EP 137. Forum for Naturals community founder, Ted Ning shares advice to help brands build and nurture engaged communities. Approaching it like a science experiment, Ted shares learnings, mistakes, listening, and high-level thinking he's learned to build and grow successful communities for marketers and sustainability leaders. Sarah and Ted explore the motivations behind creating and nurturing communities, the value of identifying a brand promise, the importance of active listening, and the pivotal role of super users. Want to build or grow your own brand community? Listen to Ted's first-hand journey and expertise.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED DURING PODCAST EPISODE
- How did Ted Ning's experience with building communities during COVID-19 impact the evolution of Forum for Naturals?
- What role did the pandemic play in shaping the needs of the community members within the natural food space, and how did Ted and the community respond to these challenges?
- In what ways did Ted use the concept of "brand promise" to guide the development and growth of Forum for Naturals, and how can businesses apply similar principles to their own communities?
- What are the key considerations and questions individuals should ask themselves before venturing into building a community, as discussed by Ted Ning and Sarah Panus?
- How did Ted use active listening, member assessment, and feedback to cater to the specific needs and pain points of the community, and what can other community builders learn from this approach?
- What were some of the experiments and strategies that Ted tried with Forum for Naturals that worked well, and how important is it for community builders to be open to pivoting and adapting their approaches?
- How did Ted handle the challenge of engaging super users within the community, and how did he leverage their insights and experiences to enhance the overall community experience?
- What insights can community leaders gain from the discussion about involving members in key decisions and genuinely applying their feedback to create a sense of ownership and partnership within the community?
- How did Ted tap into the concept of the aspirational self, as discussed using Maslow's hierarchy, to create a deeper connection and alignment with the community's purpose and goals?
- What lessons can marketers and business professionals draw from the episode in terms of creating and nurturing communities with empathy and authenticity, as well as driving better business results through community engagement?
TIMESTAMP HIGHLIGHTS FROM PODCAST EPISODE
- 00:00 Ted is a leader in wellness marketing.
- 05:23 Monthly online brand team meetings with offerings.
- 08:25 Adapting to change and maximizing effectiveness.
- 12:23 Listening, assessing, connecting, and problem-solving for community development.
- 15:12 Introverts struggle, self-reflection helps navigate opportunities.
- 19:17 Executive-level brand space lacks formal training.
- 20:49 Involving community in decision-making leads to organization.
- 24:53 Connect with aspirational self, align purpose, community.
CONNECT WITH TED NING & FORUM FOR NATURALS
- Forum for Naturals website
- Ted Ning on LinkedIn
- Forum for Naturals LinkedIn page
- Forum for Naturals LinkedIn group
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ABOUT MARKETING WITH EMPATHY PODCAST HOST, SARAH PANUS
Marketers don’t have enough time to do content marketing well. Sarah Panus helps you check storytelling projects off your marketing to-do list using 20 years of frameworks and methods, so you get your time back while confidently engaging new + existing customers.
It shouldn’t feel like you’re falling behind because you can’t get your content work done. Sarah understands how hard it is to juggle your demands. Clients: Sleep Number, Starbucks, LegalZoom, Katie Couric Media, Thrive Global, Nestle Waters, Lindt Chocolate, American Heart Association, Alta Tech, King Technology, Christos Bridal, LegalZoom, etc.
She’s a brand storytelling consultant, podcast host of Marketing With Empathy® (top 5% of all marketing podcasts), Certified StoryBrand Guide, and owner of Kindred Speak® consulting. Sarah works with clients by either doing the work for them through her freelance consulting services; OR, coaching them to think like Editorial Content Directors in one of her online courses. Visit www.kindredspeak.com to learn more.
