Building Success: Best Brand Community Examples

In an ever-changing world, brand communities are essential in strengthening customer relationships and fostering loyalty.  A brand community is not just about people buying your products and services; it’s about people who are passionate about your business and eager to share it with the world. People want to be a part of something bigger. It’s in our nature. Brand communities create a sense of belonging among your customers. It's a dynamic space where individuals with shared interests and values come together, driven by their loyalty to a brand. Building a brand-centric community enhances organic marketing efforts and aids in customer retention. In this article, we delve into various examples of brand communities, showcasing how different brands have successfully cultivated these unique ecosystems. 

Here’s what we are going to cover:

1. What is a brand community?
2. Why having a brand community is important?
3. 5 examples of best brand communities

What is a Brand Community?

Envision a world where customers are not just buyers, but active participants in a vibrant community centered around your brand, forming relationships that go beyond purchases and sharing experiences. 

Yes, you've guessed it right – this is the hallmark of a loyal brand community. 

So, what is a brand community? 

A brand community is a place where loyal customers actively engage, share ideas, and embody the brand’s value. 

Brand communities often form around certain products or services. They consist of people who don’t just buy your products or services but become your brand advocates. These people are committed to your brand. They will recommend it to friends, families, colleagues, and neighbors. They not only engage with your latest content but also follow you on social media. They provide feedback through reviews, engage in discussions, participate in brand-related activities, and promote your products or services for free.   

Brand communities exist both online, through social media and forums, and offline, through events and meetups. Developing a brand community, whether online or offline, can be achieved through the aforementioned channels and by implementing loyalty programs. When brand communities offer their members a reason to interact, they flourish. 

The key aspect of a brand community lies in the connection and interaction among its members, all centered around their shared passion for the brand.

Why Having a Brand Community is Important?

To remain competitive in today's ever-evolving world, establishing a brand community is essential. It’s more than just a customer base. It’s a group of loyal customers who have a strong bond with your company. Such communities offer numerous benefits to businesses. Here are 3 reasons why having a brand community is important: 

1. Improved customer loyalty. When your customers feel connected to your brand, they are more likely to stick with you in the long run. This loyalty often translates into repeat purchases, higher customer lifetime value, and positive word-of-mouth marketing. 

2. Valuable feedback and insights. A brand community provides a platform for customers to share their experiences and opinions related to your brand. This feedback is invaluable to businesses. It helps in identifying pain points, allowing you to address any issues your customers may have. Additionally, it serves as a compass to guide product development enhances customer service, and aids in understanding the needs and preferences of customers.‍

3. Increased Brand Advocates. Members of a brand community are loyal customers who often become brand advocates. They recommend your brand to others, defend it in times of crisis, and contribute to a positive brand image. The fact that this advocacy is based on real customer experiences and brand trust makes it an effective tool in your marketing arsenal. Your brand community serves as an online platform for user-generated content (UGC), such as customer reviews and testimonials, fostering social proof and boosting customer trust.

Overall, the brand community helps you forge a close bond with your customers, enhancing their loyalty, improving your products and services, and boosting your brand image.

5 Examples of Best Brand Communities

Now that you know what a brand community is and why it is important for your business, we’ve handpicked some of the most successful brand communities. These communities not only stand out for their effectiveness but also serve as a source of inspiration for anyone looking to build a successful and lasting brand community.

Dive into these examples and learn how you can apply these lessons to your own brand-building journey. 

‍01. LEGO

To understand what a great brand community looks like, consider LEGO. For seven decades, Lego’s community has served as a perfect example of brand engagement and continues to do so. The world-known brand gave rise to a global franchise that includes Legoland amusement parks, video games and movies. The Danish toy manufacturer has always prioritized its customers, referring to them as the “other half of the toy”. The company has a huge fanbase. It includes people of all ages and backgrounds who share a passion for LEGO products. 

In 2008, the world’s favorite toy brand launched its LEGO Ideas initiative to transform its massive fanbase into an online community. This platform exemplifies collaborative creation and innovation. Here, Lego fans of all ages can submit their own creations, vote on which ones they like best and take part in the creation of new products. By engaging their customers in the creative process LEGO enhances their loyalty and involvement, contributing to the success of its community. This approach makes the customers feel heard and valued. 

This increase in submissions shows that the LEGO Ideas community is becoming more popular and creative. Fans submit their own designs, hoping they will become official LEGO sets.

Lego enthusiasts have been forming clubs and forums outside the company's official community for 30+ years. Adult Fans of Lego, commonly known as AFOLs, have established a thriving community on Reddit, that boasts 29, 000 engaged members. The brand has done a great job of identifying communities formed by its users and enhancing their presence.

One of the best examples is the Lego Ambassador Network. It is for admins of acknowledged LEGO communities and big content creators. Members can meet with other Lego fans and chat with organizers from around the world. Here, Lego can collect feedback from numerous communities, facilitate knowledge sharing among community leaders, and promote both local and LEGO-branded events.

This customer-centric approach is what sets LEGO apart, making its community one of the best on the market. 

