If You Build It, They Won’t (Necessarily) Come

The dappled sunlight filters through the shades and into your darkened room. Your hoodie is 100% cotton perfection, the hood adorning your brilliant head like a crown. The sleepless nights have paid off and the day has finally come, it’s time to go live. 

You launch and suddenly are flooded with users, you are lauded in memes, you have a keynote at Devcon, and you drive a chariot pulled by bufficorns into the sunset. 

But it’s time to wake up. 

Whether you’re blessed with a strong initial user base or are just starting to build momentum, it is essential to create and maintain a community-oriented foundation. As web3 welcomes its next wave of new users, the projects that win hearts and minds won’t be the ones with the flashiest features, but the ones who nurture true community, the type of thing that transcends transactions.

Let’s scratch the surface on three key approaches.

1. Form a community that is welcoming and freely shares knowledge

Building a strong community means welcoming new and different perspectives and communicating clearly so that members can take ownership when it comes to defining and pursuing common goals. 

For some community leaders it is necessary to sacrifice a degree of anonymity and be available to answer questions, provide project updates, lead educational events, and participate in discussion forums. It feels almost like common sense, but it’s important to remember that project leaders should be upfront and honest about their state of development. Most web3 community members understand that roadmaps change, but it’s still important to update people on the reasons behind the shift and what they can expect in terms of new targets. Don’t disrespect your community by relying on smoke and mirrors, even the most patient and dedicated community members can begin to feel alienated when they are left out of the loop.  

Keep the roadmap updated on your website and communicate across social and community channels when changes occur. 

2. Create engaging IRL gatherings with guidelines

The world of web3 is built behind screens, but making efforts to connect IRL is one of the best, and most important community building strategies. I’ve seen projects directly focus on supporting local creative communities, leveraging blockchain to coordinate initiatives focused on improvements in their hometowns. The ETH events hosted in various cities around the world are another great example of how to foster community locally and how that translates into a strong global effort. 

I’ve also been personally involved in Proof of Community events, a global series focused on bringing current and new community members together to learn about a new technology (and to have some fun while doing so!). One of my favorite examples of this was the Proof of Community backpacking India initiative. Members of the team backpacked across India and were able to connect with over 7500 students through educational workshops geared towards providing them with the tools necessary to begin their foray into the future of the Internet! 

When we think about IRL gatherings it is also imperative that we remain mindful about the type of space we are creating. Community guidelines, like those shared by Gitcoin can go a long way when it comes to establishing standards for behaviors that facilitate inclusivity. Take a hard line when it comes to harassment, and remember that we don’t get to pat ourselves on the back for just thinking about community guidelines without taking any action.

3. Make decisions together 

Projects built on open, democratic governance systems enable the community to collectively chart the course. Proposals for improvement, new features, and strategic shifts are vetted and voted on by the very people who have real skin in the game. This shared decision making fosters a sense of agency, replacing indifference with active participation. People value the things they help build more than those they don’t, a fun little cognitive bias is called the Ikea effect. When individuals feel they are actively contributing, they become more likely to champion the project to everyone, and work harder to overcome any challenges that may arise. This collective wisdom leads to more informed, nuanced decisions that are less susceptible to echo chambers and single points of failure. Try to remember this at every level of your project, take a moment to listen to your community even when they aren’t saying exactly what you want to hear. 

Your chariot awaits.