When we talk about community, we normally think of a group of people geographically close and with common affinities.
In the case of virtual communities or online communities, the physical location of the members ceases to be important. But despite the geographical distance, we are still talking about a space for interaction between people who share the same interests.
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What are virtual communities?
Virtual communities are a trend on the Internet and are attracting more and more participants, as they help people feel part of something.
Within these groups, users meet other people who think similarly to theirs and can comment on various topics related to the proposed theme.
In addition to generating a sense of belonging, virtual communities facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge and experiences, contributing to the personal and professional development of their members.
For this reason, they have been widely used by companies and to improve the scope of their businesses and boost sales.
Understand the importance of the online community and find out how you can participate profitably and assertively in these groups.
Why participate in virtual communities?
People can participate in an online community for various reasons and not always related to professional aspects.
They may be interested in makeup, for example, and look for a community that is on the subject to answer their questions and have access to advice.
In these cases, the virtual community is important, since it adds value to the user and allows him to interact with other people who like the same thing.
Now, if you have a business, participation in virtual communities should be considered as a promotion strategy.
Advantages of participating in virtual communities
By following a community, you can better understand and take a closer look at the audience in your niche. This can give you several ideas that you can implement in your work to improve what you offer.
In addition to this benefit, here are some tips to show you what you can achieve by participating in virtual communities.
1. Knowledge of user demand
It is common for users to talk about their pains and needs in participating communities.
That is why it is an excellent opportunity for those who want to create assertive marketing actions with a view to publicizing or promoting products that are in demand in the market.
If you work with products for dogs and cats, for example, you can participate in communities on the subject, since in them you will find the answers to the most frequent doubts of the guardians of these animals. This can help you better understand what they need.
Having access to this information will help you direct your actions and produce really useful products that have the potential to stand out and .
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2. Analysis of comments and criticisms about competitors
An online community is also used for people to comment on contracted products and services, making the environment extremely helpful for those who need to monitor the competition.
When you listen to what the public is saying about other brands in your niche or even about your product, you can find gaps to act or discover what you need to perfect in your business.
3. Dialogue with potential customers
When you are in a virtual community related to your area of activity, the chances of finding potential clients are much greater.
Imagine the following situation:
A person enters a community to solve a doubt and, in one of the conversations, discovers products and services directly related to your proposal and that can help him solve what ails him.
The chances of this participant starting a dialogue with brands that offer the solution they were looking for is great, isn’t it?
After all, he entered the community precisely because he perceived a need and decided to find a solution for it.
4. Building authority in the market
If you know how to position yourself in a positive way, convey a professional image and demonstrate extensive knowledge in your area of activity, the members of the virtual communities in your sector will begin to recognize your authority in that matter.
Because the space encourages interaction among members, you can give informed opinions, present easy solutions to people’s everyday problems, and show how your business values and goals are compatible with what those people value.
In this way you gain the trust of the participants and show that you are capable of delivering something really relevant.
5. Observation of engagement in marketing actions
In a virtual community, you can also see how the public is engaging with proposals by your competitors or other professionals in related areas.
This observation helps you to have ideas that you can apply in your business, in addition to facilitating the identification of the types of actions that bring the best results.
How to participate in virtual communities?
Have you realized the advantages of working with virtual communities?
Still, there is no use being a member of multiple communities if you don’t know how to position yourself.
It is necessary to think carefully about what you will share and to have an appropriate behavior, so that people have a good impression and are willing to do business with you.
Here’s what you need to do to take advantage of this trend in the best way:
1. Select a segment
You need what you know and what you like so that your participation in the virtual community is productive.
The members of a group need to interact and exchange information, which is difficult if you are in a space that deals with topics that have nothing to do with you.
If your idea is to sell what you produce or promote something as an Affiliate, choose a community that is related to your digital product.
Whoever works with virtual courses on natural food, for example, will obtain much better results in communities about health and cooking than in one that talks about series and movies.
2. Find out about all the community rules
Every community needs rules to function well, and in the digital environment, that’s no different!
Therefore, it is essential to find out all the rules of a virtual community before entering, so as not to do anything inappropriate that could harm or irritate the participants and moderators.
If your idea is to be a reference in your niche, any wrong attitude can and will reduce the chances of getting new clients.
3. He understands discussions well
Virtual communities are spaces for discussions and have tools to allow everyone to participate and give their opinions.
However, it is essential that people understand the discussions before participating, so that the matter is not lost and the doubts raised are effectively answered.
When entering a new community, observe the type of discussion that occurs in this space and try to understand the positioning of the participants.
If you do it carefully, you will be able to understand what conversations you must enter to achieve your goals and how you should position yourself to fit into this group.
4. Participate in discussions
After you understand how discussions work, it is important for you to participate in order to be seen and recognized in this niche.
You must know how to express your opinion, position yourself and dialogue with the other members, but you must avoid controversial comments that can cause discomfort.
The objective of virtual communities is to help the participants in a certain matter. So, the climate must always be respectful and collaborative.
If you notice that the opinions are totally contrary to yours or violate your values, it is better to leave that community than to cause fights.
In addition to not being healthy for you, it can cause irreparable damage to your business, such as driving away people who had a great chance of consuming your product.
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5. Learn to take criticism
Even in peaceful environments, where everyone shares values and goals, it is inevitable to encounter criticism and divergent opinions.
To participate in virtual communities, you must know how to receive all kinds of comments, even negative ones.
This type of comment can even help you grow professionally, repair flaws in your business or improve your position in a certain area.
It is evident that the ideal is that everyone knows how to position themselves without aggressiveness, but other people are not always going to have the behavior you expect.
Therefore, if someone approaches you rudely, stay calm and learn to position yourself in a positive way. This way you earn points for maturity and professionalism and avoid unnecessary discussions.
Create your virtual community and grow your business
Virtual communities are extraordinary tools for you to find potential buyers of your product, as well as being a space that stimulates creativity.
By looking at what people in that niche are searching for, you can come up with ideas for new products and services, and you can use them to improve your business results or even start a new venture.
Participate in all the communities that already exist and are of interest to you. But if you feel that it is possible to move beyond what is already in the air, do not stop trying.
You can create your own virtual community. This will help you maintain a close relationship with your customers, enrich the experience with your brand and facilitate access to criticism, praise and suggestions.
Having a community can also be a way to nurture the relationship with people interested in a certain topic and guide them through the customer journey until they become real buyers of your product.
If your community does something valuable for people, such as solving doubts, generating knowledge and solving problems, you will create a bond of trust that can result in good business.
Tell us in the comments what kind of communities you participate in!
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