Many of us have heard the famous Kevin Kelly phrase, "To make a living as a craftsperson, photographer, musician, designer, author, animator, app maker, entrepreneur, or inventor, you need only a thousand true fans." When you get those TRUE fans, they're willing to support your endeavors. However, there is a difference between all of those followers you have on your social media accounts and those thousand true fans. The true fans are one of the building blocks of your community. They are the ones who will genuinely be with you on your journey to develop your voice, build your brand, and establish your authority. But, that's just one part of what it takes to build a solid community. In this episode, the first of two, Chris talks with Tom Ross of Design Cuts about what a community is and how to build one. Tom generously shares his invaluable insights and expert knowledge on key community-building questions. They will discuss the intricacies of engagement levels and how they can fluctuate, and highlight the importance of having a clear, compelling offering for your community. He'll also provide practical strategies for distribution and delve into the potentially challenging topic of how to rejuvenate a stagnant community, breathing new life into it. This is part one of a two part conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices