10 Tips on How to Run an Asynchronous Community

Discord, Slack and Facebook Groups are all asynchronous communities. These are communities are not bound by time. Rather, they are organized by topic, goal or learning. That means that you can post about anything at any time as long as they meet the goal of the community.

These communities are great as they allow people to converse on their time no matter what their location is.. As great as they are, running one can be challenging. It requires an organized approach, effective communication, and a willingness to adapt to the needs of the community.  Here are 10 tips on how to run an asynchronous community. 

1. Establish clear expectations and set boundaries. A successful asynchronous community needs clear expectations that outline its purpose, rules, and goals. Communicate these expectations to your members from the beginning. In addition, set and establish clear boundaries for communication and participation to avoid burnout.

2. Choose the right platform. Select a platform that is user-friendly and has the features required for your community. Some popular platforms include Slack, Discord, and Facebook Groups. While they may all operate similarly, choose the one that works best for the people you are trying to reach.

3. Set up guidelines for communication. Develop guidelines for communication that are easy to follow. For example, establish a response time for messages and set up a code of conduct that members have to adhere to.

4. Foster engagement. Encourage members to engage with one another by asking questions, sharing resources, and starting conversations. The more engagement you can create, the more value you add to your group and the more people will want to participate. 

5. Celebrate achievements. Recognize and celebrate community members’ achievements, such as completing a project or achieving a goal. Just because you set up the group and run it, doesn't mean you celebrate only you. Celebrate the other members and make them feel valued and important. 

6. Provide resources. To help members get started, provide resources such as tutorials, guidelines, and supporting documents. In addition, provide resources that are going to help them excel in whatever your Group is about.

7. Monitor conversations. Monitor and moderate community conversations to ensure that they align with the community’s guidelines. If you are not actively paying attention, comments and posts can get out of hand easily. Make sure you are actively monitoring the conversations going on.

8. Be flexible and seek feedback. Be willing to adapt to the community’s needs and preferences.. As time goes on, ask for feedback from members to improve the community’s performance. The less you know the less effective your group can be. Make sure what you are doing is meeting the needs of your community. 

9. Lead by example. Just because you are the Group Leader doesn't mean you can bend the rules. Adhere the the community rules and expectations and lead by example. 

10. Have fun. In the movie, "The Dark Knight", the Joker famously says, "why so serious?" Just because your Community is centered around something specific doesn't mean you can't have fun. Post funny things and encourage others to post them as well. You want your community to be a place they learn but can also laugh as well. 

Running an asynchronous community requires organization, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt to the community’s needs. Above are 10 tips that can help you create and run a successful asynchronous community that fosters engagement, growth, and a sense of belonging. Remember to choose the right platform, establish clear expectations, communicate transparently, encourage diversity, and lead by example. With these tips, you can run an asynchronous community that thrives.

What do you think?  What are other tips you can share that will help run an effective asynchronous community?  Share your ideas below or on social media.

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