Starting and growing a community takes consistent effort, but the approach is straightforward. Here's what I've learned from running communities over the past few years.
Start with Purpose #
Before anything else, be clear about why the community exists. What specific problem does it solve or what interest does it serve?
Write down in one sentence what your community is about. If you can't explain it simply, neither will your members. This clarity becomes your compass when making decisions later.
Getting Started: Your First 10-20 Members #
Getting your first members requires direct outreach. Post in relevant existing communities, reach out to people individually, attend related events.
Ten to twenty regular members is a great foundation for most local groups. That's enough people to have interesting conversations, cover for each other when life gets busy, and keep things going consistently. You don't need fifty or a hundred people to have a successful community.
I spent the first month of my community reaching out to people one by one. It felt slow and uncomfortable, but those early members became the foundation of everything that followed. They set the tone, welcomed newcomers, and kept things going when I couldn't be there.
Don't expect people to just show up. You have to go find them.
Making People Feel Welcome #
The easiest way to kill a growing community is to make newcomers feel like outsiders. Being inclusive isn't just about saying the right things—it's about removing the small barriers that stop people from showing up in the first place.
Think about the practical stuff. If you're organizing in-person events, mention what the venue is like. Are there stairs? Is it wheelchair accessible? Are there gender-neutral bathrooms? These details matter to people deciding whether to attend, and sharing them upfront shows you've thought about their needs.
The same goes for who feels represented. If your community photos all show the same type of person, newcomers will assume it's not for them. If your events are always at pubs or always require speaking up in front of everyone, you're excluding people who don't drink or who need time to feel comfortable.
Small adjustments make a difference. Greet new people when they arrive. Introduce them to one or two regulars who can help them settle in. Don't force introductions or make them explain why they're there. Just make space for them to exist without performing.
Create Regular Touchpoints #
Communities die from inconsistency. Set a schedule you can maintain and stick to it. The specific frequency matters less than being reliable—members need to know when to check back and what to expect when they do.
Picking the right time and day for your meetups matters more than you'd think. A 7pm weeknight slot gives people time to finish work and grab dinner. Weekend mornings let people attend without losing their whole day. The key is choosing times that actually work for people's lives, not just what's convenient for you.
Setting the Tone #
The culture you establish in the first few months tends to stick. Pay attention to what behavior you're encouraging through your responses and actions—how you welcome people, how you handle disagreements, what kind of atmosphere you create.
This happens whether you're organizing regular meetups or running an online space. The tone you set early becomes what people expect and replicate.
If Your Community Grows #
Some communities stay small by design, and that's completely fine. A book club with 12 people or a running group with 15 regulars can thrive for years without needing to grow.
But if your community does grow naturally, things will shift. You might need better structure—dedicated time for different interests, a clearer way for new people to get involved, help from active members who can welcome newcomers.
Larger groups feel less personal, and you'll need to be okay with that. You can't know everyone individually anymore, but the trade-off is more diverse perspectives and a community that doesn't collapse if a few people step away.
Measuring What Matters #
Track active members, not total members. Watch your retention rate—how many people stick around after joining. These numbers tell you if your community is healthy, regardless of its size.
Vanity metrics feel good but don't mean much.
Common Mistakes #
Focusing on growth too early. A small engaged community beats a large dead one every time. I've seen organizers burn out trying to hit arbitrary member counts while ignoring the people already there.
Forcing participation. Some people just want to observe, and that's completely fine. Not everyone needs to introduce themselves or share their story at the first event. Creating mandatory participation requirements makes introverts uncomfortable and often drives away people who would otherwise stick around. Let people contribute in their own time, in their own way.
The most valuable community members I've had were quiet observers for months before they became active. They were watching, learning, getting comfortable. When they finally did participate, they brought thoughtful contributions because they'd taken time to understand the space.
Over-promising and under-delivering. It's better to do one thing consistently well than ten things poorly. If you say there will be weekly meetups, there need to be weekly meetups. Missing your commitments erodes trust quickly.
Neglecting the quiet members. Just because someone doesn't speak up doesn't mean they're not getting value. They're still part of your community. Some of my most engaged members rarely contribute publicly but show up consistently or help out in other ways.
Tools and Platforms #
The platform matters less than you think. Use whatever your members are already comfortable with. Radius works well for local and interest-based groups. Discord is good for real-time chat. Facebook still has reach if your audience is there.
Pick something simple and focus on the community, not the tools.
When Things Go Wrong #
Communities will have conflicts. Address them directly but privately when possible. Most problems come from unclear expectations, so communicate clearly and often.
Long Term Sustainability #
Think about sustainability from the start. Can you maintain this effort for years, not months?
The successful communities I've seen tend to establish small committees early and share the burden of organizing between all of them. Three to five committee members seems to be a common number, but there's nothing wrong with more! This prevents any single person from becoming overwhelmed and ensures continuity when life gets busy.
If you can't do this long-term on your own, find co-organizers early. Share the load before you need to.
Try Radius #
We built Radius for organizers who want simple tools to build communities without the complexity or growth pressure of other platforms. Create a group or explore existing communities.