Creating engaging content is essential for building and maintaining an active and vibrant online community. While there are many different types of content formats to choose from, some formats tend to be more effective at capturing and holding the attention of community members. 

As marketers build their brand, they often come to the realization that the community ultimately owns and controls it. While we strive to create compelling content to attract and engage our followers, what if we actively invited the community to participate in the content creation process? It's time to collaborate with our audience, and in this article, I'll share 6 ways to achieve this.

Here are a few formats that can be particularly effective at engaging members of online communities:

1.Polls and Surveys: Polls and surveys are a great way to get community members involved in the decision-making process. They can be used to gather feedback on new products, services, or features, or to get a sense of members' opinions on various topics. Polls and surveys are also useful for gathering data that can be used to inform future content or marketing strategies.

2.Contests and Challenges: Contests and challenges are a fun and engaging way to get community members involved in creating and sharing content. For example, a photo contest or a social media challenge can encourage members to submit creative content related to your brand or community. This type of content can help build a sense of camaraderie and engagement among community members.

3.Q&A Sessions: Q&A sessions are a great way to provide value to community members by answering their questions and sharing expertise. These sessions can take many forms, from live video sessions to written responses to questions submitted via a forum or email. By offering these types of sessions, you can demonstrate your commitment to supporting your community and providing valuable information.

4.Webinars and Live Events: Webinars and live events are another effective way to engage community members. These events provide an opportunity to share information, answer questions, and interact with community members in real-time. They can also be recorded and shared for members who are unable to attend live.

5.How-to Guides and Tutorials: How-to guides and tutorials are a useful way to provide practical information and help community members achieve specific goals. These guides can be written, video, or audio-based and can cover a wide range of topics related to your brand or community. They can be especially useful for helping members learn new skills or technologies related to your industry.

6.User-Generated Content: User-generated content, such as testimonials, reviews, and user stories, can be a powerful way to build trust and authenticity within your community. By encouraging members to share their experiences with your brand or products, you can help build a sense of community and demonstrate the value of your offerings.

Conclusion

There are many different content formats that can be effective for engaging members of online communities. By experimenting with different formats and finding the ones that resonate most with your audience, you can build a thriving community that is actively engaged with your brand or product. Regardless of the format you choose, it's important to focus on creating content that is informative, entertaining, and valuable to your community members.

Establishing and nurturing a community can be challenging, but it is achievable with perseverance. Platforms such as NbliK provide free options to initiate your community, but if you desire full autonomy and the flexibility to incorporate a paywall, NbliK is an ideal solution to assist you.