How to Build a Coworking Community

If you are fascinated by the concept of coworking'>coworking but unable to join a coworking'>coworking community in your patch because one doesn't yet exist in your neighborhood, then the adventurous could consider building one. That is what we here at Ringley did. The concept of coworking'>coworking existed long back, but its popularity rocked skyward only in recent years. Previously it was just called flexible workspace but with the term coworking'>coworking now well-established and in a new post covid workplace demand is spiraling. Statistics show that plenty of people are now looking at coworking'>coworking, the 5 days in the office pattern have changed, many businesses are downsizing to reflect that not everyone is in every day, and the convenience world we live in sees office space as a commodity to be consumed and doesn't want the bother of rates, utilities, photocopier rental and ...

This alongside people including homeworkers being fundamentally social animals is leading to renewed interest for those who want to be a part of a coworking'>coworking community. Ringley decided to lead the coworking'>coworking movement at the northern gateway to Camden Town has taken off quickly and now we are building a strong community. As our Camden Gateway site is blessed with 3-meter-high windows and natural light floods into a range of small starter offices which can be combined into small business suites getting clients and companies for our coworking'>coworking space has not been all that challenging. Many occupants have fled to our Camden Gateway site from LABS and Work-Life in Camden as our accommodation is simply superior.

The essence of every coworking'>coworking center is community 1st. These days that means a digital community, an identity that says something about the start-up and small businesses within. These are the foundations. Launching a digital community helps in many ways. It can:

• Build brand awareness
• Improve membership base
• Strike local business partnerships
• Give shape to the concept

When To Start Building A Digital Coworking Community

Start right away! You can start building a digital community whenever you are ready. The earlier, the better, say experts because it can help collect leads and begin the engagement exercise. The steps to take while building a digital community are as follows:

• Choose a name for the space, which will be your brand name
• Create a website and have the relevant software in place

Steps To Building The Coworking Community

Choose The Right Tools

The right tools include a website for targeting and capturing leads and communicating with your audience. This means a website with CRM capabilities, and a user login to showcase your occupiers.

Use Web Forms For Signup

Web forms can be the best way to sign up people for your space, they should be embedded into your website. Plug-and-play customizable forms can be linked to the admin dashboard for displaying and sharing information, but if you want to showcase occupiers and their businesses you will need software configured for coworking'>coworking. Ultimately, the aim is that onboarding happens automatically when a would-be client signs up for your space through the web.

Put In Place An Effective Communication Strategy

For a community to be a community you must find a way of communicating with members after they have joined. Onboarding and ongoing engagement are two vital communication strategies. Onboarding is the initial touch-point of members with your space. The space itself may not be enough to create an engagement platform, but there are ways to do it. Email communication is a good option. A Community App with chat channels is another. At Ringley, for some years we have been generating Resident Apps to serve the Built to Rent industry and have built both a coworking'>coworking portal and an app that can run coworking'>coworking and flexible offices.

Ongoing Engagement is necessary to keep the community going and to keep members communicating regularly. An ongoing engagement strategy can include the following:

Daily updates, offers, discussion topics, or votes to initiate discussion in the community feed

• Messaging members every week (or bi-weekly)
• Hosting contests with attractive prizes
• Providing space updates through images and descriptions

Create Value For The Community

When members are onboard and using the forums and other platforms to communicate, the next step is to add value to the community. Hosting virtual events is a simple way of giving shape to this move, this can be anything from members sharing what they do with other members or associated services such as introducing a payroll company or accountant or guest speakers. Ultimately it is about finding out what information your members want and making sure you provide what they need to them. This will help create value and interest.