What Makes a Community?

One of the most important roles in marketing is to spearhead Community.

Yes, with a capital "C". These are the evangelists and loyalists who drive your referral engine. How many times have you been at a party and a friend starts telling you about the latest gadget, or restaurant, or new local condiment they just bought and now swear by?

Organizations have long known this to be an important part of their long-term success, but few truly care.

True Community leadership is when you lean in, listen, and learn. And continue that process each and every day.

My friend Sam Davidson recently wrote: "You’ll know you’re in deep community when people want to stay to make things better rather than leave because that makes things easier."

I want to listen to the customers to make things better because that is a wheel that keeps on turning.

How do you learn from your community?