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Hey, this is Sharan Srivatha. Welcome back to the Business School podcast. And in this episode, I'm going to break down for you the one simple, boring strategy that can make you so much money and give you so much joy. And all of this happened because I realized that we can easily lose our brand or lose social media, and suddenly would our business be okay. And I realized that the power of a community is insanely important. Now, most people talk about communities. Some have 10 people in it, some have 10,000 people in. But no one really has given people the blueprint, the formula on how to break it down and build one for you so that it work works for you. I have taken these strategies and implemented them in multiple aspects of my life, built multiple communities that have created seven plus figures for me over the years, and I want to share them with you. And all starts right now.
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One thing is for certain, just because it's tried and true doesn't mean it's working right now. So the big question is this.
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Where can you learn what is working right now?
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The strategies, the tactics, the psychology, and.
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The exact how to. How to grow your business, how to blow up your personal brand and supercharge your personal growth.
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That is the question and this podcast will give you the answer. My name is Sharon Srivatta and welcome to Business School.
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What if tomorrow your favorite social media app just disappeared, TikTok got banned, Instagram shut down, you wake up and your audience is just gone. Would your business survive? That's the big question. But here's the truth. Views today aren't enough. If you want something that lasts, you need to build a loyal community. That's what scales over time. In this episode, I'm going to share with you six proven strategies to build a super strong community that sticks with you no matter what happens. And here's what nobody talks about. One, why depending on social media is risky and how to fix it. Two, how just 1,000 true fans can create a real lasting success for you. And three, in strategy number five, I'm going to share with you something that my coach taught me that completely changed how I build connections. By the end, you're going to have a crystal clear plan to build an awesome community that pays you, even if you're just starting with 10 people. So let's dive right in right now. Now, this isn't about getting more views or followers. And if you can just fix that, everything will change. This is about creating a group of people who support you, cheer for you, stick with you, and maybe pay you a Ton of cash. And the key here is how to stop relying on social media and building something you control. The ways to connect with your audience so they feel valued, and how to empower your audience so that they grow your community for you. Now, stick with me here, especially because on strategy number five, that one is a total true game changer where everything shifted for me. So let's jump right into strategy number one, why relying on social media is dangerous. So in 1983, Harley Davidson was in trouble. They were losing money, they were losing customers, and of course, as a matter of fact, their reputation. So what they did is that they created the hog, the Harley Owners club. Now, this wasn't just a fan club. It was like a family. The members got crazy perks like invitations to rallies, including the legendary ride home event where thousands of bikers gathered exclusive merchandise like jackets and helmets and that only HOG members could buy. And a monthly magazine filled with stories from fellow writers. That's what you call a community. And here's exactly what Harley Davidson did. They used the events to create these emotional connections. They gave these writers exclusive perks to make them feel valued. They shared member stories to build a sense of belonging. Now, how could this work for you and for your business? Say, for example, you're a real estate agent. You could host a private VIP open house tour with early access to listings coming up based on how they're working in your market. Or say you're a fitness coach. You could organize a bunch of live events and workout and brunch events to celebrate your client's success. Small things go a long way in building this belonging. Now let's jump to strategy number two. The power of 1,000 true fans. Now, if you don't know Kevin Kelly, the founder of Wired magazine, he says that you don't need millions of followers. You just need 1000 true fans who will buy everything that you create. Now think about it. Air Jordans. When Nike launched Jordans, they just didn't sell sneakers. They built a culture. Maybe accidentally crazy smart, right? First, they partnering with Michael Jordan to tie the shoes to his story of excellence. Then they're holding exclusive limited edition drops that often sold out in just minutes. Now you're building a resale market where the rare Jordans became a status symbol. Now here's exactly what Nike did that no one will tell you. Number one, they made the product a symbol of greatness. Think about that. They made a product a symbol of greatness. They created excitement with exclusive launches. And they turned their shoes into a badge of identity. Their Fans. Now, how could this work for you? Say you're a real estate agent. You could run a real estate dream home club process giving members free consultations or exclusive first access to listings. A VIP list if you have followed my content for a while. Or if you're a fitness coach, you could start a loyalty program where clients earn the rewards for hitting milestones like a free workout plan after 10 sessions. The crazy part is you don't need to chase a million followers. You just need 1000 true fans. Now let's skip to strategy number three is how to build a shared vision. Now I'm not talking about mission and vision and values. I'm talking about something very specific. Nike didn't just sell shoes. With Nike plus, they built a global movement. The app helped runners feel a part of something much bigger by hosting challenges like run 100k in 30 days where people would compete with others worldwide on their Nike shoes. Then you reward these users with badges and