Members don’t always need to build friendships with other members, especially if that’s not what they want or need. You can help determine if this is a want or a need with a member survey that you can give to anybody that belongs to the community. There may be some instances where they want to build those friendships, but it doesn’t always happen, they may be a member for a completely different reason, so it’s best not to try and push those friendships.
Key Takeaways:
- You don’t always have to force relationships when you’re trying to build a community online.
- Sometimes people just want answers or want to be able to collaborate. Not everyone wants to interact on a personal level.
- Collaborating with smart people and gaining information is what ranks high in many member communities.
“A sense of belonging is just one of many types of value a community offers. It’s not even the most valuable one.”
