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“Community building is just another buzzword that consultants throw around to sound smart. You know, like "synergy" or "growth hacking."“
WRONG.
And the data backs this up in a way that's impossible to ignore.
Startups who switch to Intercom can save up to $12,000/year
Startups who read beehiiv can receive a 90% discount on Intercom's AI-first customer service platform, plus Fin—the #1 AI agent for customer service—free for a full year.
That's like having a full-time human support agent at no cost.
What’s included?
6 Advanced Seats
Fin Copilot for free
300 Fin Resolutions per month
Who’s eligible?
Intercom’s program is for high-growth, high-potential companies that are:
Up to series A (including A)
Currently not an Intercom customer
Up to 15 employees
The Numbers Don't Lie
76% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that foster strong online communities (CreatorLabz, 2025)
Brands with active communities see 53% higher customer retention rates compared to those without (CreatorLabz, 2025)
73.6% of consumers purchase more frequently because of community involvement—that's an 8% increase from just 2022 (TINT, 2025)
Community-driven brands achieve 5x higher engagement rates through user-generated content (CreatorLabz, 2025)
Here's what's happening in 2025:
Algorithm changes favor relationships over reach. All major platforms have shifted from social graph (content from people you follow) to interest graph (content based on behavior). This means your follower count matters less than your engagement quality.
So… now what?
Start with listening, not broadcasting.
What are your customers actually talking about? What problems keep them up at night? What makes them excited?
Set up social listening for your brand and industry keywords
Join existing communities where your customers hang out
Ask questions that go beyond your product ("What's the biggest challenge in your role right now?")
Respond to every comment and DM personally for the first 30 days
Make conversation, not announcements.
88.1% of consumers want two-way dialogue with brands, and 97.3% are motivated to stay loyal when brands actually listen to their feedback (TINT, 2025).
Recognition is the new currency.
83% of users engage more with gamified strategies, but this doesn't mean you need a complex points system. Sometimes the best reward is simply being seen.
Feature customer stories and user-generated content weekly
Offer exclusive access to new features or content
Send personalized thank-you messages to active members
The best communities run themselves.
66% of brand communities define their purpose as relationship-building, but the most successful ones let members build relationships with each other, not just the brand (Bettermode, 2025).
Create member-to-member connection opportunities
Let customers answer each other's questions (then amplify the best responses)
Invite community members to co-create content
Establish community guidelines that encourage peer support
Measuring What Matters
Here's where most people get it wrong—they measure community success with vanity metrics.
In addition to tracking:
Follower count
Post reach
Likes and shares
Track these relationship metrics:
Response rate to your questions
Member-to-member interactions
Customer retention rate
User-generated content volume
The ultimate metric: Revenue influenced by community. 18% of organizations report over 30% of revenue influenced by their community, and these companies show 64% strong engagement compared to 26% for those with less community influence (Bettermode, 2025).
The Bottom Line
Content gets attention. Community builds businesses.
In 2025, the brands that win won't be the ones with the most followers or the most viral posts. They'll be the ones that make their customers feel seen, heard, and valued.
The global community management market is expected to hit $4.5 billion by 2024, and 72% of businesses are increasing their community investment in 2025 (CreatorLabz, 2025).
Start with one genuine conversation today. Ask a real question. Listen to the answer. Respond like a human.
Your future self (and your revenue) will thank you.
P.S. if you need a social media listening tool, Vista Social is the only logical answer.