02. Apple

When someone talks about brand community, Apple is the name of the game. It is one of the biggest consumer electronics companies in the world. Products from Apple are generally priced higher compared to similar offerings from its competitors. The brand is a fan favorite due to its exceptional quality, dedication to innovation, and cutting-edge technology. So, it's no surprise that it has some of the most loyal customers of any company in the world.

Ever tried selling the idea that Android beats iOS to a group of Apple die-hards? It's like trying to teach a cat to bark – entertaining but utterly futile! That’s what every brand dreams to achieve. Apple has the most loyal customer base. 

To enhance customer engagement, Apple created the Apple Support Community. This platform enables customers to connect with one another. These people do care a lot about Apple products. They can ask questions, discuss product issues, share favorite products, and offer tips and solutions. This approach fosters a supportive and interactive environment for Apple customers. The success of the Apple brand community demonstrates that even the largest companies can greatly benefit from harnessing the strength of a brand community.

03. Shopify

Shopify is the name of a popular e-commerce platform that enables anyone to start, grow, manage, and scale a business. Primarily designed for entrepreneurs and business owners using Shopify's e-commerce platform, the Shopify community serves as a great example of a brand community. The Shopify community members can collaborate on business growth methods, exchange experiences and seek help in this thriving community. One of the main factors contributing to its success is the platform’s focus on creating a collaborative environment where Shopify users can share advice and insights, which is crucial for entrepreneurs often working alone. 

The active involvement of Shopify itself is another factor that has contributed to its success. The company actively engages with the community, offering expert advice, updates, and support. This helps users to stay informed and feel valued. Shopify gets direct feedback from this engagement, which helps them improve their offerings. Furthermore, the community’s diversity, which includes business owners with different backgrounds and at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey, enriches the learning experience. This variety offers members different viewpoints and answers to everyday issues.

Shopify community works well because its members are diverse and cooperative and it fosters an educational and encouraging atmosphere supported by the brand's active involvement.

Moreover, there are various Shopify forums and communities available for people to join. These forums offer ideal platforms for customers to connect and assist each other in growing their businesses.

04. Porsche

What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word Porsche? Is it an iconic Porsche 911 speeding down a winding road in the Alps? Is it a legendary 911 silhouette? Is it the sound of an engine? Is it the way girls react to this car? Or is it a famous badge of success and prestige? Porsche is all of the above and even more. Porsche is also an engineering masterpiece. A Porsche Club exemplifies a passionate and loyal customer base, united by their shared enthusiasm for the brand's high-performance vehicles. The Porsche community is not just a group of passionate car owners. It is a family where members actively engage in events, forums, and social media groups dedicated to the brand. The profound sense of belonging among Porsche enthusiasts plays a key role in the brand's success.

Porsche fosters this community through events like the Porsche Parades. The event serves as a gathering point for enthusiasts to unite and share their common passion. It is about more than just showcasing fantastic cars. It’s about people who drive them. Porsche customers form a deep emotional bond with the brand through shared experiences and the joy of riding. 

Being part of the Porsche community greatly enriches the experience of ownership. People enjoy each other's company greatly and have plenty of topics to talk about. 

What's more, Porsche's customer-centric approach serves as the perfect icing on the cake as their top priority is customer engagement and satisfaction. Porsche values its community's input, seriously considers their feedback, and involves them in the brand's growth. 

The brand's dedication to achieving the pinnacle of performance and design excellence generates a sense of exclusivity. Driving a Porsche gives owners a feeling of being part of a distinguished and elite community. Who wouldn’t want to join it? 

05. Starbucks

In the memorable episode “The Last of the Starks” of “Game of Thrones”, a Starbucks coffee cup made an unexpected cameo, showcasing the global reach of this iconic coffee brand. Starbucks is one of the most recognized coffee brands in the world. The brand is almost synonymous with the word “community”. This can be attributed to the company's tasty beverages and its dedication to cultivating an engaged brand community. 

Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte has been incredibly successful, capturing the essence of many people's favorite season. This inspired the company to launch a special Facebook page dedicated to autumn enthusiasts. Known by the name "Leaf Rakers Society", this Facebook community has more than 43,000 members. Here, they come together to share their love for both Starbucks and the fall season.

Starbucks has built a strong brand community not only through social media groups but also with its mobile app. The app rewards users with points for their orders, which they can use to access special deals. This loyalty program helps keep the Starbucks community engaged and thriving. 

Starbucks Rewards members earn Stars by making purchases, playing interactive games, and taking part in events that provide extra points. Presenting customized rewards strengthens the bond between the company and its community members. Loyalty programs are another reason why the Starbucks community is so strong.

Similarly, Growave offers tailored loyalty programs for Shopify store owners that can enhance customer engagement and brand loyalty, much like Starbucks' successful strategy.

Conclusion

Upon examining a variety of brand community examples, a consistent trend becomes evident. These successful communities are not just about the brands themselves; they are about the people who love and use these brands. What each of these exceptional brand communities has in common is their customer-centric approach, along with a keen understanding of what their customers want. This focus on customer needs and desires is what sets these communities apart and drives their success. By placing the customer at the heart of everything they do, these brands create not just a customer base, but a loyal, engaged community.