Dear Bri: Community Strategy, Fiascos, and Drama

By: Bri Leever Community Consultant Strategist and Founder at Ember.
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • Welcome to Dear Bri, an advice column for community conundrums, fiascos, and drama! In each episode, host and community strategist Bri Leever brings on a guest community expert to read and advise on an anonymous letter from a real-life community creator in distress. From online community-building mishaps to community engagement tactics, this podcast will help you master the art of community management by providing oh-so-relatable community stories (in a dramatic retelling) while approaching the issue with sound community strategy and advice.The mission? Helping community creators and community managers feel a little less crazy and a lot less alone. You're in the right place if you are... Community Curious: Creators or brands interested in exploring the benefits of a community for their business. Learn the basics of community-powered marketing and building a community-powered business from scratch.Community Hatchlings: Newcomers to online community building looking for guidance and support. Discover best practices, tips for growing and engaging your community, and learn from others' experiences.Senior Community Folks: Experienced community managers seeking expert advice on the toughest situations. Get insights into advanced community engagement tactics and innovative growth strategy.Dear Bri combines relatable storytelling with expert community strategy, making it a unique and valuable resource for community pros. Each episode provides real-life scenarios, practical solutions, and actionable steps you can implement in your community management practices.Community creators listening to Dear Bri will feel a little less alone in the important work of community building and a whole lot less crazy as each episode normalizes and provides strategic insights for some of the toughest online community scenarios. Whether you're curious about building a community, just starting out, or a seasoned professional looking for advanced advice, Dear Bri has something for you. Episodes drop weekly on Tuesday. Hit the follow button so you don't miss out! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
    Bri Leever
    Show More Show Less
Leadership Marketing Economics
Show More Show Less
activate_samplebutton_t1
Episodes
  • If I build it, how do I make sure they come? with Alli Ball, founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz

    If I build it, how do I make sure they come? with Alli Ball, founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz
    Sep 17 2024
    In this episode, we’re hearing from Eager Beaver in Baltimore. Our writer today fell into the age-old myth: build it and they will come. Thankfully, they’ve since switched their mindset and realized that it takes a heck of a lot of consistent marketing to get people in their community and would like some advice.To better help Eager Beaver in Baltimore, I invited Alli Ball — founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz — as my guest expert. I literally couldn’t think of a better person for this episode than someone who has successfully marketed their paid community program for 10 YEARS, which is basically unheard of. Never mind that in that program, she teaches people how to market their products in the food industry.So, tune in for some insights about how to market your community effectively, how to set the right expectations and let go of any guilt toward your community members, and much more.In this episode:(03:52) When your free community turns out to be a mistake(08:43) The fine line between entitlement and empowerment(11:10) The free + paid community conundrum and Alli’s pop-up group solution(16:50) The decision to create a community on Facebook(20:14) The communitea: Eager Beaver in Baltimore’s letter(22:41) Community building or a dictatorship(27:23) The importance of setting clear expectations and strong boundaries(36:27) Leading your community by example(38:44) Retail Ready®: a transformative community(41:03) Alli’s drip sprinkler system marketing strategy(47:25) Layering in live launches with an evergreen sales system(52:11) The evolution of Retail Ready®Resources Mentioned:🎙️ Listen to the Food Biz Wiz Podcast here!🎧 Catch up with Episode 2 | Am I crazy to resist going from a cohort-based to a membership community model? With Marie Schacht, CEO of Akimbo to learn more about these two models.❤️ Sign up for Heartbeat. Bri’s recommended all-in-one community platform.💛 Join Ember. The place for go-getter community creators building community-powered businesses.Noteworthy quotes:“If you are the leader of your community and you are the first person to respond to every post, first person to put a comment in there, to give advice, that's a dictatorship. That's not actually a community.“ - Alli Ball“If the goal here is that I serve my community members with the best possible advice, most thoughtful responses, what boundaries do I need to put in place so that I can realistically deliver that?“ - Bri LeeverAlli BallAlli Ball is the founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz and the creator of Retail Ready®, an online program providing strategic support, curated curriculum, and values-aligned community for producers of packaged products in the food industry. As a former grocery buyer-turned-wholesale consultant, Alli has helped thousands of emerging brands understand what it takes to get on the shelf and have high sales once you’re there.🖥️ Website📱 Linkedin🤳 InstagramBri LeeverBri got her start building a community and growing it to a multi-million dollar revenue stream for a social enterprise in Portland, OR. Now, she supports folks used to running their business on content, coaching, and consulting to create their community offer. She's a Community Strategist by day and a Campervan host by night on the Big Island of Hawaii and you'll usually find her on, in, or under the water.🖥️ Website📩 Newsletter📹 Youtube📱 LinkedinAnd before you go…💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 💚 Leave a review on SpotifyThat helps the podcast more than you know and I deeply appreciate it. 🙏Want your story to be next? Submit an anonymous letter about your community conundrum, fiasco, drama, or other dilemma here.*Dear Bri is produced by Ideablossoms.
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • How do I deal with a toxic community member? with Andrea Middleton, Community Empowerment Leader at Reddit

    How do I deal with a toxic community member? with Andrea Middleton, Community Empowerment Leader at Reddit
    Sep 10 2024

    In this episode, we’re hearing from Toxic Member in Toronto. Our letter today deals with a toxic community member stirring up trouble to revolt against the community manager.


    To better help Toxic Member in Toronto, I invited Andrea Middleton **as my guest expert. She is a seasoned veteran of the community space who loves finding paths to productive and powerful collaborations with opinionated and skeptical communities, which is perfect for our letter today.


