Belonging to the Brand: Why Community Is the Last Great Marketing Strategy

As a business owner and career marketer, I know firsthand how important it is to have a solid marketing strategy in place. That's why I was so excited to read, "As a business owner and career marketer, I know firsthand how important it is to have a solid marketing strategy in place. That's why I was so excited to read "Belonging to the Brand: Why Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy" by Mark Schaefer. And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint.Schaefer takes a fresh and innovative approach to the topic of brand communities, offering valuable insights and practical advice for businesses looking to build lasting connections with their customers. He explores the emotional connections developed through social media and content and how these can be leveraged to create powerful brand communities. He also delves into the major trends – demographic, technological, and societal – that make brand communities the future of marketing.But that's not all. Schaefer also explores the psychological connection between communities and brands, and how new technologies like NFTs and the metaverse are changing the game for community strategy. Through extensive research, diverse case studies, and expert interviews, he provides a comprehensive and actionable blueprint for building a modern brand community.As a business owner and career marketer, I found this book to be incredibly useful. It not only gave me new ideas for building a strong brand community, but it also helped me understand the psychology behind why these communities are so effective. I've already started implementing some of Schaefer's strategies in my own business and have seen some promising results.If you're a business owner or marketer looking to improve your marketing strategy and build strong connections with your customers, I highly recommend "Belonging to the Brand: Why Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy" It's a game-changing book that has the potential to revolutionize the way you approach marketing. Trust me; you won't be disappointed." by Mark Schaefer. And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint.Schaefer takes a fresh and innovative approach to the topic of brand communities, offering valuable insights and practical advice for businesses looking to build lasting connections with their customers. He explores the emotional connections developed through social media and content, and how these can be leveraged to create powerful brand communities. He also delves into the major trends – demographic, technological, and societal – that make brand communities the future of marketing.But that's not all. Schaefer also explores the psychological connection between communities and brands and how new technologies like NFTs and the metaverse are changing the game for community strategy. He provides a comprehensive and actionable blueprint for building a modern brand community through extensive research, diverse case studies, and expert interviews.As a business owner and career marketer, I found this book incredibly useful. It not only gave me new ideas for building a strong brand community, but it also helped me understand the psychology behind why these communities are so effective. I've already started implementing some of Schaefer's strategies in my own business and have seen some promising results.If you're a business owner or marketer looking to improve your marketing strategy and build strong connections with your customers, I highly recommend "Brand Communities: The Future of Marketing Strategy." It's a game-changing book that has the potential to revolutionize the way you approach marketing. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

It should be obvious. An others-focused approach is always more successful than a self-focused approach in life. Yet we’ve not oriented our business culture to this reality. While companies chase the idea of community internally to build retention and employee loyalty, few have taken this approach externally by applying it as a marketing strategy.Mark gives practical examples to support his main points. In typical Mark fashion, he doesn’t tell you what you should do. He shows you the trends, gives examples to provide context and leaves you contemplating how you might apply some or all of what he’s presented to your own unique situation.This approach is one of the many reasons I appreciate Mark and find myself a dedicated member of his community. And like those ideas mentioned in his book, I might not be the community member hanging out in Discord but I am the community member who shows up to think, encourage and refer.Community matters.

I decided to grab this book last week while on PTO, it speaks to my heart and who I have always been as a markerter - community and relationship focused.I was concerned that working in non-profit it might not feel as relevant (in theory we thrive on community and not sales), but I keep finding myself highlighting and creating notes for how concepts apply and finding how often we are in a traditional marketing and sales cycle, we just sell a feeling/belief not a tangible product.As I start working on our next strategic plan for outreach, these concepts will serve as a guide.This is worth every minute you spend, humorous, informative and motivating.

Each book of Mark Schaefer is an invitation to both a business and personal introspection.I read several times the 5 previous books from Mark Schaefer and each time I put them down it has resulted in some actions both for my business (starting to work on my personal brand with "Know" was an absolute game changer in my career) AND for my personal life.I guess that's what great marketers/entrepreneurs succeed triggering when they're marketing visionaries + outstanding business coaches + terrific entrepreneurs + one of a kind marketing teachers. That's the impact Mark's books have made on me. And Belonging To The Brand is NO exception. It's even X10 that.In this book you will learn:- What a community really is and how it can transform your entire company (not only your marketing)- Why now is the best time of your life to start your community- Why community can help you have a better life, and a better job- How to start creating your own community- How you can measure the ROI of a marketing community (the chap. on Measurement is actually PURE GOLD - the kind that will shake up entire marketing departments AND entrepreneurs)- How Web 3 and technologies that are supporting Web 3 (blockchain, NFTs, Token and even AI) are actually a fantastic opportunity to create a sustainable community- So many case studies to which you can easily identify without feeling dummy or completely out of reach (typically while reading them you can't prevent telling yourself: "oh THAT! I could totally do that for myself").All those topics are explained in Mark Schafer's unique writing style: Complex concepts made easy, No fluffy wordings, no pretentious marketing jargon, no blah-blah. Concise, clear, and powerful. And most of all... HUMAN.That's probably why I enjoyed so much Mark Schaefer as a marketing Author: you don't feel like reading a marketing book. You are just listening to a Friend who is killing at marketing and want to help you get the very best out of you.And he truly does.One last thing - Mark always practices what he preaches (actually, he never preaches something he didn't practice for himself). And that's the special gift that comes with this one: It's a book about community. And Mark is offering anyone who reads it to join him - in person - in his community.So get this book quickly!!! it will be the best $19.82 investment of your life.

I’m thankful to have read this book (as I have all of Mark’s other amazing books!).This is the type of marketing that I want as a consumer and the kind I want to help create for others.A human, community based approach.While many will feel they are making their way to success through short term hacks, automation, A.I. And more - this is the best way forward to long term success! Thank you Mark.

I came across Mark Schaefer when he was being interviewed on a Business to Business podcast. I was immediately captivated by his advice and strategies about the strengths of community-based marketing and why this is THE future of marketing and growing your clients. I was so impressed I immediately purchased his book Belonging to the Brand. This book is well-organised and researched and easy to digest. The book has some great case studies that really outline the key points of community building and cover the various ways successful communities have grown, evolved and monetised their offerings. I suggest you have a pen and notepad to hand because if you are like me, it will spark a tonne of ideas.As an executive coach, I am always looking for more efficient ways to better connect with my clients and give more value to my audience. Coming across Mark and his book is a game-changer for me; Thanks to this book I have taken the leap and opened my own community.I highly recommend his work to anyone looking to enhance their marketing strategies and cultivate a thriving community. Overall 10/10

I loved this book. As a community manager. I feel stuck or doubtful. But this book really helps put your work into perspective and establish clear motives.Also let's be real we want people not ads and that's what this book delivers. How to just be a human to sympathize with another. A brand should uplift and bring together. But that focus often gets too lost in data, friction and desensitizing tasks. Read this book if you are looking to go back to the core values of your brand and to deliver that to your community.

Game changing book.Our brand has always been community-focused but your book has given us structure and direction to take our culture to the next level. Time for a business strategy ✍️

I've been telling anyone who is struggling with their brand to read this book. I truly believe that cultivating a community is highly effective way to build loyalty, trust and feedback for you or your business. Mark has proven that he continuously invests real time into researching and foreseeing the future in the marketing and branding space. He is a true thought-leader and this book proves it!