Coworking Community Builder Daily

How do the words you use on your website make you disappear?

In a world of devastatingly bland business jargon, the way to disappear is to use the exact words as everyone else because you think they make you look like a grown-up business person.

🧟Franken-speak and meaningless catch-all language🧟

We've all seen those websites that boast about their "great customer service" or "outstanding quality" and "innovation" - what does that mean?

(I've even seen a coworking space with the words "innovation at the highest level" - WTF are they making 10th generation iPhone screens and spaceships there?)

Those phrases are so overused that they're now meaningless.

🤷🏻I do it, too.

I used to be so very very very that my website header said:

🌟 "Connection. Community. Coworking." 🌟

🤣(The full stop after every word was critical!)

🤣 I thought I was on the same level as Apple's 1984 advert.

Until I got taken apart in Nashville at a @StoryBrand Live Workshop with the question, "How does that let people know how you help them?"

All the air got sucked out of the room as my marketing smugness collapsed in front of me.

😱 "But it's what I'm about!" I cried, "It's my essence and meaning!"

I can't remember her name, but my StoryBrand guide looked at me kindly and did not have to say anything.

🤮 We both knew it was meaningless marketing mast&%bation and was not helping anyone.

What truly sets a space apart is its unique personality and vibe.

And that's where language comes in.

You can create a coworking space that stands out by carefully crafting your messaging.

So, how do you do it?

First, FFS, please remember the jargon and autopilot examples.

🤮 Nobody wants to hear about your "innovative solutions" or "best-in-class services" or your glowing business dedication to endless lines of white dudes like Richard Branson and Alan Sugar.

Instead, focus on telling your potential members what makes your space unique.

- Do you have a coffee bar with a polymath barista?

- Does your ultra-affordable space have a rooftop terrace with stunning views of Bristol?

- Do you welcome nervous dogs who must learn to be around people?

- Do you host events on topics ranging from menopause to death? (I know places that do!)

- Do you have a climbing wall and showers and are in zone 3 of London?

- Do you have a Creator Write Club?

- Or do you have a community of awkward female creatives who inspire each other to greatness?

These are the things that will pique people's interest!

Another critical element of effective language is authenticity - that is a sucky marketing word, but it is an important one.

Don't try to be something you're not.

If your space is laid-back and casual, embrace that vibe in your messaging.

If you're all about productivity and getting down to business, lean into that.

The more honest and genuine you are, the more likely people will connect with your brand.

Of course, it's not just about what you say but how you tell it.

Writing in a clear, concise, and engaging style is essential.

Nobody wants to read the dry, corporate-speak copy - "Frankenspeak", as Ann Handley deliciously calls it.

Please inject some personality into your messaging.

Use humour, tell stories, and create a sense of excitement around your space.

Finally, be brave and feel free to get creative.

There are many ways to make your messaging stand out, from eye-catching visuals to clever taglines.

Think outside the box, and don't be afraid to take risks.

After all, some daring can go a long way in coworking.

If you are committed to standing out in the vanilla world of marketing your coworking space, it's time to start paying attention to your language.

By crafting your unique and authentic brand voice that speaks to the heart of what makes your space unique, you'll attract the right members and build a thriving community that's truly one-of-a-kind.

Have a remarkable day.

Be careful out there.

It is a jungle.

#coworking #communityisthekey

#coworkinglondon #bringit #betterthings

#ukcoworking #coworkingmindset

#15minutecity #coworkingspace

#coworkingcommunity

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What if everybody could walk to work?

For 15 years, I lived in the London Borough of Redbridge.

Since I started going to coworking spaces in 2010, I always went into Central London.

But I was ALWAYS looking for something nearer to me so I could spend less time travelling and do the school run for #supercoolson.

But it seemed 'normal' to be jammed into a central line tube train from Gants Hill to Liverpool Street, so I just did that.

For years, the closest coworking spaces to me were @mainyardstudios Studios, Hackney, and then Mile End or Creative Works Space in E17 and, later, Three Sixty Workrooms in Barking.

When the pandemic hit, I found it very, very hard to see a "coworkingy" like workspace nearby.

When COVID hit, I was a member of Mainyard Studios in Mile End, but I did not want to travel anymore.

I found Workhive Studio on Cranbrook Road, Ilford, and loved my time there.

