The number one question we get asked about ourselves, our business and our network is:

‘How have you built up an extensive and positive network since launching FAB since 2016?’

The answer is simple, and it is all about building relationships based upon trust, reliability, authenticity, and values.

Creating the correct network around yourself and your business; for us creates support and unity to all work collectively to help one another move forward, whether this be in triumph or in struggle in business.

This guide will provide insight into what it is to create a positive community within your business, the five key benefits we have seen first-hand and to show you how this can be demonstrated in your own business too.

So, what is a positive business community?

For us a positive business community is where you build a family within your network or business to collaborate, learn and grow, which ultimately moves your business forward.
Positive communities are also created to inspire others by bringing a collection of people and businesses together. As it enables them to connect, support and grow collectively.
Five definitions to explain what a business community is and provides, are demonstrated as follows with these five keys words being predominant throughout, which are:

‘Support, Accountability, Community, Promotion and Belonging.’

Number one, it provides support; as it was once said by Chris Bond in 2019; that being a business owner can be a lonely as you see first-hand all the challenges that you face on a day-by-day basis and business owners wear a lot of hats. So, the right business community helps provide that support to overcome those challenges and balances out your weaknesses to be come opportunities rather than threat.

Number two it allows accountability. Being accountable in business is always the hardest task to complete when you work by yourself; due to the many hats you need to wear as a business owner. So, by having other businesses in your community to lean on when required is super important and they allow you to be accountable and ask for support without judgement. A great top tip to share when it comes to accountability is to pick an accountability partner; so, you have 1:1 support as well and pick a set time and date each week, month, or quarter that you can meet.

Number three, it provides a sense of community as according to the English dictionary a sense of community is the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common with a collective group of people or objects. For us as stated by Oliver Serrat it provides a platform for different learning environments so the community can collectively come together and create.

Number four, it allows promotion. Even though by joining a business community or by creating a positive one within your business should not be done on a sales basis. In time due to the time commitment and trust built, you will find you are able to promote your business and your service organically; as the community will understand what you do, how you do and the problem that you solve. So, you community will self-refer or promote your services to their extended network.

Number five provides a sense of belonging. As a sense of belonging on a key fundamental level provides a meaning or level of recognition within a community, group, or organisation. Therefore, is it a key benefit for creating a positive community within business as it is providing a chain of events to enable each other to feel more connected.

The BENEFITS are:
1. Support & Network
Another benefit you would gain would be having a support group, whether this be for something that goes wrong, to that you don’t know how to do something or that you’re struggling. Or to something simpler in terms of you need some more networking opportunities. Whatever it maybe, there will always be the business hub behind your back to support you and help you overcome the obstacles whether this be big or small.

2. Increase Visibility and Brand Awareness

By creating and inviting people to your hub increases visibility and brand awareness. However, do not mistake this for what it is not and that is to sell your services in the first instance, as let’s face it no one likes to be sold too. However, it is to be used for the top of your sales funnel in business which is all about brand awareness and helping your audience learn as much as possible through the value you provide in your ‘hub’ to ultimately allow their awareness and self-development to grow.

3. Improves Social Media Presence.

Another benefit which will lead on from growing your network from a business hub would be an increase in your social media presence. As whilst you’re getting to know new people within the hub, they are also getting to know you and there is nothing wrong with asking them to follow you and engage with you on your social media pages. The more engagement you get the more people will see your posts, the more your awareness and community will grow.

4. Referrals 

Everyone in the hub will support each other’s businesses, so when they know someone who’s looking for your service, they’re going to refer them to you. Therefore, gaining lots more business! Plus, people are more likely to go with you than another business if they’ve been referred to you as they’re more likely to TRUST, due to the relationship built up in a positive and proactive business community.

5. Sense of Belonging
A sense of belonging on a fundamental level provides a meaning or level of recognition within a community, group, or organisation. Therefore, is it a key benefit for creating a positive community within business as it is providing a chain of events to enable each other to feel more connected, through building a positive culture to eliminate barriers so each business and person can move forward collectively.

Also, as individuals and people, we yearn the sense to belong to something as it can enable and improve the following: which ultimately improves ourselves and businesses. Demonstrated via the following Maslow diagram here:

Diagram One:

My personal view and opinion are that some may call our ‘mantra’. Is that in line with our beliefs, we put our clients, our network and community at the forefront of everything we do, and we become your cheerleaders in a fab business community supporting one another collectively on a group basis.

This in our opinion in how you create a positive community as you are the spokesperson of this community and if you wish to attract individuals and businesses with the same mindset you will as you will attract good energy with good people and positive mindset to create a positive business community.

How we do this is through four key benefits as we believe this is what every needs to have as key foundations to create a positive business community.

  1. INSPIRE – Through Monthly Lives
  2. EDUCATE – Through webinar & learn
  3. INFORM – Through monthly Q&A
  4. CONNECT – Through our monthly networking event with speaker

How this can be achieved?

So, how can this be achieved in your own business by creating a positive business community of your own or by selecting the correct community to situate your business within; is by following the five key steps.

1. Do your research, we discuss this point in our CAR model series The CAR Model – Free Video Series – Events By Fab a lot; as if we do not the basics in a market research this is where gaps can be created. So, by doing your basic research will allow you to see who or what is in your area or sector that can cause an obstruction and on the same page; it can show you your strengths and opportunities.
Ultimately is also allows you to decide on informed facts as it allows you to find, gauge and seize your ideas for an online community to join or create.

2. Know your why/purpose as your purpose is your attraction to the group and your reason for being in business serves as a reference point for all operations. It allows you to manage your business and community with purpose. It also identifies your motivation and is the first step to developing measurable goals of what you want out of the community that you have created or joined.

3. Do your numbers. Knowing your numbers feeds back to the saying that knowledge is power in business as, it will demonstrate the return on investment you will receive and if this satisfies your purpose and why.
This is something we come across regular in networking when someone states it is not working for them, instead of agreeing with the comment. I ask the question on numbers as it is quite surprising on the return from perception to reality.
So, whether this be knowing your number to create your own community or whether this be a community you join; always keep track of your numbers to ensure it is providing a purpose.

4. Listen to your audience. Listening to your audience is vital to understand what your audience need help with as without effectively listening you risk being misunderstood. This is important in your online business community or within the community you network as it ensures you build repour.

5. Create, Join & Market. The last point is to put action to your decisions as a plan without action is just a wish. So, if you are creating your own community, it is about creating this for your audience to join and then market. If you are selecting a positive community to join rather than create, then ensure it has the right businesses within with the same values to ensure you are on the same page and get the best return for your time within the community.

What to do next?

My best advice would be to remember the five key steps on how you can create your own positive community in your own business or select the right one for your business and above all do your research and you can find more support and guidance via the following key articles available on our website.

The benefits of creating a HUB for your business – Events By Fab

Fed Up Of Learning & Not Implementing? Find Out Why … – Events By Fab

Get to the heart of your marketing. – Events By Fab

How adopting a new strategy can help your business – Events By Fab

The importance of having a plan in business – Events By Fab


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