Creating year-round community

Want to engage attendees beyond your event? Building community could be the answer.
Lee Matthew Jackson

Lee Matthew Jackson

January 18, 2024

Would building a year-round community around your event allow you to offer more value? In this episode, I interview Neil Thompson from Delegate Wranglers. He shares his journey growing a Facebook community that exceeded any expectations.

We learn how he grew and monetised his platform, starting with just a simple newsletter and expanding to customised campaigns working with global brands. Neil also shares the amazing value he could add during the tough times of the pandemic, quickly pivoting to online content and community support.

As you listen, consider what a thriving year-round gathering place could do for your attendees, community, industry and bottom line. Neil shares how he cultivated an engaged, supportive culture that became the foundation of Delegate Wranglers’ runaway success. Neil’s story illustrates how listening to your community and continually evolving to meet needs can help transform a simple idea into a thriving member ecosystem.

If you’re looking for inspiration and a model to emulate, this in-depth chat with a true community leader is a must listen.

Video

We recorded this podcast live at Event Tech Live London, so if you’d prefer to watch you can do so on YouTube.

Key takeaways

I had a wonderful time chatting with Neil. Here are some of my key insights from our conversation:

  • Tap into online communities to generate valuable connections and conversations year-round. Neil started simply trying to connect with fellow freelancers.
  • Let your community guide the offerings. Neil created new initiatives like newsletters and partnerships based directly on member needs.
  • Build a positive culture first. Neil stresses the importance of rules, being inclusive and “vibe tribes” in creating a welcoming environment.
  • Listen and evolve. Neil discusses continually taking feedback from members and letting that drive ongoing improvements.
  • Add value in times of crisis. When COVID hit, Neil rapidly created online content and support to give members purpose.
  • Don’t underestimate an engaged niche. Though focused on event professionals, Neil’s highly targeted group exploded in size and revenue potential.

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Event Engine Podcast Artwork

Speakers

An image our guest Neil Thompson

Neil Thompson

Delegate Wranglers
Lee Matthew Jackson

Lee Matthew Jackson

Event Engine