Building an online community – whether it’s for your business, special interest, religious group, or even your child’s little league team – can seem like a constant uphill battle. If you’re struggling with your online community, or if you just want a few tips on how to enhance yours, we’ve got your all-you-need-to-know, comprehensive-yet-concise guide to online community building here. You’ll find tips on how to get started, what and when to post, and how to retain members/followers.
Getting Started
– Once you’ve chosen your platform get to know the site by clicking around to other members’ profiles and communities. Take note of what you like and what you don’t like, a.k.a. learn from others’ mistakes.
– Decide who your target audience is and don’t divert from it. Focus directly on this group of people and start following key prospective members on twitter and other social media outlets.
– Search relevant hashtags and see what others are talking about around your topic or interest. This will tell you the kind of content you should start posting and discussing once you have your community up and running.
– Keep in mind that building a following of members is not a one-time job. Keep searching and following, keep joining conversations and continue to invite key prospective people to your community. Shoot for one new active member per day.
– Once you have a small community of members, start connecting them! Search their profiles for skills or interests they might have in common and encourage them to communicate with one another. If your followers see you as a connector who wants to help build their reputation and career, they’ll be more inclined to do the same.
– When you get stuck, take a peek at this great list of Online Community Building Resources.
Posting & Engagement
– Post content between 3-5 times per day and always once at the very least (yes, even if you’re on vacation!). Members want to see consistency and commitment.
– Post original content – a link to your most recent blog post or, a conversation starter, etc. – at least once every other day, and post other relevant content often. Just make sure the source is credible and you’ve read the article in its entirety first.
– ALWAYS respond to a member’s contribution with a thoughtful and gracious response.
– Keep in touch with members who may become less active over time. Reach out and ask about a project their working on or a life event.
– Frequent and meaningful Engagement is the key to scoring and retaining members. Keep at it no matter what and always be positive.
Member Retention
– Offer thought-provoking content related to your topic of interest or business. Your goal is to make your community a staple of their online experience.
– Be candid. Put yourself out there. Tell the truth. Give members something they can relate to. They’ll feel more connected and feel drawn to keep checking in every once in a while to see what’s new.
Heineken® & the Italian soccer icon link up to offer New York fans “Unmissable” moments during the tour, including a match viewing party and rare trophy engagements
White Plains, NY – April 16, 2019 (PRNewswire) The UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken® is bringing Champions League icon and legend of the game, former A.C. Milan, Juventus and New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo, back to New York.
The tour provides soccer fans around the world with a chance to get closer to the iconic UEFA Champions League Trophy and to heroes of the game. In its twelve-year history, the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken has reached 31 countries across Africa, Asia, North and South America. This year’s tour will visit New York City by way of Yankee Stadium on April 27 at a New York City FC match and the Seaport District on April 30, with additional surprise consumer touchpoints throughout.
Heineken’s 2018/19 UEFA Champions League campaign entitled, ‘Unmissable’ is based on the belief that every UEFA Champions League match has unmissable moments of action for everyone to enjoy. Heineken is bringing these moments to life for soccer fans across the globe by providing them with unforgettable event experiences, enabling them to get closer to the iconic UEFA Champions League Trophy and legends of the game.
As part of its global campaign, the 2019 UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken® will stop in New York from April 27 to April 30. For four days, fans will have a rare opportunity to take photos with the UEFA Champions League Trophy, meet Andrea Pirlo and experience the thrill of the tour throughout New York City.
Andrea Pirlo is considered one of the best players of his generation, having won the 2006 World Cup for Italy, two Champions League trophies with AC Milan, and six Serie A titles in his time between Milan and Juventus, while also collecting three Serie A Footballer of the Year awards with the latter. Pirlo has a historic link to the UEFA Champions League and plays a significant role in demonstrating the intense passion for the tournament.
“Love for the beautiful game across the U.S. continues to skyrocket and we’re excited to give fans access to an unmissable experience with the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken®,” said Bjorn Trowery, Director of External Communications at Heineken USA. “New York City is the crossroads of the world, and we can’t wait to offer supporters a chance to get close to one of the world’s most celebrated trophies, while offering up some incredible moments alongside Heineken.”
To kick off Heineken’s ‘Unmissable’ campaign in New York City, the UEFA Champions League Trophy will be unveiled at New York’s iconic Yankee Stadium on April 27, giving consumers the official first look ahead of the NYCFC vs. Orlando City soccer match.
Following on April 30, UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken® will host a one-of-a-kind outdoor viewing event for consumers to catch the UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals match and enjoy Heineken 0.0 down in the Seaport District. The viewing party will be open to the public, and consumers will have the chance to meet legend Andrea Pirlo and take photos with the UEFA Champions League Trophy.
This year, the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken® will visit in South Africa, Namibia, Indonesia, Mozambique, Indonesia, China, Nigeria and USA
To follow the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken® on social, visit @Heineken and use #Unmissable and #UCLTrophyTour.
Editorial information:
For more information, please contact:
Caitlin Fay, 212.729.2495, Caitlin.Fay@edelman.com
About HEINEKEN:
HEINEKEN is the world’s most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken® brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 250 international, regional, local and speciality beers and ciders. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through “Brewing a Better World”, sustainability is embedded in the business and delivers value for all stakeholders. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We employ over 80,000 employees and operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares trade on the Euronext in Amsterdam. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on Reuters under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. HEINEKEN has two sponsored level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes: Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: HEINY) and Heineken Holding N.V. (OTCQX: HKHHY). Most recent information is available on HEINEKEN’s website: www.theHEINEKENcompany.com and follow us on Twitter via @HEINEKENCorp.
About the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken®:
The Trophy Tour is a chance for football fans around the world to get closer to the iconic UEFA Champions League Trophy. Our 2018/19 campaign – ‘Unmissable Moments’ – will see fan experiences that go beyond the 90 minutes of the match activated across the globe. The Trophy Tour concept was developed to enable fans everywhere to be able to get closer to the UEFA Champions League competition, particularly those who would normally only be able to experience the competition through watching it on the television. Over 60% of UEFA Champions League fans enjoy the competition from outside Europe, so through the Trophy Tour, Heineken® helps UEFA to extend the reach to a global fan base in key markets.
Key Dates:
Trophy Tour Stop 1 – South Africa 4 – 6 March 2019 Trophy Tour Stop 2 – Namibia 7 – 8 March 2019 Trophy Tour Stop 3 – Indonesia 11 – 17 March 2019 Trophy Tour Stop 4 – Mozambique 6 – 7 April 2019 Trophy Tour Stop 5 – China 9 – 13 April 2019 Trophy Tour Stop 6 – Nigeria 16 – 18 April 2019 Trophy Tour Stop 7 – USA 27 – 30 April 2019 UEFA Champions League Final – Madrid 1 June 2019