progress charts for consistency. They built the community together. And then you encourage runners to share their achievements online to inspire others. That's how they created a movement. This is exactly what they did by the way. They gamified running with challenges and rewards. They then celebrated these small wins with public recognition. They then built a global community of like minded people. Now you may say, well Sharon, how do we make this work for me? Well say you're a real estate agent and you could run a 30 day first time home buyer challenge with a weekly task to help renters save for a down payment. Or if you're a fitness coach, you could organize a build your strength challenge with daily workouts and weekly check ins. Small little things that get them to connect with you. They love you more because you shared your vision with them. Just mind blowingly amazing. Let me tell you about strategy number four is how to make people feel special. So the greatest gift you can give someone is to make them feel important. Right? That's it. The greatest gift you can give someone is make them feel important. Marvel is a perfect example. I love Marvel. Marvel fans aren't just viewers, they are total insiders. And here's how Marvel does it. They host exclusive Comic Con panels where fans get the first looks at trailers, interact with actors and the whole shebang. Then they release these limited edition collectibles like autographed comics or rare figurines that fans can't get anywhere else. They then directly engage with their fans on social media and the forums, answering questions and teasing the future products insanely connected to their fan base. Here's exactly what Marvel did that no one will tell you about. They reward their fans with exclusive experiences. Then they offer rare, valuable items that make their fans feel insanely proud to be connected to Marvel. They then engage directly with their audience to build a personal connection. Small things go a long way. Now you may say, well, how do I make this work for me? For example, if you're a real estate agent, you could create a closing gift box with personalized items like branded keychains or gift cards to local spot. But pro tip put the client's name on it. That's the ultimate personalization. Or you're a fitness coach. You could reward loyal clients with limited edition gear like T shirts or water bottles celebrating their achievements. All right, let's jump to strategy number five. And I told you that you should be ready for this one. It's contrary to what you think, but you want to build smaller groups. This is a section that my coach taught me that changed everything for me. Even in big communities, people crave smaller, more personal groups. That is why Peloton thrives as a community. Take Moms who Ride or the Power Zone Pack. These groups help members connect by doing a few things. Number one, hosting themed rides and challenges like the 20 minute lunchtime rides for busy moms. Or offering tailored tips and encouragement within small communities. Or providing group chats where members share wins and struggles and advice. My coach told me this and kind of blew my mind. She said, if you make people feel like they belong to a tight knit community, a tight knit group, they will stay forever. And this is exactly how Peloton did it. Number one, they created smaller communities based on shared interests. Two, they tailored content and challenges for each of those groups. And number three, they fostered the interaction and support within the smaller subgroups. Something that we never think about. So how do we make this work for you? Say, for example, again, you're a real estate agent. You could create small subgroups of buyers like first time homebuyers or vacation club investors and only give them exactly what they want. Or maybe you're a fitness coach and you could divide your clients into beginner, intermediate and advanced group with specific goals for each so they feel like they're not stuck within the wrong group. It's okay if that group is small. It is by design. This brings us to the strategy number six. Let your audience help. Think about this. Wikipedia works because people feel a sense of ownership. Volunteers. Volunteers write, edit and maintain the platform, which thrives on their contributions. Now here's how Wikipedia empowers its Contributors. They provide tools and very clear guidelines to make editing easy. They recognize top contributors by highlighting their work and they let users take responsibility for specific subtopics. Here's exactly what Wikipedia did that no one will really tell you. They gave users clear ways to contribute. Number two, they recognize the contributors efforts publicly. And three, they let people take charge of the areas that they individually care about. Now here's exactly what you can do right As a real estate agent, you could invite your clients to share testimonials or home buying tips in the group. Now you have other people contributing to your group. Or a fitness coach could let loyal clients run the warmups or the many challenges, giving the people a way to help grow the community together. This is where all the magic is. And this is where you really let your community help build your community. Now here's what I want you to do next as you're listening to this. If you already have a community, share this video in that community. If you already have a community, drop this. Drop the link below so that in the comments so that others can find it and join you. If you want to join the community, join my 5am club for growth and Consistency because we meet every day at 5am for five minutes. And if you're in real estate, by the way, check out my free community called Future Proof where I give away thousands of dollars of free training. All from the lessons learned and what I shared with you today. So here's the day. At the end of the day, it is not about going viral. The world has changed. Yes, going viral is great, but the world has changed. It's about building a table where you and your people can sit together. People who support you, people who cheer for you, who grow with you. Stop chasing these big numbers of views. Use the platforms as a tools to build a community of believers. Hey, by the way, if you like this, can you do me a favor? Can you screenshot this episode and can you tag me? That way I know you like this and I can make more like this for you. So please screenshot this episode, tag me and I'll make more like this for you. Hey Tron, I have a cool gift.
