Why Communities Are the Future of Online Business
When I first started building my online business, I focused entirely on products and services. I thought success came from selling more courses, ebooks, or coaching sessions. But over time, I realized something powerful: communities are the real future of online business.
In this post, I’m going to share why communities create deeper impact, better customer retention, and more predictable income — and how you can start building yours right now.
Table of Contents
People Crave Connection
We’re living in a world where everyone is bombarded by content. What makes someone choose you over a hundred other creators? Connection.
When you build a community, you give people a place where they feel seen, supported, and connected. That connection is what turns casual followers into loyal customers and advocates.
Communities Create Retention
If you’re tired of constantly chasing new customers, you need a membership or community model. A community keeps people engaged, and that engagement leads to longer retention.
Think about it: people are more likely to stay subscribed if they’re connected to others. They don’t want to lose those relationships, so they keep showing up month after month.
Communities Build Trust at Scale
Selling online is tough when people don’t trust you yet. But a strong community builds trust fast. Members see that you’re consistent, they watch others get results, and they feel confident investing more with you.
This makes it easier to sell premium offers, upsells, or even new products later on.
Communities Turn Customers Into Advocates
One of the biggest surprises for me was how my community members started promoting my business for me. When people feel like they belong, they naturally tell others about your brand.
This kind of word-of-mouth marketing is priceless, and you can’t buy it with ads.
How I Run My Community (Without Facebook Groups)
At first, I used Facebook Groups because it was free and familiar. But I quickly saw the drawbacks: distractions, low engagement, and no control over who saw my posts.
That’s when I switched to Skool, and it completely changed everything.
Skool combines:
- A clean community feed
- A classroom to host lessons and resources
- A built-in calendar for events and coaching calls
- Stripe payments so you can charge monthly or yearly
If you want to build your community the right way, sign up for Skool here: click here to start now.
Communities Build Predictable Income
One of the best parts of running a community is that you’re no longer dependent on one-off sales. Recurring revenue from memberships gives you stability and peace of mind.
Even a small community can create a solid foundation for your business. For example, 50 members at $49/month is nearly $2,500 in predictable income.
How to Get Started
- Choose a niche and define the transformation your community will offer
- Pick a platform (I recommend Skool)
- Set up your community space, add a welcome message, and upload one valuable resource
- Invite your first 5–10 members and build momentum from there
You don’t need everything perfect to start. The key is to launch and grow as you go.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still focused only on products and services, you’re missing the bigger picture. Communities are the future of online business, and the creators who build them now will be the ones who thrive long-term.
Here’s what I recommend you do today:
- Sign up for Skool here
- Launch your community this week
- Invite your first members and start building the relationships that will fuel your business for years to come
Once you experience the power of community, you’ll never want to go back to a purely transactional business model.
When I first started focusing on community building, I noticed a major shift in my business. Instead of trying to “sell” every single product individually, I had a group of people who were already invested in my mission. Launches became easier, and members were more likely to buy my other offers because they trusted me.
One of the best parts of running a community is how engaged your audience becomes. In a traditional business model, customers might buy once and disappear. But in a community, they show up consistently, interact with others, and build relationships that keep them connected to your brand.
If you’re ready to build your community the right way, sign up for Skool here: click this link to start now. You can have your community ready in less than an hour.
Another thing I love is how communities make marketing feel natural. Instead of cold DMs or ads, your members spread the word for you. They invite their friends, share their wins publicly, and become walking testimonials for your brand.
If you’re worried about not having a huge audience, don’t be. You can start small. Even 10 or 20 members is enough to create a powerful foundation. Those early adopters will help shape your community and give you momentum to grow.
Another tip is to create a clear promise for your community. What transformation will members get by joining? Whether it’s learning a skill, achieving a specific result, or connecting with like-minded people, clarity will help you attract the right members.
I also recommend setting up your community in a distraction-free space. This was one of the biggest reasons I moved away from Facebook Groups. People log in to Facebook and get distracted by the feed, ads, and notifications. On Skool, the experience is clean and focused.
Here’s how you can launch your community this week:
- Sign up for Skool here
- Name your group and write a simple welcome message
- Upload one valuable resource or training for members
- Invite your first 5–10 members personally
Once you have your first members, the energy shifts. You’ll start seeing conversations happen, relationships form, and engagement build naturally.
Another reason communities are so powerful is that they generate predictable recurring revenue. When members pay monthly or yearly, you can focus on creating value instead of worrying about the next sale.
If you’re still on the fence, ask yourself: Do you want to keep chasing one-off customers, or do you want to build a group of loyal supporters who stay long-term? For me, the answer was obvious.
Don’t wait until you have the “perfect setup.” Click here to sign up for Skool and launch your community today. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it can change your business.