It is a very well-designed space with a pro podcast studio.

The only reason I left Workhive Studio is that we moved out of the area.

As I started spending more time in the London Borough of Redbridge, I transitioned from being a commuter to a local community member after fifteen years.

Redbridge is not a cute, hipster place, but people have a strong sense of community.

I got to know my local area well.

I'd walk through Valentine's Park to work and say hello to the same people who were on their daily walks.

I'd go to local independent cafés in Gants Hill and Cranbrook Road, so I kept my money in the local economy.

Before I left Ilford in 2022, I never felt more connected to it during my time there.

But I've always had to leave Ilford to find somewhere to do my work.

I'm in that group who "self-identify" as something like:

✅ Freelancer

✅ Sole trader

✅ Independent economic agent

✅ Remote worker

✅ Start-up founder

✅ Microbusiness

This group needs somewhere to work that is not a traditional office lease.

No places in Redbridge fit that coworking/start-up workspace/neighbourhood workspace/connection point.

We could work in Costa, the library or rent an office above a shop, but this is 2023, not 1998.

We want a home, a connection point and a community.

But my question "What if everybody could walk to work?"

That isn't my question.

It's the question of Mandy, Gareth and Mike Corcoran, and they answered it in their 2020 @thetownsq report here https://lnkd.in/d-p6haz5

Since then, local authorities all over London, the UK, and the world have embraced local coworking to build community and the local economic engine.

(It is tempting to tag EVERYONE with a local coworking space, but I'd end up tagging around 100+ companies.)

The TownSq report was published in 2020, but the blueprint has NEVER been more real, relevant and doable.

So my next question is - what are you waiting for?

Have a remarkable day.

Be careful out there. 

It is a jungle.

#coworking #communityisthekey

#coworkinglondon #bringit #betterthings

#ukcoworking #coworkingmindset

#15minutecity #coworkingspace 

#coworkingcommunity

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What can you STOP doing today in your coworking space that you don't need to do anymore?

Subscribe by email @ https://berniejmitchell.com/

We start doing tasks and processes and then carry on doing them because they become a habit.

For example, someone who used to work for you set up a system, and it was built around them, and everyone keeps on doing it that way - even though the person has left.

Everyone does it, but you know you shouldn't, but no one says it out loud.

So you accidentally end up haemorrhaging loads of time, energy and expense on this thing you don't realise you don't need to do.

There are lots of stories where people stop doing something, and no one ever notices they stop doing it, particularly in large organisations.

I know one story where a report must be sent every week.

The team left one page out weekly and then sent the report with only a telephone number on each page.

No one ever called or asked what was going on.

There are lots of things that happen that don't need to happen, and no one knows why they happen.

For today's coworking mindset, look at your systems, processes, and little bits you do daily and see what you can stop doing now.

✅ I know one space in London that did this in detail and saved £10k pcm by cancelling software and making full use of what they had.

Be brave - and you'll save time, energy and expense in the months ahead.

Have a remarkable day.

Be careful out there. 

It is a jungle.

#coworking #communityisthekey

#coworkinglondon

#ukcoworking #coworkingmindset

#15minutecity #coworkingspace 

#coworkingcommunity

Subscribe to Coworking Community Builder Daily on Soundwise

🔔Boost your #coworking & #community building skills with my 2-min daily #email: https://berniejmitchell.com

Can you imagine how mind-numbingly boring it is to look through websites or coworking spaces when you want to find a place to work?

Because they all say things like:

-Free WiFi! (Which is like boasting you have a bathroom!)

-Innovation! (Really?)

-Unique community! (I know you say this with the best intent, but...)

But really drill down and think, what is the unique thing your coworking space provides?

And this is not some hypey marketing thing or hack - it is being brave enough to say what you do well.

It's, for instance, in Fento Coworking, where I am based.

We have dogs, and we all make lunch for each other daily.

So, if you have a dog, this is getting very specific here:

If you have a nervous dog, it's THE place to bring it, get your work done, and eat amazing homemade food.

We should be brave and amplify what makes our spaces unique, not try to fit in with everyone else.

There's an emergency of fitting in, and we must stop it.

