Contrary to popular belief, building (or belonging to) a supportive community is neither easy nor self-sustaining. It takes time, a clear vision, patience, persistence, consistency, and a strong belief that the goal is absolutely vital for its members.
It’s an emotional ride, and there’s a constant insecurity that you might mess things up or someone else might. But you have to be willing to put in the time, learn from others who’ve done this before, and then work towards finding your own way. Don’t expect much from it—especially financially, at least for a while (a long while). But I can promise you one thing: you’re going to love the ups and the downs. Trust me on this—there are going to be both.
As an entrepreneur, creating a space where people actually come together—virtually or in real life—can be incredibly rewarding. For me, moving from a virtual space to IRL was the step that took me from being an “influencer” (if I may) to a true community builder. My followers might not have grown, but trust me when I say this: the impact has been tremendous.
Here are my 4 tips on how you can build your own online/in-person community:
#1 Identify what brings people together
A decade ago while sitting in Bangalore on my office desk at Unilever I would have never imagined that one day there would be a “My Swiss Story” or one day I would be running a community where women would unite together, share their feelings and vulnerabilities, discuss what a monumental change an expat life brings and collaborate with each other to create absolutely magical outcomes.
But hey, if I have to be honest….My Swiss Story was my lemonade story, it was my attempt to help new expats navigate life in Switzerland with ease. And for this, I really did put myself out there while I built this platform but it was during COVID where I realized that this unidimensional conversation was no longer fulfilling. And so, I decided to build a safe space where women could come together and find a sense of belonging.
Of course, I asked my sister, friends, and other content creators what they thought about my idea—”Coffee with a Purpose.” They were encouraging, and their feedback meant a lot. These are people who never lie to me just to spare my feelings. 😉
So, I took a leap of faith and announced my first meetup in Basel—100 women signed up! That’s when I knew I was onto something.
If you’re not 100% sure how real your “need” is, just ask. People are generally quite honest about where they will (or won’t) spend their valuable time on.
#2 Set the standard
While building the MSS community, I discovered that if I wanted other women to open up, I had to be honest about my life and experiences. I had always come from a place of authenticity when posting content on my website and social media channels, but doing it IRL wasn’t easy.
The best communities are always safe places for open sharing. I put my story out there—not just online but in front of my community. I became the role model for what I wanted this space to be before expecting it from others. Trust me, it was the perfect ice-breaker. You can never go wrong when you’re coming from a place of authenticity.
It encouraged the community to share their own stories—about expat life, career changes, starting a new gig, and more. Their feelings, emotions, and vulnerabilities came through because they knew this was a safe space. I always knew this: if I wanted people to open up, everything I spoke, conveyed, or wrote had to come from a place of sincerity.
You set the standard—mine is a place of sincerity, authenticity, and openness.
#3 Get the word out
Let’s be honest—building a community is the easier part; getting the word out takes bigger effort. If you don’t promote, how will people know? And if they don’t know, they won’t join. There’s a lot of noise on the internet, so you really need to stand out! How? By creating engaging content and consistently posting it. (Consistently being the key word here.)
If you’re new, invest in a social media campaign—take professional help if you have to. My recommendation? Pick two social media platforms. Don’t overwhelm yourself with 8-9 different mediums; that’s a recipe for failure. My favorites right now are Instagram and LinkedIn, but hey—you do you!
Beyond social media, look for PR opportunities. I never say NO when someone wants to feature me. It’s a great way to collaborate rather than compete, and it creates a “win-win” situation. Over the past few years, I’ve done countless print interviews, podcasts, and guest posts—trust me, it really boosts your impact and your mission.
#4 Tune into your members’ voices
Now that you’ve built a community and shared your vision, it’s time to listen closely to the feedback your members offer. Ask them what they love and what they feel might be missing. And don’t just sit with it, start incorporating it.
This is where their membership turns into loyalty. When members feel heard and valued, they’ll see that the community was built with their needs in mind.
How I gather feedback: through my emails, online at the end of webinars and through forms at the big events, and also in person at our popular coffee meetups across Switzerland. I truly believe you should always grab any chance to check in and understand how your members are feeling.
Bonus tip: Running a community isn’t always easy, but just like posting content needs consistency, so does meeting up with your members. For example, we host monthly coffee meetups (except during school holidays), bi-monthly webinars, and two large all-day events. Anything more than this can become overwhelming—but do what works best for you.
Final thoughts
Building a community takes effort. You’ll need to be bold, show your vulnerable side, and be prepared for setbacks. Once you’ve created a space that truly resonates with your audience, it’s time to promote it—don’t be afraid to shout about it from the Alps if you need to!
I’m confident you’ll create something amazing. Bring people in, and celebrate every win, big or small. Stay in touch—I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
Would you like to join our next coffee meet in Basel/Zurich/Laussane/Zug, Register here.
To read some of our recent posts, click here
Would you like to be featured on My Swiss Story? Read this and Apply today!
Are you interested in meeting, connecting, and collaborating with Women across Switzerland, check out “With Purpose“.
Get in touch with me: About | Subscribe to our Newsletter
Really Great 🤓, interested