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For you since you like this podcast. I actually have an ultra super secret private podcast that I make just for my partner companies and the CEOs and influencers that I advise. It's called 10K Wisdom because I try to wrap $10,000 worth of value in every single episode in just under 10 minutes. That's why it's called 10K Wisdom. It's raw. It's raw, real. It's got no intro or outro or anything like that. It's just straight to the point and to the insights. Since you like this podcast, I think you will like that. So for the first time, I'm making it available to you. Just go to 10kwisdom.com the number 10k wisdom.com and my team will activate it for you as my gift. Go to 10kwisdom.com I'll see you there.
In the "Million Dollar Community" episode of Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa, host Sharran delves into the transformative power of building a loyal community that transcends the volatility of social media platforms. Drawing from his extensive experience in real estate, private equity, and brand building, Sharran outlines six proven strategies to cultivate a resilient and profitable community. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of his insights, enriched with notable quotes and practical examples.
Sharran opens the episode by highlighting a critical business vulnerability: reliance on social media. He poses a hypothetical scenario where favorite platforms like TikTok or Instagram suddenly vanish, questioning the sustainability of businesses dependent solely on these channels.
"If you want something that lasts, you need to build a loyal community. That's what scales over time."
– Sharran Srivatsaa [00:27]
Recognizing the lack of a clear blueprint for community building, Sharran sets out to provide actionable strategies that have generated seven-plus figures for him, ensuring listeners leave with a concrete plan to foster their own thriving communities.
Sharran underscores the instability of social media as a foundation for business growth. Using Harley Davidson as a case study, he illustrates how the creation of the Harley Owners Group (HOG) transformed a struggling brand into a vibrant community.
"They used the events to create these emotional connections. They shared member stories to build a sense of belonging."
– Sharran Srivatsaa [02:30]
Application Tips:
Challenging the notion that millions of followers are necessary, Sharran introduces Kevin Kelly's concept of 1,000 true fans—dedicated individuals who will support and purchase everything you create.
Using Nike's launch of Air Jordans as an example, he demonstrates how creating exclusivity and aligning products with a narrative of excellence can cultivate a passionate fan base.
"You don't need millions of followers, just 1,000 true fans."
– Sharran Srivatsaa [04:15]
Application Tips:
Beyond traditional mission statements, Sharran emphasizes the creation of a shared, specific vision that unites community members. Nike Plus serves as a prime example, where the app facilitated global running challenges that fostered a sense of collective purpose.
"They built the community together by gamifying running with challenges and rewards."
– Sharran Srivatsaa [06:00]
Application Tips:
Sharran highlights the importance of personalization and exclusive experiences in making community members feel valued. Marvel's strategy of hosting exclusive Comic-Con panels and releasing limited-edition collectibles exemplifies this approach.
"The greatest gift you can give someone is to make them feel important."
– Sharran Srivatsaa [08:00]
Application Tips:
Contrary to managing vast, impersonal communities, Sharran advocates for creating smaller, more intimate groups within the larger community. Drawing inspiration from Peloton's segmented groups like "Moms Who Ride," he explains how tailored content and focused interactions enhance connection and loyalty.
"If you make people feel like they belong to a tight-knit community, they will stay forever."
– Sharran Srivatsaa [09:40]
Application Tips:
Sharran draws parallels with Wikipedia, which thrives on user contributions by providing clear guidelines, recognizing top contributors, and allowing users to manage specific content areas. This empowerment fosters a sense of ownership and commitment within the community.
"They let people take charge of the areas that they individually care about."
– Sharran Srivatsaa [10:50]
Application Tips:
Sharran wraps up the episode by reiterating that enduring success stems from a loyal community rather than fleeting viral moments. He encourages listeners to view their platforms as tools to build meaningful relationships rather than merely chasing numbers.
"It's about building a table where you and your people can sit together. People who support you, people who cheer for you, who grow with you."
– Sharran Srivatsaa [12:00]
Sharran invites listeners to join his "5am Club for Growth and Consistency" and his free "Future Proof" community for real estate professionals, offering extensive training and resources to implement the strategies discussed.
By implementing these six strategies, Sharran Srivatsaa provides a robust framework for entrepreneurs and professionals to build a million-dollar community that not only sustains their business through platform changes but also fosters genuine, joyful connections with their audience.