A final benefit of participating in physical communities is that it is a good way for getting out of your house or apartment and meeting new people as mentioned before.
4. You can meet people who share your interests or hobbies.
You can meet people who share your interests or hobbies.
If you love to knit or do crossword puzzles, you’re in luck! Local libraries often have volunteer groups that meet regularly to craft or solve together.
If you’re more into gaming, consider joining a local Dungeons & Dragons group (you can find one online at Meetup.com).
You might even make some new friends at your favorite hangout spot, just by striking up a conversation with the person next to you while waiting for your drinks to arrive.
Hybrid community: Why a PHYGITAL community could be a great option?
1. PHYGITAL communities are more solid and attract more members
A PHYSITAL community encompasses both physical and digital locations and methods of communication.
- Members are willing to pay more if they can connect physically with others members. A community that creates events is more likely to be a success.
- Their members have a strong sense of belonging to the community. Members have opportunities not only inside the physical space but also through our digital platform and events.
- You get the best of sharing ideas on the internet and connecting with members in real life. Physical communities are most solid and can’t be copied easily.
- It creates more trust.
This idea is becoming more common in other kinds of communities as well.
For example, Brand stores are increasingly offering online support groups or chat rooms where customers can share their experiences with one another.
Some social media platforms have also developed similar features where users can organize events.
2. Phygital communities get more active members
Now that the world is going digital, it’s so important to remember that you can’t replace human connection.
Communities are the best place to bring people together—and now they’re more accessible than ever, with the help of phygital experiences and communication.
We know what you’re thinking: “Sure, online communities are great for getting more members. But do they really care?” The answer is a resounding YES—because when you get to see all of those faces in person, it’s a lot easier to actually care about someone.
That’s why members love phygital communities. They take everything good about digital communities—accessibility, engagement, organization—and marry them with the benefits of physical communities: human connection and accountability.
You see members’ faces, you get to hear their voices, you interact in real-time… it’s amazing and members get more active online because of that!
So why are you waiting for create your own PHYGITAL community 🚀
