I was well into my career as a community builder before I realized the value of intentionally setting aside time to talk directly with members — by phone, Zoom, or even in person when possible.
It’s easy to get caught up in moderation queues, analytics, and content calendars. But some of the best community insights come from simple conversations.
Benefits to Community Managers
When you talk directly with members, you:
- uncover frustrations or ideas they may never post publicly
- better understand what motivates participation
- learn what members truly value most
- identify confusing processes or onboarding gaps
- hear the language members naturally use
