Rethinking Community Management
The Never Ending Dinner Party
GM,
Running a Web3 community is like hosting a never ending dinner party.
Let’s pause and think about what it takes to host a good dinner party…. You need people having fun, chatting, building genuine connections. You also need a mix of interesting guests and welcoming hosts to keep everyone engaged.
Just like a fun dinner party, your community should be an awesome place to hang out. Here’s how to keep the vibes high and the convos flowing.
Hosting The Party
Every great party has a host who sets the tone. In your community, this role belongs to the core team and moderators.
They should be engaging, approachable, and genuinely invested in the community's well-being.
The hosts are responsible for managing the group’s energy, ensuring conversations stay vibrant and inclusive.
Hosts should be proactive in engaging with new members and keeping things fresh. An engaging host also recognizes when to step in to defuse tension or reignite enthusiasm. The key is to keep the atmosphere lively and welcoming, making everyone feel valued and excited to participate.
Managing and Sparking Conversations
Think of certain members as spark plugs —they help ignite conversations.
These key members encourage discussions when things are slow and help calm things down when things get heated. It's also essential to engage your community by asking thoughtful questions. Engaging people are those who are curious about others.
It sounds simple, but it’s so often overlooked: Ask questions to spark deeper discussions & engagement.
Encourage smaller group discussions or side chats. These help manage the dynamics and keep everyone engaged without overwhelming the main conversation. Just like a great dinner party, a mix of new ideas and humor will ensure your community thrives.
Member Identity & Rituals
A community thrives on a diverse mix of personalities and shared rituals.
Aim for a balance of always-online participants, influential names, thoughtful contributors, and funny, engaging members.
On the note of influential names attending → You’re looking for outsiders to go “oh dam Phil is going”. This brings the lore to your party and the infamous FOMO effect comes into play.
Establish shared rituals and routines to foster deeper connections and give your group a sense of identity and belonging. These could be sayings, traditions, events or activities that everyone looks forward to.
Rituals help build cohesion. Identity is what keeps your community engaged.
And a note on size - smaller groups foster closer connections and more meaningful interactions. Larger groups, especially those over 100 members, often see a decline in engagement and quality. Ensure members earn their spot by actively participating and contributing value.
By thinking of your community as a never ending dinner party, you’ll allow yourself to focus on the essentials - having fun. Keep this in mind with every decision you make.
Shout out to Sriram Krishnan for driving the focus of this article, inspired by his Group Chats Rule The World post.
Till next time. 🫡
Your thoughts?
Banger