How to Build an Authentic Community from Scratch with Beyond Her Vision

The Beyond Her Vision Blog:

Launching a brand-new community can feel daunting, especially when you’re a solo founder with limited bandwidth. Yet, with intentional planning and an authentic approach, you can cultivate a passionate, engaged group of women who believe in your mission—and in each other. In this article, I’ll share the step-by-step Beyond Her Vision blueprint I followed when building Beyond Her Vision from zero to a thriving hub for female entrepreneurs in Chicago and beyond.

Step 1: Define Your “Why” & Target Audience

1. Clarify Your Mission
   Ask yourself: “Why does this community need to exist?” For me, it was about providing a safe, actionable space for female founders to connect, learn, and grow without judgment.

2. Identify Your Ideal Member
   Don’t try to be everything to everyone. My core member was a woman-founder in her first three years of business—often juggling side-hustle, corporate job, or family responsibilities. When you know precisely who you’re serving, outreach becomes more focused.

Step 2: Choose the Right Platform(s)

1. Online Hubs—Slack vs. Facebook vs. Tribe

   • Slack: Great for real-time, organized channels. We launched Beyond Her Vision on Slack because it encourages quick check-ins, file-sharing, and easy integrations (e.g., Google Drive, Zoom).

   • Facebook Groups: Works if a broader reach is required, but conversations can become siloed.

   • Niche Platforms (e.g., Tribe, Circle): Offer robust features, but may require subscription fees.

2. In-Person Anchors

   • For local female founders, nothing beats an IRL connection. Securing a consistent meetup spot (e.g., Three Cities Social in Chicago) was crucial. We benefited from a partnership that provided discounted co-working rates for members, which also drove foot traffic.

Step 3: Seed Your Community with Founding Members

1. Leverage Your Personal Network
   Rather than a mass “join our new group” blast, I reached out individually to close contacts: former colleagues, women I’d co-worked with at Monday Girl, and collaborators from past events. A personalized message (e.g., “I’m building a space for founders like us—would love your feedback and presence”) yielded enthusiastic early sign-ups.

2. Offer Founding Member Perks
   To show appreciation, the first 20 members received a one-on-one “Vision Session” with me (a 30-minute brainstorming call). This early exclusivity generated word-of-mouth buzz—members felt valued and became vocal advocates.

Step 4: Launch with a “Kickoff Event”

1. Design a Low-Stakes, High-Value Gathering
   Our inaugural meetup was a “Women in Vision” happy hour at a local café: complimentary mocktails, brief icebreakers (e.g., “Share one business challenge you’re tackling this month”), and an outline of what Beyond Her Vision would become.

2. Capture Content & Feedback
   We recorded two mini “testimonials” on camera: a 30-second “Why I joined BHV” clip from each attendee. Simultaneously, a quick paper survey asked, “What would make this community indispensable for you?” Their answers shaped our next steps.

Step 5: Establish Rituals & Rhythms

1. Weekly Virtual Huddles
   Every Wednesday, members joined a 15-minute “Growth Huddle” on Zoom. The agenda was simple: celebrate one win, state one challenge, and share one resource. This regular touchpoint built momentum.

2. Monthly In-Person Workshops
   The “Founders Table” is now a staple: 6–8 women gather around a table (often over a catered meal) to focus on a specific topic—like crafting a 90-day marketing plan or refining a pitch deck. By providing a clear theme and facilitating discussion, I ensured that attendees left with actionable takeaways.

Step 6: Empower Member-Led Initiatives

1. “BHV Ambassadors” Team
   After the first quarter, I invited five highly engaged members to be ambassadors. Their role: welcome new members, co-host virtual events, and suggest guest speakers. This distributed leadership model freed me to focus on high-level strategy while giving members a sense of ownership.

2. Spotlight Opportunities
   Each month, I highlight a “Member of the Month” on our homepage and social media. They share their story—why they joined, what they’re working on, and one tip for fellow founders. This recognition builds social capital and encourages deeper participation.

Outcomes & Lessons Learned

• Growth Through Authenticity: By focusing on genuine human connection—rather than vanity metrics—Beyond Her Vision grew from 0 to 150 active members in six months.

• Over-Communication Builds Trust: Frequent updates (even if short) about upcoming events, resources, or wins kept engagement high.

• Iterate Based on Feedback: Some early ideas (like a quarterly “virtual book club”) weren’t resonating, so we pivoted to “Spotlight Interviews” with local experts. Listen to your members; they’ll tell you what they need.

Tools & Advice

1. Onboarding Checklist

   • Welcome email within 24 hours

   • Quick survey to identify goals

   • Introduction post in #introductions channel

   • One-on-one “welcome call” (optional but highly impactful)

2. Content Planning Template

   • Use a simple spreadsheet with columns: Date, Topic, Format (e.g., virtual huddle, workshop), Facilitator/Speaker, Desired Outcome.

   • Review monthly to ensure variety (mix of personal development, branding, funding, wellness).

3. Member Feedback Loop

   • Quarterly anonymous survey with 5–7 targeted questions (e.g., “Which event format did you find most valuable?”, “What topics should we cover next?”).

   • Review results publicly during a town-hall style meeting to demonstrate responsiveness.

4. Platform Recommendation

   • Start with Slack (free tier) for up to 10,000 messages: create channels by themes.

   • As you grow, consider a paid community platform (e.g., Circle) for dedicated membership pages, events calendar, and richer analytics.