🔗 Links and Resources:

- 🛜 https://berniejmitchell.com

- 🎙️ https://coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com

- 🎪 Luma: https://lu.ma/LondonCoworkingAssembly

- 🟢 Grammarly https://bit.ly/FreeMonthOfGrammarly

📚 Recommended Reading:

➡️ The Mom Test Book - https://amzn.to/3XBtdWr

➡️ Peter Block: Community: The Structure of Belonging - https://amzn.to/3XuBfR1

➡️ Will Guidara: Unreasonable Hospitality - https://amzn.to/3KWFgpH

➡️ Jon Alexander: Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything Is All of Us - https://amzn.to/4cdhlye

💬 Join the Discussion: Leave your comments and questions below! 

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Give it a thumbs up, share it with your network, and subscribe to the channel for more insights on coworking and community building!

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- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berniejmitchell/

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- Join 7K + people in the LinkedIn Coworking Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/33807/

🔔Boost your #coworking & #community building skills with my 2-min daily #email: https://berniejmitchell.com

#CoworkingCommunity #Communitybuilder #CommunityCohort #CoworkingGrowth #CommunityBuilding #CoworkingSpaces #CoworkingSupport #CommunityConnections #SmallBusinessSupport #CoworkingSuccess #coworking #communityisthekey #coworkinglondon #Collaboration #Entrepreneurship

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This helps us fulfil our mission to provide you with quality free education, content and guidance. 

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#shorts

What is the best event to hold in your coworking space for European Coworking Day?

You can run anything from two people having a cup of tea to two hundred people break-dancing!

There are big events in big cities, and then small local spaces like @thetribecoworks and @fentocoworking hold Creator Write Club and lunch to welcome people into their spaces.

The @europeancoworkingday website has a clear handbook of simple events and @Meetup ideas for spaces of all shapes and sizes!

You can head to the @europeancoworkingday profile to add your event to the map.

#coworking #coworkinglondon #coworkingvigo #coworkingspace #coworkingcommunity #coworkinglife #eurocoworkingday #cwsc

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What if we stopped thinking of vulnerability as exposing ourselves to endless criticism and started seeing it as the courage to say, "Here, I made this"?

Too often, people confuse vulnerability with defencelessness—like reading Amazon reviews and letting a few harsh words derail their work.

But that's not what it's about.

Vulnerability is creating, sharing, and accepting that not everything is for everyone. It's about learning, growing, and moving forward.

The real question isn't whether you'll succeed—you will. The question is whether you'll matter.

Take a deep breath. Create. Share. And keep going.

Are you ready to make an impact?

I filmed this at Lisa Gansky's #Mesh2013 conference on the #sharingeconomy in San Franciso in 2013.

Attended by everyone from @airbnb to @ShareableNet

🟢 Coworking Community Builder Cohort Waitlist ➡ https://bit.ly/coworkingbuilder

☢️ 5 Biggest Mistakes Coworking Leaders Make (And How to Avoid Them) - Email Course - https://berniejmitchell.com

🎙️The Coworking Values Podcast https://coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com

📚 Recommended Reading:

➡️ The Mom Test Book - https://amzn.to/3XBtdWr

➡️ Peter Block: Community: The Structure of Belonging - https://amzn.to/3XuBfR1

➡️ Will Guidara: Unreasonable Hospitality - https://amzn.to/3KWFgpH

➡️ Jon Alexander: Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything Is All of Us - https://amzn.to/4cdhlye

💬 Join the Discussion: Leave your comments and questions below! 

We love hearing from you; it helps us make videos to help you.

👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe:  Enjoyed the video? 

Please give it a thumbs up, share it with your network, and subscribe to the channel for more coworking and community-building insights!

📢 Join Me on Social: 

🔵LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berniejmitchell/

🔵Join 8 K+ + people in the LinkedIn Coworking Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/33807/

#CoworkingCommunity #Communitybuilder #CommunityCohort #CoworkingGrowth #CommunityBuilding #CoworkingSpaces #CoworkingSupport #CommunityConnections #SmallBusinessSupport #CoworkingSuccess #coworking #communityisthekey #coworkinglondon #Collaboration #Entrepreneurship

*When you purchase a recommended resource via any of our affiliate links, we receive a tiny commission at no extra cost. 

This helps us fulfil our mission to provide you with quality free education, content and guidance. 

🙏 Thank you.

Subscribe to Coworking Community Builder Daily on Soundwise