Glossary
Community
A community is a group of people who share common interests, goals, experiences, or relationships and interact with one another around a specific topic, brand, or organization.
Businesses build communities to encourage engagement, provide support, strengthen customer relationships, and create opportunities for members to learn from one another.
Quick Reference
Definition
A community is a group of people who come together because they share a common interest, purpose, profession, or experience. In business, communities are often built around products, services, brands, memberships, educational programs, or shared goals. Community members can ask questions, exchange ideas, provide feedback, celebrate successes, and help one another grow.
Why This Term Matters
Strong communities create long-term relationships between businesses and their customers. Instead of focusing only on selling products or services, businesses can provide ongoing value through discussions, education, networking, and peer support. Active communities also increase customer loyalty, improve retention, encourage referrals, and provide valuable feedback for future improvements.
How It Works
A business creates a place where members can interact, such as an online forum, membership area, private social media group, or community platform. Members join because they share similar interests or goals. The business may provide educational content, announcements, live events, discussions, and support while encouraging members to contribute their own experiences and knowledge.
Examples
- A private online community for customers using a software platform.
- A membership group where entrepreneurs share business ideas and experiences.
- A Facebook group that supports students enrolled in an online course.
- A discussion forum where users help each other solve technical problems.
- A creator community that provides exclusive content, live events, and networking opportunities.
Related Business Functions
Related Business Models
Consulting Business
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Digital Product Business
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Affiliate Marketing Business
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Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a community?
A community is a group of people who interact because they share common interests, goals, experiences, or relationships.
Why do businesses build communities?
Businesses build communities to strengthen customer relationships, provide ongoing support, encourage engagement, increase loyalty, and create opportunities for members to help one another.
Can a community help grow a business?
Yes. Strong communities often improve customer retention, generate referrals, increase trust, and provide valuable feedback that helps businesses improve their products and services.
Where can businesses host a community?
Communities can be hosted within membership platforms, dedicated community software, discussion forums, private social media groups, or integrated business platforms.
Final Thoughts
Communities allow businesses to build relationships that extend beyond individual sales. By creating spaces where customers can learn, collaborate, ask questions, and support one another, businesses create long-term value for both members and the organization. A healthy community often becomes one of a business's strongest assets by encouraging trust, engagement, and ongoing customer success.