Starting a new online community is a lot like launching a business or hosting a big event: it takes way more work than most people expect, especially in the early days. If you want your community to thrive, you have to be the one putting in the hours, setting the tone, and showing everyone you’re serious. Here’s why that’s the reality-and what you can do about it.

Why You Have to Do the Heavy Lifting First

When you first launch a community, you’re the engine. There’s no momentum yet, no crowd to draw energy from, and no one else who feels responsible for making things happen. If you don’t create content, start conversations, and welcome new members, nobody else will. You need to model the kind of participation and commitment you want to see. People are way more likely to get involved when they see the founder actively invested and leading by example.

It’s also about trust. In the early days, people are just checking things out, seeing if this space is worth their time. If you’re not visibly putting in the work-posting regularly, responding to comments, organizing events-why should they stick around, let alone help out? Your commitment is contagious; it sets the standard and gives others permission to engage.

Why Helpers Won’t Show Up Until You’ve Proven Yourself

Most people won’t volunteer to help manage or moderate a community until they’re sure it’s going somewhere. They want to see that you’re in it for the long haul and that their efforts won’t be wasted. If you ask for help too soon, it can be off-putting-like asking someone to be your best friend after just meeting them. You need to build relationships and credibility first. Once people see your dedication and start to feel a sense of belonging, they’ll naturally step up and offer to help.

The Importance of Consuming Content

A community isn’t just about posting; it’s also about reading and responding. If members don’t regularly consume what others are sharing, the group fizzles out. Relationships and group identity are built through back-and-forth interaction. So, as a founder, you need to be both a creator and a consumer-actively engaging with what your members post, not just broadcasting your own messages.

Real Talk on Early Community Work

Here’s the honest truth: the early days of a community can feel lonely and thankless. You’ll probably be talking to yourself for a while. That’s normal. The people who eventually become your core members and helpers are watching to see if you’re consistent and passionate. If you stick with it, keep showing up, and make the space genuinely valuable, you’ll attract people who want to help-but only after you’ve laid the groundwork.

Where to Learn More About Community Management

If you want to get serious about community building, there are tons of resources out there. Here are some of the best:

Websites and Blogs:

• Carrie Melissa Jones’ Blog: Deep dives on building engagement and commitment www.carriemelissajones.com.
• CMX Hub: A resource for community professionals with articles, guides, and events cmxhub.com.
• Community Tool Box: Practical advice on sustaining commitment and leadership in groupsctb.ku.edu.
• Khoros Blog: Insights on why community managers matter and how to hire them khoros.com.
  

Courses and Videos:

• Thinkific’s list of the best community management courses, including the Meta Certified Community Manager Course, CMX Academy’s Community MBA, and more thinkific.com.
• Skillshare and Coursera offer courses on community management. Just watch out for Social Media Management courses disguised as “Community Management”.
  

Podcasts:

I’ve got a whole list for you here: Ultimate List of Podcasts for Community Professionals.

Platforms to Experiment With:

• Circle, Skool, Mighty Networks, and Thinkific are all solid platforms for building and managing online communities, each with their own strengths.

Building a community is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to be the one to light the fire and keep it burning until others are ready to help you tend it. Show up, do the work, and your community will follow. If you want to learn more, check out the resources above-they’ll help you avoid common pitfalls and build something that lasts