New communities from new social norms

Welcome to the Community Coach newsletter, this week I’m writing from Dubai.

Where to find ideas to start a new community

If you’re looking to launch a new community but you’re not sure if there is a need for it…

I’m going to give you advice that if you’ve ever taken the London Tube before, you’ll know this phrase well…

What I mean by “mind the gap” is take note of the “usual” ways things have been done and any emerging trend that takes a different approach.

Here’s a classic example of new communities popping up even in a space where many would say is “oversaturated”…. clubbing. Typically late at night and typically fuelled by alcohol (amongst other things).

Mind the gap: more people have started identifying as “sober curious” especially fro a health perspective. Combine this with millennials “growing up” who still love to party/ enjoy music but no longer want to stay out late at night…

Enter a new community type - “the coffee party” - those who “enjoy mornings as the new nightlife”.

@thecoffeepartyto

What if mornings were the new nightlife?☕️ #coffeeshop #toronto #coffeeparty #djset

There’s a whole bunch of trends that are pushing against “social norms” and they have massive opportunities for strong communities to form around them. Here are some other communities popping up:

• Screen-Free Communities: Groups encouraging members to disconnect from technology for a day each week, promoting mindfulness, in-person connection, and mental wellness in a tech-saturated world.

• Dinner Before Drinks: Advocating for meaningful sit-down meals with friends before going out, shifting the focus from nightlife drinking to intentional social connection.

• Silent Book Clubs: Social gatherings where people meet in cafes or parks to read quietly together, offering an introvert-friendly alternative to traditional book clubs or loud social events.

• Eco-Minimalists: Communities focused on reducing waste and consumerism while promoting sustainable living, countering fast-paced consumer culture. Definitely growing thanks to Netflix’s latest documentary “Buy now”

• Midnight Runners: Groups organizing fitness-based social activities, like running or exercising together at unconventional times, often blending workouts with music and community.

• Plant Parents: People forming groups around caring for houseplants, sharing tips, and hosting events, shifting hobbies to more mindful, nurturing activities instead of nightlife or other mainstream hobbies.

• Cycling Brunch Clubs: Groups combining morning bike rides with brunch, offering a healthier, daytime alternative to boozy brunches or weekend nights out.

• DIY Clothing Circles: Communities focused on repairing and making their own clothes, challenging fast fashion and embracing creativity and sustainability.

They’ve all identified the “gap” and honed in on it. Of course there is a LOT more to building a community once you’ve identified the gap and a growing trend - but it’s definitely a positive start!

Answering your questions

“What bots should we use in Discord?”

Very specific question came through for me this week! I’m actually in the process of evaluating a client’s Discord server (bespoke request) and need to install a couple of bots to keep their server safe + provide a basic level of moderation to start.

As an overall summary: you should consider bots for security, moderation, onboarding and any other bots for a positive community engagement experience.

Every community is different so you’ll need to do your own research for the best bot for your specific server and needs, but a great place to find bots is https://top.gg/

If you’re looking for security bots, check out my Youtube video below:

Got a question for me? DM me on Twitter and ask away. Your question may be answered in a future newsletter (and I’ll reply to everyone who asks).

Until next time,

Carmen
Community Coach

Connect with me on Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn.