Types of Online Communities and Their Impact on Engagement
Humans naturally desire to connect—we are social creatures after all. This desire for camaraderie extends into our purchasing choices, the pursuit of knowledge, and even acts of generosity, all of which can exist in virtual environments.
If you desire a long-lasting relationship with like-minded people or your customers, you need to invest in an online community. The power of shared experiences can set your business apart and increase the value of what you offer to your community members.
As you begin your community development journey, know that no two communities are alike. Some originate around a brand; some focus on common interests, exchange of knowledge, or the greater good.
What Is an Online Community?
An online community is a virtual place where people connect over shared interests, goals, or experiences.
Think of it as a cozy meeting spot or digital campfire where people chat, learn from, and support each other. Great online communities can be full of hobbyists, professionals, or just people looking to make friends.
They are spaces to share ideas, ask questions, and have fun. From social media groups to forums and niche networks, online communities bring people together no matter where they are, creating meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging.
Ten Types of Online Communities
1. Support Community
A support community is designed to help customers and get indexed well on search engines.
Users join for advice on purchasing decisions or how to use a product—think of Apple or Windows communities where customers go to ask questions. Moderators usually run it, and it's a very structured type of community.
These support communities index well because they provide searchable public information. Users ask questions that become popular searches on Google. A support community can be a jumping-off point for more customer success, education, and engagement.
2. Brand Community
A brand community (also known as a customer community) is centered around a group of people dedicating their time and energy to a beloved brand or product.
These communities can be initiated either by super fans and dedicated customers or the brand itself. Brands should employ this growth strategy to foster emotional connections with customers, increase brand awareness, and generate advocacy and loyalty.
Best practices:- Don't shy away from brand criticism—encourage and accept it openly- Don't micromanage your super fans—welcome their ideas and leadership initiative
3. Mastermind Community
A mastermind group (a type of learning community) is composed of like-minded individuals interested in attaining success. This space feeds off members' experiences and offers valuable advice while exchanging ideas.
Usually composed of entrepreneurs or people interested in gaining higher knowledge, mastermind communities help members grow and bounce ideas off one another.
There's generally a lot of trust within mastermind groups due to free exchange of information and advice. However, they require a strong leader who can facilitate expert conversations without disrupting the natural flow of information and connection.
4. Group Coaching Community
If you want to facilitate customer education, teach a business webinar or online course, or provide some sort of teaching experience to a group, consider a group coaching community.
One designated leader usually guides a group on a learning journey. These communities encourage members to support and lift each other up. Accountability towards success is usually the reason users join.
Members appreciate the journey of a shared experience and group accountability. Coaches need to provide a valuable educational experience while still encouraging group networking and connection.
5. Community of Practice
A community of practice (CoP) is common among professionals with specialized skills.
It's a group of people within a niche industry or specialized field exchanging information, solving problems, and building relationships—like developer portals. They're also known as professional communities.
Common among healthcare practitioners, graphic designers, or other industries with specialized skills, these community members share best practices and valuable knowledge to help their fellow members grow.
6. Event Community
Online event communities are designed to replace the networking and side conversations from in-person events. Attendees can freely engage with other community members, event leaders, and speakers.
Event communities strategically build on conversational momentum, so attendees can organically connect with one another. Event organizers should create follow-up discussions and networking opportunities so attendees find the community worthwhile.
7. Micro-Community
A micro-community is led by an expert creator offering in-depth instruction on a subject matter.
It usually holds no more than 30 members who make a significant investment to join. Members go through shared learning experiences together and quickly become a close-knit group.
There are more opportunities within a micro-community for members to get one-on-one time with the creator or build strong connections within the group.
8. Community of Circumstance
Communities of circumstance originate around health circumstances, like cancer support groups, postpartum mothers, or hidden disabilities. People join when they go through an intense shared experience.
Members seek advice and emotional support within a known safe place. They seek a bonding experience because of their circumstances and may require expert opinions and advice.
9. Community of Action
A community of action is a group of people who collaborate to accomplish a charitable goal or something of importance. Action communities are commonly run by neighborhoods and schools.
These communities have dedicated, passionate members who share a common vision. They need clear leadership and organization to help members accomplish their mutual goal.
10. Other Community Types
Local communities: Centered around a shared geographical location.
Membership communities: Similar to micro-communities where members have access to exclusive information and support. Members usually pay a fee and be invited to join.
Fan communities: Formed around a shared interest, usually from popular media like actors, book series, or TV shows.
Insight communities: Like focus groups consisting of the most important stakeholders—your customer base.
Choosing the Best Community Type
Consider Your Audience and Their Goals
Identify what you want to achieve (networking, learning, support). Think about whether your community is for personal growth, professional connections, or entertainment.
- Audience: Who are you targeting? A small group or broad audience?
- Content and value: What resources should your community offer?
Evaluate Relevance and Your Expertise
Consider whether the community's focus aligns with your interests or profession. If it does, you'll create useful content more easily; if not, you'll struggle to keep the community engaged.
Creating a community that aligns with your expertise allows you to share valuable insights and build trust.
Assess Activity Level Requirements
How much time and energy are you willing to invest? Highly active communities encourage more interaction but require more management. Smaller communities foster deeper connections and may require less time.
Select the Right Features
The best community platforms should include:- Customization: Tailor the platform to your brand's identity- User engagement tools: Discussion groups, polls, quizzes, gamification- Apps and integrations: CRM systems, marketing automation, support tools- Embedding options: Incorporate community elements into your website- Analytics and reporting: Track engagement and performance metrics
Conclusion
Investing in the right online community platform is crucial to building lasting connections, brand loyalty, and delivering value to members.
With the right tools, you can create a customized, interactive community that aligns perfectly with your brand and engages your audience. From flexible design options to numerous engagement features, modern platforms empower you to develop a sustainable community where members enjoy participating.
Community platforms designed for B2B SaaS—like Bettermode—provide customizable templates, design studios, gamification, analytics, and integrations to support any community type.
Ready to build your online community? Get started with Bettermode.
FAQs
What are the four main types of community?
The four main types are geographic communities (shared location), cultural communities (shared heritage), interest-based communities (shared hobbies or passions), and professional communities (shared field or industry).
What is the most popular online community?
Facebook remains the largest online community with billions of active users. However, niche communities often provide more engaged, focused experiences for specific audiences.
What are examples of virtual communities?
Examples include Reddit, Facebook Groups, online forums like StackOverflow, gaming platforms like Discord, and branded customer communities built on dedicated platforms.
Which community type is best for B2B SaaS?
Support communities and brand communities are most common for B2B SaaS. Support communities reduce ticket volume and improve customer satisfaction. Brand communities foster loyalty, collect feedback, and create advocates. Many companies combine both.
