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Creator to Community Builder Book

We take the guesswork out of community building by offering a strategic approach to developing a community from concept to growth.

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Project Description

Launch sooner, energize members, and build your next revenue stream. This practical workbook takes you through the process, step by step.

 

If you’re feeling defeated as you build an online community, you’re not alone. Most new community builders have big ideas, but they struggle to launch them.

Tech options are overwhelming, approaching your audience takes courage, and scaling a business doesn’t come easily. Meanwhile, you may be missing out on income you could earn by launching faster, growing sooner, and creating transformation for your members.  

Hi, I’m Deb Schell. I started my community to solve a problem I once had. (Sound familiar?) For me, that problem was the anxiety and frustration I experienced when I launched my first community . . . to the silence of crickets. It felt like a failure. 

Now, I consult with purpose-driven community builders. Together, we find calm in building, launching, and growing their online communities.

But my clients aren’t just here to turn a quick buck. They have a solution their people need and are committed to making a real difference in their lives. Bringing these leaders together is my mission, which evolved from my 20-year career as a writer, creator, and designer.

 

At Find Calm Here, we work with small business owners, community leaders, organizations, and non-profits who want to bring their clients, customers, or prospects together inside an online community. 

Many clients we work with have a purpose-driven community concept and aim to provide value to these members with content, peer-to-peer support, resources, and the ability to share experiences that benefit the organization while empowering the members to share how their life has benefited from the content, programs, or education within the online community. 

Why You Need It

The business owners, leaders, and teams I serve inspire me every day. As purpose-driven changemakers, they’re the last people who should be wasting time. Launching their first online community shouldn’t be guesswork, and neither should yours.

If you’re like most of my clients, you’ve been dreaming of your community for a while. Maybe you’ve taken the first steps, then gotten overwhelmed by all the details. 

But you know your people, and they keep coming to you. They’re seeking the knowledge and wisdom you’ve gained professionally and personally, often through experiencing some pain yourself. 

You’ve been yearning to bring them together. You know deep down what a difference it could make--for them, for you, and for the powerful ideas running in your head.

Transformation doesn’t happen when we’re alone. It happens in the community. 

  • It’s time to bring your people together, so they can exchange ideas, encourage each other, and learn from you. 
  • It’s time to build a consistent income stream that can keep your work going, well into the future. And with consistency, comes flexibility in how you spend your time and energy.
  • It’s time to stop letting obstacles get in the way. It’s time to get started!
Find Calm Here Community 2020

In 2020, Find Calm Here Partner Jeff Harry partnered with the Find Calm Here Community for this workshop, check out the replay! Many times, we subconsciously measure our self-worth by our achievements and external results. Success feels very black or white, but it doesn’t have to be.

“I show individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves, to feel their happiest and most fulfilled — all by playing. I’ve worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. While we spend most of our time pretending to be important, serious grownups, it’s when we let go of that facade and just play, that the real magic happens. Fully embracing your own nerdy genius — whatever that is — gives you the power to make a difference and change lives. I’m excited to share this with the Find Calm Here Community!”

What This Book Is

I designed this guide to help you take action, launch sooner, and create an additional revenue stream for your business. Let it be your trusty companion over the coming days, weeks, and months as you move through the steps, one by one. Let it help you save time, and--hopefully--find some calm, joy, and ease along the way.

  • Its worksheets, templates, and resources provide a structure for organizing your many ideas with a process that’s as seamless as possible. Though your community will bring your unique solution to the world, you don’t have to reinvent the architecture of what makes an online community successful.

Use the book’s tools to build a strategy that invites your members to connect authentically, no matter where in the world they live and work. Let it support you as you distill your creativity into a design that works for them. From live events to asynchronous discussions, the book will prompt you to design a format that meets their needs. 

After all, it’s the members who participate fully who keep coming back, and ultimately, become your biggest advocates.

 

What This Book Isn’t

If you’re looking for get-rich-quick advice, this isn’t the book for you. Building a community isn’t easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight. But it can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend your precious time, and you can leverage it as a tool to exit the treadmill of working on someone else’s time frame. 

 

Here's the Problem: The online community industry is still relatively new. Not only that, but it’s evolving in real-time. New platforms are emerging constantly, and it can be tough to know where to start. 

Business owners, leaders, and hear the buzzword community, but many don't know how a community could bring new and repeat business. 

So many founders are stuck in the "shiny new thing" that they can't seem to move forward with developing a strategy for launching an online community.  

The struggle for new community builders: 

  • Bombarded by platform options and tech details
  • Feel overwhelmed by planning and promoting a launch 
  • Have no idea how to onboard and engage new members 
  • The question of whether the community will provide a return on investment
  • Launch so quickly that strategy gets ignored

The Solution for Creators who want to build an online community

This book takes the guesswork out of community building by offering a strategic approach to developing it, from concept to growth. 

Any online community must start with purpose. After getting clear on yours, you’ll validate your concept by inviting potential ideal members into a conversation. Using surveys and other tools, you will set the foundation of your community’s concept and structure. 

 

Validating before building is key!

It provides valuable feedback that can save you thousands of dollars and months of time wasted on a model that needs tweaking.

  • Many clients start by thinking they need tons of content.
  • People need to connect, not only consume. 
  • This guide helps you think through the balance of content and engagement 

Not only that, but you don’t have to spend hours and hours, locked in front of your computer, creating “perfect” content. Instead, you can free yourself to consider new, curated ideas that save time and involve your community. Work through the exercises to find what works for you. 

You can create curated content from interviews with community stakeholders, focus groups, and virtual surveys. Once it exists, you can save even more time by repurposing it! Use it to promote your community to clients, email subscribers, and social media followers. 

And here’s a hint: There’s no such thing as perfect, anyway! According to the leaders in my own community, letting go of perfection is key to success. People don't collaborate with one another because they want or need perfect experiences. And they don’t join communities because of a shiny new tech gadget.

Instead, the guide will help you focus on building a safe space where your people feel seen, valued, and heard.

 

Contents and Sections of the Book: 

  • Section 1. Community Purpose, Strategy, Structure
  • Section 2. Ideal Members, Validation, Planning
  • Section 3. Building, Launching, Onboarding
  • Section 4. Retention, Growth, Maintenance

 

Find Calm Here LLC

 

Why Find Calm Here? 

As a community builder and Host of the Community Strategy Podcast, Deb Schell has spoken with more than 85 community leaders to learn how they’ve been successful in building, launching, and growing online communities. 

  • Thanks to her 20 years of experience as a reporter she knew how to ask the right questions.
  • These explorations, along with her own experience as a community leader, led to this book.
  • Her insights gleaned from those who’ve been there before you, can save you time and bring confidence to your own plans.
The Mighty Mastermind
A group of community-builders who met each week for 6 months in 2020 to support each other with community-building efforts.

Deb’s desire to empower others to feel seen, heard, and valued is central to her work. It’s vital to her role as a community builder, and she took the lead in her previous jobs as a community manager for startups and established organizations. 

As you use this guide, you’ll encounter Deb’s relentless commitment to both empowerment and strategy.

She’ll guide you to set up a direct feedback loop that will provide metrics to inform your unique decisions. With an eye to what works for your business, she’ll provide tools to keep you focused, informed, and calm as you move from creator to community builder.

 

The Campaign FAQs

Q: When will this book be published? 
A: This book is scheduled to be published in the Spring of 2023

Q: How can I get an advanced copy of the book? 
A: View rewards to see which one offers an advanced copy of the book

Q: Where will the book launch party be, and when? 

A: We are still working out the details of the book launch party. 

Q: How else can I support you? 
A: Please share this campaign with fellow community builders you know that want to support creatives and could use the tools and resources this book will offer. 

Q: What is this book about? 
A: See below :)

Find Calm Here’s mission is to bring calm to community leaders, organizations, and teams who are launching an online community for the first time.

We offer the tools, resources, and support to create a community strategy that connects members inside an online community, drives member engagement, and cultivates collaborations.

Here's the problem:

The online community industry is so new with many new platforms emerging in the tech space all the time.

Organizations, Leaders, and Business Owners are hearing the buzzword "community" but don't know how a community could help develop new and repeat business.

So many founders are stuck in the "shiny new thing" that they can't seem to move forward with developing a strategy for launching an online community.

New community builders: 

  1. Don’t have time to develop an online community strategy  
  2. Feel overwhelmed with planning and promoting a launch
  3. Have no idea how to onboard and engage new members
  4. Need to know the ROI on a community for the bottom line

We take the guesswork out of community building by offering a strategic approach to developing a community from concept to growth. 

Starting with the purpose of an online community through validation with potential ideal members and surveys we set the foundation of the community concept and structure. 

By validating before building, the organization benefits from gaining valuable feedback, saving thousands of dollars spent on custom app development. 

Curated content can be created from 1:1 interviews, focus groups, and virtual surveys to then promote the community to customers, clients, email subscribers, and social media followers. 

According to community leaders, letting go of perfection is key to success. People don't only collaborate with one another over perfect experiences, the community context and the safe space in which they feel seen, valued, and heard are the most important factors - Not the “shiny new tech gadget.” 

