In this NotebookLM episode, we’ll combine Richard Millington’s actionable advice from Buzzing Communities—which details data-driven strategies for long-term community growth, engagement, and ROI—with insights from The Airbnb Way, spotlighting Airbnb’s leadership approach to fostering belonging, trust, and hospitality. Together, these sources underline the power of proactive community management, inclusivity, and memorable user experiences, providing a blueprint for building vibrant, enduring communities that resonate with their members.

This episode is a NotebookLM produced deep dive based on "Building Successful Online Communities," a book exploring the design and management of online communities. It examines key challenges, such as encouraging contributions, fostering commitment among members, and regulating member behaviour. The authors present various design claims and strategies based on social science theories and empirical evidence to address these challenges. Specific design levers are discussed, including reward systems, communication strategies, and moderation techniques. The book also covers strategies for starting new online communities and achieving critical mass.

How do you create belonging in online communities? Using Priya Parker's The Art of Gathering, this NotebookLM produced episode focuses on what we can learn about creating great communities.