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How Skool Gives You Members | Skool News #40 You Tube

TLDR In 2026, the focus for School is on discovery and community engagement, building on last year's push for affordability and enhanced features. Successful communities start free, leverage social media for growth, and transition to monetization, as seen in examples like Nate Herk's AI group and Kim Thompson's knitting community. The goal is to connect people around their passions and help them earn income through community building. Engaging in existing communities and taking the 'School 101' course can provide insights for new creators, fostering a collaborative environment to attract members and enhance growth.

Key Insights

Start by Engaging with Existing Communities

Before launching your own community, it's vital to immerse yourself in existing groups that align with your passions. By actively participating in these communities, you can gain insights into effective strategies and best practices for community building. This approach also helps you understand the needs and desires of potential members, which can inform your own community's direction. Engage genuinely, contribute to discussions, and build connections that could help pave the way for your future community.

Focus on Building a Free Membership Base First

Successful communities often start with a free membership model to attract initial members. This strategy enables you to build a solid foundation of participants eager to connect over shared interests. By creating a free resource or community space, you can cultivate trust and engagement while refining your offerings based on member feedback. Once your community is thriving, consider transitioning to a monetized model that provides value to members while helping you achieve recurring revenue.

Leverage Social Media for Growth

Utilizing social media is crucial for the initial growth of your community. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are invaluable for driving traffic and attracting members. Personal invitations and engaging content can help you reach like-minded individuals who are likely to resonate with your community's themes. By tapping into existing social networks and creating shareable content, you can enhance your community's visibility and foster organic growth.

Aim for Active Participation to Attract Members

To effectively grow your community, strive to be the type of member you wish to attract. This means actively participating and contributing valuable insights within your niche communities. Your engagement will not only build your reputation but will also showcase the potential of your future community. By establishing yourself as a knowledgeable and approachable participant, others will be more likely to join and engage with your community when it's launched.

Utilize Discovery Tools for Member Engagement

To enhance community growth, it's essential to utilize discovery tools that improve member engagement. This includes understanding where your members come from and how they interact with your content. Analytics can provide valuable insights into user behavior, allowing you to tailor your offerings and marketing strategies effectively. Utilize features like live streaming and native video to keep your community engaged and informed, making them more likely to remain active members.

Explore Learning Opportunities Like 'School 101'

Investing time in educational resources such as the 'School 101' course can significantly accelerate your understanding of successful community building. This course offers foundational knowledge about the platform's capabilities and strategies for engagement. Gaining insights from experienced community builders will equip you with the necessary tools to create a thriving community. Knowledge is power, and the more you learn, the better prepared you will be to attract and retain members.

Questions & Answers

What is the theme for School in 2026?

The theme for School in 2026 is discovery, focusing on community growth and improving features for member engagement.

What was the goal of the 2025 theme?

The goal for 2025 was to make the school platform 11 times cheaper while enhancing its features to support online businesses, which include native video, live streaming, and analytics.

How can individuals earn a full-time income from community building?

Individuals can earn a full-time income from their passions or hobbies by building communities, which can start with free memberships and subsequently transition to a monetized model.

What is one example of a successful community mentioned?

Nate Herk's AI automation community has 226,000 members in the free community and 3,100 in the paid community, generating $238,000 monthly.

What strategies are suggested for attracting initial members?

Community owners should focus on attracting initial members through personal invitations and social media.

What does the 'School 101' course offer?

The 'School 101' course is beneficial for learning best practices in community building and what works effectively.

How many communities are available on School?

There are around 200,000 communities available on School.

What should newcomers do to build a successful community?

Newcomers are encouraged to explore and join various communities related to their personal interests and engage actively to gain insights.

Summary of Timestamps

In 2026, the School platform focuses on the theme of 'discovery' aimed at enhancing community growth and member engagement. This reflects a shift towards refining tools that assist users in finding and connecting with like-minded individuals.
Last year's theme, 2025, focused on making the platform more affordable, which facilitated the rollout of features such as native video, live streaming, and detailed analytics. The objective is to help users better understand their community's engagement through different traffic sources, including popular social media platforms.
Nate Herk's AI automation community exemplifies successful community building by leveraging a free membership model, showcasing the potential for earning significant income through passionate pursuits. His community highlights how turning hobbies into business opportunities can have a profound impact on thousands of individuals.
Communities centered on shared passions are increasingly monetizing memberships while utilizing social media for growth, illustrated by the rapid expansion seen in communities like Nate Herk's, which significantly benefited from school networks. This phenomenon underscores the strategic partnerships that can drive member acquisition.
The School Games initiative fosters competition among communities, incentivizing growth through rewards. This element of gamification encourages new members to engage with the platform and strive for success, further emphasizing the community-building potential rooted in shared interests.
To successfully create a community, involvement in related groups and taking the 'School 101' course are recommended. This approach highlights the importance of active participation in learning effective strategies, demonstrating that the most successful community builders often start by immersing themselves in existing communities.

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