    So, tune in for a lot of wisdom from someone who’s dealt with a toxic community member or two and some really practical tools on what to do when your community turns against you.


    In this episode:


    (03:34) When Andrea fanned the flames without a gameplan

    (06:21) 3 strategies for conflict de-escalation

    (11:57) The communitea: Toxic Member in Toronto’s letter

    (15:08) How to protect yourself against toxic community members

    (17:49) Having a strong code of conduct in place and tips to get there

    (28:32) The diagnostic phase and possible plans of action

    (34:44) Fighting fire (conflict) with a vacuum


    Resources Mentioned:


    ❤️ Sign up for Heartbeat. Bri’s recommended all-in-one community platform.

    💛 Join Ember. The place for go-getter community creators building community-powered businesses.


    Noteworthy quotes:


    “You don't need to agree with someone to understand where they're coming from. But without understanding her goals and motivations, you're never going to be able to form a strategic plan for how to address her behavior.“ - Andrea Middleton


    “You don't need to arm yourself with all of these rigid guidelines and rules when really, as “the protector” of the community, your job is to bring forth the spirit of the community, not to just enforce the things people aren't supposed to do.“ - Bri Leever


    Andrea Middleton


    Andrea is a veteran community organizer who loves finding paths to productive and powerful collaborations with opinionated, skeptical communities. She spent 10 years working in community efforts in the WordPress open source project, and joined Reddit in 2021 — the last 3 years at Reddit she’s had lots of exciting moments, including working with mods and communities through the API protests of last summer. In her spare time, she loves reading sci-fi/fantasy, cooking, fine wine, and goofing with her teenagers.


    🖥️ Website

    📱 Linkedin


    Bri Leever


    Bri got her start building a community and growing it to a multi-million dollar revenue stream for a social enterprise in Portland, OR. Now, she supports folks used to running their business on content, coaching, and consulting to create their community offer. She's a Community Strategist by day and a Campervan host by night on the Big Island of Hawaii and you'll usually find her on, in, or under the water.


    🖥️ Website

    📩 Newsletter

    📹 Youtube

    📱 Linkedin


    And before you go…


    💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

    💚 Leave a review on Spotify


    That helps the podcast more than you know and I deeply appreciate it. 🙏


    Want your story to be next? Submit an anonymous letter about your community conundrum, fiasco, drama, or other dilemma here.


    *Dear Bri is produced by Ideablossoms.


    Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • How do I serve and care for my community while still meeting big business goals? with Jelani Memory, VP & Publisher at DK

    How do I serve and care for my community while still meeting big business goals? with Jelani Memory, VP & Publisher at DK
    Sep 3 2024

    In this episode, we’re hearing from Constrained in Columbus. Our letter deals with creating a vibrant and engaged community under the pressure of big business goals.


    To better help Constrained in Columbus, I invited Jelani Memory **as my guest expert. He’s not our typical guest because he doesn't manage or really consider himself a community creator. But as you will find in this episode he has an incredible amount of insights and wisdom to share with community builders, as he essentially takes a community-centric approach to everything that he does.


    So, tune in for a powerful episode that will have you rethinking how to deal with people who disagree with you, inspired to walk the walk, and ready to better connect with your community.


    In this episode:


    (04:47) The importance of engaging and creating bridges to make change

    (10:28) Jelani’s process to help other people access their own stories

    (18:28) Leading your community culture by example

    (23:26) The communitea: Constrained in Columbus’s letter

    (24:49) 3 principles for the caretaking of your community

    (31:23) Insights into Jelani’s own acquisition experience

    (34:44) Being clear and true to the mission and values of your community


    Resources Mentioned:


    👦 👧 Learn more about A Kids Co. at akidsco.com

    ❤️ Sign up for Heartbeat. Bri’s recommended all-in-one community platform.

    💛 Join Ember. The place for go-getter community creators building community-powered businesses.


    Noteworthy quotes:


    “A community can't go further than you can take them. They will do what you do. You can say all sorts of stuff, but culture is what you do, not what you say. And they will act like you act. If you step all over people, if you try and be the most talkative person in the room, [if] you dismiss people's ideas, they will do that.“ - Jelani Memory


    “[Community]'s an incredibly powerful model, especially when partnered with business and, to your point, when it's not coming from a place of authenticity and vulnerability and you setting the pace for that connection, it will crumble faster than your cookie possibly could.“ - Bri Leever


    Jelani Memory


    Jelani Memory is currently VP & Publisher at DK where he oversees the A Kids Book About Imprint. He's also the founder of A Kids Co., a groundbreaking media company that empowers children and families through meaningful and inclusive content. Awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Bravery in Literature Award, Jelani previously co-founded Circle (the parental control app, NOT the community platform) and has revolutionized children's publishing by tackling important topics like systemic racism, self-love, and climate change.


    🖥️ Website

    📱 Linkedin


    Bri Leever


    Bri got her start building a community and growing it to a multi-million dollar revenue stream for a social enterprise in Portland, OR. Now, she supports folks used to running their business on content, coaching, and consulting to create their community offer. She's a Community Strategist by day and a Campervan host by night on the Big Island of Hawaii and you'll usually find her on, in, or under the water.


    🖥️ Website

    📩 Newsletter

    📹 Youtube

    📱 Linkedin


    And before you go…


    💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

    💚 Leave a review on Spotify


    That helps the podcast more than you know and I deeply appreciate it. 🙏


    Want your story to be next? Submit an anonymous letter about your community conundrum, fiasco, drama, or other dilemma here.


    *Dear Bri is produced by Ideablossoms.
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins

What listeners say about Dear Bri: Community Strategy, Fiascos, and Drama

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.