 

Mindy Jones
12/31/2022
Resource Pack with Checklists
$310
Mary Emma Kingsley
12/17/2022
Coaching with Deb for 1 Month
$555
12/12/2022
Coaching with Deb for 1 Month
$555
robin r Fuller
12/12/2022
Coaching with Deb for 1 Month
$555
WSC
12/08/2022
Creator 2 Community + Strategy
$275
Lara Buelow
12/08/2022
Resource Pack with Checklists
$20
Mark Leonard
12/07/2022
Creator 2 Community + Strategy
$275
Matthew Grande
12/01/2022
Creator 2 Community Spiral Book
$45
Laura
11/05/2022
Resource Pack with Checklists
$10
Mary Elizabeth Murphy
11/01/2022
Creator 2 Community Signed Spiral Book
$75
Monetary Contribution

As a new author, I would be grateful for any support that you are able to provide. 

 Your gift today will help with: 

The cost of hiring a book designer to create a book cover and internal layout. I've learned that a well-designed book offers readers (you) a better experience and a higher success rate of readers taking action with the content within the book. 

The investment in money and time it takes to write, edit, and proofread this workbook. I'm dedicated to providing you with a high-quality book. To do this, I intend to work every day to write, work with a team of supporters, and create a book that will be useful. 

The cost of book publishing and printing is to provide enough books for you and all of your community-building friends

198 Left
2 Supporters
Select this reward
10.00 USD
Resource Pack with Checklists

Start using some of Deb’s resources before the book is available! You’ll get an email with templates and checklists for building, growing, and maintaining your community.  
 

 

7 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Digital PDF Print from Home

Want the book before it’s printed? Get a PDF version of the designed pages. Access it from anywhere or print your own copy at home.

5 Supporters
Select this reward
35.00 USD
Kindle Version of the book

If you’re an avid traveler like Deb, you might want a version of this book that you can take with you on the road. Anticipated delivery of Kindle version: Late spring 2023.

2 Supporters
Select this reward
45.00 USD
Creator 2 Community Spiral Book

You’ll love our spiral-bound book, which lays flat beautifully. Keep it open next to your computer, refer to it as a reference, and jot down your own notes and ideas. There’s plenty of extra space to work on your community concept, strategy, structure, and content. 
 

The spiral-bound workbook will be shipped to you. (Shipping costs vary. We’ll email you with an update once this has been finalized.) Anticipated delivery of workbook: Late spring 2023.

 

5 Supporters
Select this reward
75.00 USD
Creator 2 Community Signed Spiral Book

Make sure your copy is as special as your community; get it signed by Deb. You’ll love our spiral-bound book, which lays flat beautifully. Keep it open next to your computer, refer to it as a reference, and jot down your own notes and ideas. There’s plenty of extra space to work on your community concept, strategy, structure, and content. 

 

4 Supporters
Select this reward
275.00 USD
Creator 2 Community + Strategy

Up-level your community-building experience and launch sooner with  Deb’s support.

Click here to email Deb if you'd like to purchase this reward.

In this 90-minute strategy session, she'll guide you through what you need most: building a community, growing it, or keeping members engaged.

  • Community Building Basics
  • Active learning, integration
  • Leadership & Facilitation
  • Mentoring & Moderating

Building a community can be lonely, so take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Deb will help you tailor tools from the book to your own community. 

Included is a signed copy of Deb’s spiral-bound book, which lays flat beautifully.

Keep it open next to your computer, refer to it as a reference, and jot down your own notes and ideas. There’s plenty of extra space to work on your community concept, strategy, structure, and content. 

The book will be shipped to you. (Shipping costs vary. We’ll email you with an update once this has been finalized.) Anticipated delivery of workbook: Late spring 2022. 

2 Left
3 Supporters
Select this reward
555.00 USD
Coaching with Deb for 1 Month

Take action with Deb for a month by working with her one-to-one to help you take your community concept from idea to launch. She’ll provide a roadmap for your structure, strategy, design, and onboarding. 

Click here to email Deb if you'd like to purchase this reward.

Weekly sessions 1:1 for new community builders to learn about how to build an online community, group, cohort, or course, step-by-step.

Learn what it looks like to create a sense of belonging and craft online conversations through weekly working sessions to support your journey.

24 Hour response, unlimited email/text communication, and up to 2 strategy calls per week.

  • Community Building Basics
  • Active learning, integration
  • Leadership & Facilitation
  • Mentoring & Moderating

Included is a copy of the new book, Creator to Community Builder.

