Episode Overview

Podcast: Professor Game Podcast
Episode: How To Grow Your Community! Without Paying For Ads (#411)
Host: Rob Alvarez
Date: September 22, 2025

In this solo episode, Rob Alvarez shares actionable strategies for building and scaling an engaged online community—all without spending money on advertising. Drawing from his experience as a gamification expert and community builder, Rob outlines three core methods to attract new members organically, with insights inspired by game design thinking and the realities of being an “indie” creator. Expect practical tactics, memorable analogies, and a motivating approach for anyone who wants to nurture a loyal user base from day one.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rethinking Community Growth: Ads Aren't Required (00:30–02:20)

• Rob debunks the myth: The default assumption is that online communities require paid advertising to thrive, but organic growth is not only possible, it's often stronger and more sustainable.
• Personal context: Rob's own community has grown to over 140 members without a single dollar spent on ads.
• Mindset shift: "You start to wonder, what if this never takes off. That single belief keeps a lot of people from even starting a community..." (Rob Alvarez, 00:50)

2. Gamification Lens: Indie Creators & Resourcefulness (02:21–04:02)

• Game thinking analogy: Rob likens community building to indie game development: you don’t start with a giant audience or budget, so you must leverage what you already have.
• Focus on passions: Communities form around shared interests or problems already being solved among your network.

3. Strategy 1: Leverage Social Media & Simple Calls to Action (CTA) (04:03–06:11)

• Your existing social channels are your most powerful free tool.
  Use platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook to connect with your audience.
• Pair content with a clear CTA:
  Offer something small and useful—a freebie—to encourage engagement and sign-ups.
• Memorable example:
  "I created a YouTube titles spreadsheet that helps people create YouTube titles. Spreadsheets that make viewers click. And I give it away for free..." (Rob Alvarez, 05:30)
• Actionable takeaway:
  You don't need complex funnels; a valuable free resource + invitation is enough to move someone into your community.

4. Strategy 2: Choose a Platform with Built-In Discovery Features (06:12–08:07)

• Community "islands" are limiting:
  If your platform isn't surfacing your community to new members, you're carrying all the growth yourself.
• Rob’s recommendation:
  Use platforms that actively introduce your group to new people, such as Skool.
• Power of built-in discovery:
  "That can... is something like 25% on average... 25% of new members come from the discovery feature on Skool. That's amazing. That's a huge number." (Rob Alvarez, 07:05)
• Tip:
  Do a great job explaining what makes your group valuable so discovery algorithms surface it to the right audience.
• Supporting independents:
  Platforms with discovery features have leveled the playing field for creators without big budgets.

5. Strategy 3: Embrace Unscalable, Personal Outreach (08:08–10:30)

• Dispelling the "effortless" myth:
  Growth rarely comes from viral moments or big ad spends, especially early on.
• Manual outreach is essential:
  "The most effective way to grow at the start is personal outreach. You want to reach out to people one on one." (Rob Alvarez, 09:45)
• Build the foundation personally:
  Early, hands-on engagement sets the tone for culture and loyalty, and helps you pick the right first members.
• Referencing Alex Hormozi:
  "Invite 10 people today, 10 people tomorrow, or like Alex Hormozy suggests, 100 people per day for 100 days. That makes you reach 10,000 people, right? That's huge." (Rob Alvarez, 10:02)
• Gamified perspective:
  Community-building is a process—like leveling up in a game, it starts slow and manual before scaling.

6. Recap & Action Steps (10:31–11:28)

• Summary of strategies:
  • Use your social media + a strong CTA and valuable freebie.
  • Choose a discovery-friendly platform.
  • Do direct, personal outreach.
• Quick win:
  Rob plugs his own free YouTube titles spreadsheet as an instant resource for listeners to apply.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fear and starting:
  "You start to wonder, what if this never takes off. That single belief keeps a lot of people from even starting a community, a profitable one, in the first place."
  — Rob Alvarez, 00:50

• Social media as your secret weapon:
  "The truth is, your social media is already your most powerful free tool..."
  — Rob Alvarez, 04:30

• On platform discovery:
  "If you do a good job of explaining what your community is about, they are going to be introducing people to your group for free."
  — Rob Alvarez, 07:10

• Effort vs. the 'chosen one' mindset:
  "That culture of effortlessness is something that permeates into business as well... Your first members rarely show up that way."
  — Rob Alvarez, 08:48

• The necessity of unscalable action:
  "The most effective way to grow at the start is personal outreach. You want to reach out to people one on one."
  — Rob Alvarez, 09:45

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30 — Debunking paid ads & mindset barriers
• 02:20 — Gamification lens & indie developer analogy
• 04:03 — Strategy 1: Leveraging free social media + CTA/freebie
• 06:12 — Strategy 2: Discovery features in community platforms
• 08:08 — Strategy 3: Manual, personal outreach
• 10:31 — Recap and actionable next steps

Final Thoughts

This episode is an energizing, practical guide for anyone starting or scaling a community—especially those with limited resources. Rob’s frameworks, rooted in the logic of game design, remind us that the most direct path to growth is often the most overlooked: leverage what you have, simplify your tactics, and be willing to do the foundational, human work. For community builders, product leaders, and educators, these insights are an invitation to play—and win—the long game.

Further Resources:

• Free YouTube Title Spreadsheet: [Link in episode description]
• Skool community platform info: [Link in episode description]