Discord is gaining rapid popularity among the millennials and Gen-Z. From the sleek features to the anonymity, there are so many cool features available on Discord that make it an option worth considering. It is fun, engaging, and not to mention, a safe place for individuals to share their thoughts, have conversations about gaming, and simply meet new people on the internet.
Ideally, it is one thing to have a Discord of your own and it is another thing starting a Discord channel to build your community of people. Community teams on Discord are very engaging and productive and enable you to do the most out of the situation.
In this article, we will discuss everything there is to know ">about starting a successful Discord community that stays and thrives.
Find the Purpose
Sometimes, even though your server was exciting in the beginning, there could be a lot of factors bringing it down now. Analyse those shortcomings. Take a step back and assess what you could do to restore that excitement in the group or server again.
Ideally, the activities that keep your community engaged will be quite different and subjective. If you have a gaming Discord channel, you can’t expect to talk about recipes and keep the community fulfilled. So, attune your content to the likes of the community.
Focus on creating a Safe Space
Nobody wants to be part of a server that is hateful and filled with negativity. The internet is already an unsafe place for several, especially with the risks of hackers, social bullies and whatnot. The last thing you want is for your channel to further propagate on that.
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When you start a Discord channel, chances are that it will eventually grow. More and more people will become part of the community. However, this is where your role comes in. Ideally, we’d recommend that you have a team of moderators who can handle this aspect.
Also, always choose within the community. Moderators can be active contributors and since they are part of the group, they will know the ins and outs. Also, having known moderators help the other people in the community feel safe in the provided space, which is always a benefit.
Connect with your Community
Another factor that contributes to the popularity of a Discord channel is the community itself. If you want the channel to grow and thrive, it is a given that you need to connect with the community of people. Ideally, interactive activities are the best way to improve the credibility of a server. Host game nights; conduct fun trivia nights and so many more activities attuned to your group’s interest.
There are several events like “Ask Me Anything”, which serves as a great way for people in the community to get to know each other. These events are contributing, interactive, and very engaging too.
Also, if the community members initiate conversations, contribute to them. If left inactive and unanswered, the people will either get offended or lose interest in being part of the channel. Sometimes, all it takes is to hold communication threads, share interests, and have a fun time interacting with people.
Don’t come off Salesy
Yes, there are dedicated Discord channels and communities of brands that only focus on customer interaction and selling. As a moderator or owner of the server, you need to lay it down easily. No one likes promotional content to be flashed 24×7 in front of them. So, typically, we’d recommend that you take it slow, engage with the people in the community, and don’t rush through.
It is okay to have days and months where you indulge in promotions of the products and services. But, if you ONLY promote and sell, it will not be a community people want to stay a part of. Ideally, creating a balance between the content you post is what makes all the difference in the world.
Also, you can offer amazing and exclusive bonuses via these channels because that helps sort out your chances of growing your Discord community as well. You can’t expect engagement unless you are willing to give something in exchange.
Treat the PING with caution
When you are running a Discord channel, the last thing you want to do is disrupt everyone’s notifications with constant pings. When you @ everyone consistently, people will eventually become flippant and not stick around.
When you are using “@ everyone,” it will notify every single person on the server. Not only is it disrupting, but it is equally frustrating as well. If you have something that will interest every individual on the server, it makes sense for you to ping everyone. However, if that isn’t the case and you are trying to send it to a select few, we’d recommend keeping the alerts limited or posting the news on the open channel for everyone to check out.
Integrate reward system
Another amazing way to make your channel a successful one is by introducing reward programs. Ideally, we’d recommend that you make the active contributors in the channel known. If that isn’t the case, people won’t actively contribute to the channel anymore.
So, the best way to keep the channel active and engaging is by introducing reward programs. It can include just about anything that you can think of. It could be a monthly gift card or even an item of purchase. Besides gifts, reward programs can also involve specialized incentives and roles in the community that sets them apart from the rest.
Badges and a special honor for their name also work great for such platforms. So, make sure you choose one accordingly.
Have set rules and stick to them
Favouritism is one of the biggest reasons for downfalls in a Discord channel. If you have set rules for your Discord server, you need to stick by them. The last thing you want to do is end up changing the rules and pissing the other members off on the server. Ideally, we’d recommend keeping the rules pinned so every member in the community has access to the same.
People like it when they are treated equally. This goes out for every kind of social situation. So, if you are treating someone better and someone worse in the group, it will eventually come back and make things worse in the group. So, ideally, we’d recommend that you maintain the decorum of the group and treat every member with equal importance. This is what makes all the difference.
If you are new to the concept of the Discord channel, we hope this article gives you all the insights that you possibly need. Start small and focus on the integral rules and regulations. Ideally, that itself can make your channel a success. Listen to the community and mold your choices accordingly. It is not about bringing big changes. It is all about the smaller and intricate detailing that makes all the difference.