You’ll love your signed copy of Deb’s spiral-bound book, which lays flat beautifully. Keep it open next to your computer, refer to it as a reference, and jot down your own notes and ideas.

There’s plenty of extra space to work on your community concept, strategy, structure, and content. 

The book will be shipped to you. (Shipping costs vary. We’ll email you with an update once this has been finalized.) Anticipated delivery of workbook: Late spring 2023.

2 Left
3 Supporters
Select this reward

About the Entrepreneur

Mechanicsburg, PA
Created 1 Campaign
Business Services

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

As a new author, I would be grateful for any support that you are able to provide. 

 Your gift today will help with: 

The cost of hiring a book designer to create a book cover and internal layout. I've learned that a well-designed book offers readers (you) a better experience and a higher success rate of readers taking action with the content within the book. 

The investment in money and time it takes to write, edit, and proofread this workbook. I'm dedicated to providing you with a high-quality book. To do this, I intend to work every day to write, work with a team of supporters, and create a book that will be useful. 

The cost of book publishing and printing is to provide enough books for you and all of your community-building friends

198 Left
2 Supporters
Select this reward
10.00 USD
Resource Pack with Checklists

Start using some of Deb’s resources before the book is available! You’ll get an email with templates and checklists for building, growing, and maintaining your community.  
 

 

7 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Digital PDF Print from Home

Want the book before it’s printed? Get a PDF version of the designed pages. Access it from anywhere or print your own copy at home.

5 Supporters
Select this reward
35.00 USD
Kindle Version of the book

If you’re an avid traveler like Deb, you might want a version of this book that you can take with you on the road. Anticipated delivery of Kindle version: Late spring 2023.

2 Supporters
Select this reward
45.00 USD
Creator 2 Community Spiral Book

You’ll love our spiral-bound book, which lays flat beautifully. Keep it open next to your computer, refer to it as a reference, and jot down your own notes and ideas. There’s plenty of extra space to work on your community concept, strategy, structure, and content. 
 

The spiral-bound workbook will be shipped to you. (Shipping costs vary. We’ll email you with an update once this has been finalized.) Anticipated delivery of workbook: Late spring 2023.

 

5 Supporters
Select this reward
75.00 USD
Creator 2 Community Signed Spiral Book

Make sure your copy is as special as your community; get it signed by Deb. You’ll love our spiral-bound book, which lays flat beautifully. Keep it open next to your computer, refer to it as a reference, and jot down your own notes and ideas. There’s plenty of extra space to work on your community concept, strategy, structure, and content. 

 

4 Supporters
Select this reward
275.00 USD
Creator 2 Community + Strategy

Up-level your community-building experience and launch sooner with  Deb’s support.

Click here to email Deb if you'd like to purchase this reward.

In this 90-minute strategy session, she'll guide you through what you need most: building a community, growing it, or keeping members engaged.

  • Community Building Basics
  • Active learning, integration
  • Leadership & Facilitation
  • Mentoring & Moderating

Building a community can be lonely, so take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Deb will help you tailor tools from the book to your own community. 

Included is a signed copy of Deb’s spiral-bound book, which lays flat beautifully.

Keep it open next to your computer, refer to it as a reference, and jot down your own notes and ideas. There’s plenty of extra space to work on your community concept, strategy, structure, and content. 

The book will be shipped to you. (Shipping costs vary. We’ll email you with an update once this has been finalized.) Anticipated delivery of workbook: Late spring 2022. 

2 Left
3 Supporters
Select this reward
555.00 USD
Coaching with Deb for 1 Month

Take action with Deb for a month by working with her one-to-one to help you take your community concept from idea to launch. She’ll provide a roadmap for your structure, strategy, design, and onboarding. 

Click here to email Deb if you'd like to purchase this reward.

Weekly sessions 1:1 for new community builders to learn about how to build an online community, group, cohort, or course, step-by-step.

Learn what it looks like to create a sense of belonging and craft online conversations through weekly working sessions to support your journey.

24 Hour response, unlimited email/text communication, and up to 2 strategy calls per week.

  • Community Building Basics
  • Active learning, integration
  • Leadership & Facilitation
  • Mentoring & Moderating

Included is a copy of the new book, Creator to Community Builder.

You’ll love your signed copy of Deb’s spiral-bound book, which lays flat beautifully. Keep it open next to your computer, refer to it as a reference, and jot down your own notes and ideas.

There’s plenty of extra space to work on your community concept, strategy, structure, and content. 

The book will be shipped to you. (Shipping costs vary. We’ll email you with an update once this has been finalized.) Anticipated delivery of workbook: Late spring 2023.

2 Left
3 Supporters
Select this reward