# Building community flywheels

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## Summary:

* Every community builder out there has ***felt like this at some point** -- **finding that initial traction*** with ongoing discussions can be hard.
  * Start with easy discussions, like introduction posts.
  * Experiment with writing posts
  * Creating a regular or ritual post
* The point with all of these mini flywheels is you can’t write stuff and expect magic to happen, ***you need to find actions to elevate your content.***
* Great communities are ***built on*** great ***ethics, kindness, and human behavior.***
* Build all that  ⬆️ into your community, one small flywheel at a time.&#x20;
* Community guidelines do not make a great culture, actions do.

> **Having a flywheel that encourages great community culture not only encourages others to copy your ‘good actions, but featuring selected community activities also indicates things you want to see within the community.**

* ***Giving and helping*** are at the heart of great communities.
* Community culture does not happen overnight.
* Flywheels take practice, lots and lots of practice. Failing is a part of the process.&#x20;
* Flywheels are the things you do, the process, the daily tasks.&#x20;

## Scribble:&#x20;

* The main challenge faced by a community builder -- trying to achieve a constant flow of activity.&#x20;
* A thriving community is one that feels like there is the right balance of activity. <br>

### Ways to increase the quantity/quality of activity

* more discussions
* more members
* creating more value
* events that matter
* more connection&#x20;

### Community funnel of hope

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/JKTUcO6dYApWytQIFI_nua46AInknY-YWHz8n2Rv4zSulTu35tMueU5JSEQLxFdGaCi8mg-U7_H1vhoUe82RNVj59wrI8bv0y1NqG8sb4pWT4tywKGKpErp5POIaXYgDyypcyWI)

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* Consider funnels in terms of flywheels.
  * Effective flywheel creates energy
  * Energy leads to growth 📈

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### Flywheel

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* Instead of funnels, we are using flywheels
* An effective flywheel creates energy or traction, which then naturally leads to growth.
* The key is to figure out a set of actions that support each other and keep doing them

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DhE5nmeXPmf8DjGYPJnrtZFo7vzdBZwc-8Pkm-cLE6rAZVYTXxhmaGsZQ_nmo2y5xGAcevjGhykB4Zja8_hsOl7ElucvbVa00BBdcnKBJDYCic3437_SMrVhjMe-JokBEyK1te4)

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#### Build on Flywheel&#x20;

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* bring energy and traction, usually in the form of more or higher quality activity
* add value to the community
* align with your goals and vision

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#### Life of Flywheel

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* A flywheel or multiple connected flywheels have grown and evolved there will be a time it comes to a natural end.
* What worked 5 or 10 years ago most certainly won’t work today.

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### Takeaways

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* flywheel actions like this will help you get where you want to be
* people will naturally gravitate towards you when you come to launch a blog, a newsletter, podcast or a community.
* when you have that gravity = people join your community!

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#### The things are great to know people, but how does it translate to building community?

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#### You can’t build community without:

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* Knowing your people
* Conversing with them
* Creating something of value

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### Example of a Flywheel

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“I want more members” flywheels

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* Think about what it is members need
* How you can align that to your community vision
* Start by getting to know your people.

![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/jQrmAtBWp8CVuEh3xkgRYfkYeA0LUOB4EkSHYeaEgAgUjfTqmttVURHyTByst_ho3PWcOdvzAGjfSpWfBt9-CppJ3gaRrmgxxlsnKER2cnX7OutCovc6MOYaxOQTlSMaOqA_P0g)

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#### On Twitter (Example)&#x20;

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* Instead of subscribing to their newsletter, you follow them. Bonus points for building trust by participating in the conversation.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lFMvX5lriAfdxuSZcaJQWMxnFVg5N8DOQS60Gv7PapjZ2hRRqn3uNKvCKQqsn6DHwzTubAyZD91h4Te5AE3_OFFPPZ2H-3Z8AlDPLRWHR4MfAPFDRpInQE5YgOwWDywYJSBZx4k)

![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/OHQfbL7fftTT-sp5vo6KVthOyGrXUPGoYcKjX235X6wnQDeCy6Dj55lVM-YEdLETVlkCgp7AB104iXcFrxkDEgfQ1iCkiLKp8aApw2GeiQFaxFNDoCH2LsjFeOsK8ZltPmzzbBo)

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* The above are a few examples of creating flywheels and how it evolves further using Twitter as a real-life example can be seen below.

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_DCMRsZwarJraTlqhh4SAOa1FAsVW7z4x2EMRe9qdQrLdjWBm9wL3nrxbaOgRs2bhZF4kqmuXyyDeEBQRfDmNWh7rCY3EtIp6qeTQ_tCLNK-UzxUxez8VPVXoWFH6usqDGgHMoU)

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#### There are more examples of flywheels on the [blog](https://orbit.love/blog/let-s-build-some-community-flywheels), make sure you check them out! 👋🏼😊