In today’s digital age, social media has become a powerful tool for community building, and it can be especially valuable in motivating community members through public recognition. From Facebook groups to Twitter hashtags, these online platforms have the ability to connect individuals with common interests and goals, allowing them to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and support one another. By recognizing and celebrating the achievements of community members via social media, leaders can foster a sense of pride and accomplishment that can inspire others to get involved and take action. Whether it’s through a simple shout-out or a full-blown feature on a community page, the power of social recognition cannot be underestimated when it comes to building a strong and engaged community.
Community Building Requires a Shared Sense of Purpose
Community is not just a physical place or a collection of people. Whether it’s a sports team or a neighborhood association, the foundation of any successful community is a sense of belonging and a shared commitment to a common goal. It’s about fostering relationships, building connections, and working together to achieve something greater than oneself. In a world where we often feel disconnected and isolated, community gives us purpose and a sense of belonging.
Understanding What Motivates Your Community Members
Motivation. It’s what drives your community members towards their goals and fuels their ambition. But did you know that there are two types of motivation? Internal and external motivations both play an important role in our lives, but they come from very different sources.
Internal motivation is when we are driven by our personal desires, goals, and values. It’s that fire inside of us that pushes us to achieve our dreams. On the other hand, external motivation comes from outside factors like rewards, recognition, or pressure from others. Understanding the difference between the two can help us better align our goals with our values, and ultimately lead us to a more meaningful life.
Motivating Community Members: Incentives vs. Tokens
When it comes to motivating community members to participate, there are two types of incentives: incentives and tokens. Carrie Melissa Jones and Charles H. Vogl explain the difference in their book, Building Brand Communities:
- “An incentive appeals to external motivation for someone to take action. Typically, incentives work in a commodified transactional relationship”
- “A token is an item given to someone. It represents a relationship, a shared value, or both. A token specifically honors a recipient’s internal motivation.” (1)
For example, if you need a ride to the car dealership while your vehicle is being repaired, you can hire a driver to take you. The driver is motivated by the money he makes providing the service, an external reward. You could also ask a friend to take you to the deal. The friend is internally motivated; they give you a ride because that’s what friends do. If you thank your friend by taking them to dinner, this is a token, not an incentive. The dinner is a sign of appreciation for the ride; it is not a quid pro quo.
While external incentives can be effective in the short-term, they may not always lead to sustained performance over time. Tokens, however, tap into an individual’s deeper motivations, which can lead to long-term fulfillment and success. By understanding the difference between external incentives and tokens, community leaders can harness the right motivators to help their members participate in the community and achieve their goals.
Public Recognition as a Token
Public recognition has an undeniable power to motivate individuals from within. It is a token that acknowledges hard work, perseverance, and talent, and can inspire people to strive for greatness. A trophy is an example of a token that is given to publicly recognize somebody’s achievement. Winning a trophy not only signifies accomplishment but also serves as a tangible reminder of the efforts invested to achieve the goal. Holding a trophy in one’s hands, displaying it on a shelf, or sharing it with others, can instill a sense of pride and self-worth. It appeals to people’s innate desire for recognition and can push them to work harder, reach higher, and achieve more.
Social Recognition: How to Use Social Media to Recognize Community Members
Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate with each other. It has given us a platform to share our thoughts, viewpoints, and experiences with a wider audience. One of the ways social media can be a powerful tool is by recognizing and celebrating community members publicly. When we appreciate someone publicly, it not only acknowledges their contribution but also inspires others to follow suit.
Recognition is a powerful motivator that appeals to our internal drive to excel, contribute, and make a difference. Social media provides a unique opportunity to recognize people who might not be in the spotlight otherwise, and this can create a ripple effect of positivity within the community. In this way, “social recognition” (2) acts as a catalyst that brings people together, boosts morale, and strengthens community ties.
Identify Your Community Members’ Milestones
When putting together a plan for recognizing community members, it’s crucial to identify milestones that members might achieve in pursuit of the community’s shared purpose. These milestones can be anything from professional accomplishments to personal achievements. By creating a list of these milestones, you can develop a system for rewarding community members and help them feel recognized and appreciated for their hard work and dedication.
For example, if your community comprises stand-up comedians, milestones for recognition might include the first time a comic books a paid gig, headlines their first show, or performing at a festival for the first time. Once you have a list of these milestones, you can begin arranging suitable recognition opportunities for community members who meet them, which will enhance their sense of achievement and signify the community’s appreciation for their contributions.
Recognize Milestone Achievements on Social Media
Next, decide on a consistent way to recognize these achievements, such as a dedicated hashtag or recurring social media post. When someone reaches one of these milestones, share their accomplishment on social media and tag them in the post. This not only celebrates their individual achievement, but also encourages others to strive for similar milestones.
You can recognize these achievements where anybody can see them, such as in a tweet or a post from a Facebook page, or you can recognize them where only other community members can see them, such as in a Facebook or LinkedIn group. Be sure to be consistent with your milestone celebrations to equally motivate all of your community members. Showing public recognition for community members on social media is a simple yet effective way to build a sense of community and encourage continued growth and success.
- Carrie Melissa Jones and Charles H. Vogl, Building Brand Communities: How Organizations Succeed By Creating Belonging. p161.
- Marketing Innovations, “Social Recognition: Is the Latest Application of Social Media the Most Powerful Yet?” https://www.enterpriseengagement.org/articles/content/8311346/social-recognition-is-the-latest-application-of-social-media-the-most-powerful-yet/