Expert Community Management resources for professionals. Explore the history, strategies, and practical guides to building online communities from a 25-year industry veteran.
The Phoenix Strategy is not for the faint of heart; it requires the courage to dismantle what you or your predecessors built. But you must remember that a community is a campfire, not a monument.
A monument is static and cold; it is designed to be looked at. A campfire…
The reality most “Community Strategy” decks miss is that community is fundamentally a transfer of energy. In the beginning, that energy is 100% yours. You are the battery. You cannot expect a group of strangers to provide the voltage for a circuit you haven’t closed yet…
Community moderation is not the “clean-up crew” of the internet. It is the intentional design of human behavior through digital structures. Every rule you write is a feature. Every banner you upload is an interface choice. Every “first post” is a prototype.
Stop waitin…
So, you just created a subreddit or got the invite to join a mod team. Maybe you’re excited to clean up the “trash,” or maybe you’re terrified of ruining the “vibe.” Either way, most new mods start with the same broken mindset: you’re either a…
A stubborn myth: communities don’t appear just because you launch a space; they grow when you start small, hand‑pick the right people, design reasons for them to rely on each other, and keep tending the relationships long after the launch glitter fades.
Why “more followers” won’t save you from a relationship problem The big mistake everyone keeps making Somewhere along the way, “We’re building a community” became a fancy way of saying “We’re getting more followers.” Slack workspaces with no conversation got rebranded…
David DeWald is a pioneering online community professional with over 25 years of experience building, managing, and evolving digital communities of all sizes—some reaching millions of members. Since the late 1990s, he has partnered with diverse organizations and businesses to establish impactful online presences that foster engagement and growth. David is widely respected among his peers for his deep expertise in community strategy, engagement, moderation, and advocacy development. Beyond managing communities, he actively contributes to the industry through thought leadership, including public speaking, and blogging, sharing actionable insights to elevate the practice of Community Management globally.
