Virtual business communities: Why are they so important?

Virtual business communities translate as the perfect methodology for measuring commercial strategies. Business entities have defined these communities as a feasible means of interaction that they can use to strengthen their strategies through a target audience.

It is very important to keep in mind that a business community is not limited to the use of social networks. Emails, group chats, discussion forums, and videoconferences act as virtual communities with good acceptance by the audience.

Do you want to measure your company's success? Or do you want to improve your company's commercial functionality? Don't worry, keep reading. Here you will find all the key information to be part of a new business community.

What are virtual business communities?

Virtual business communities are defined as those cyber spaces that bring together users of any type in one place. A business community should be characterized as a space away from a very demarcated structure.

Of course, it must be a collective symbol that represents every user within it. It offers personal freedom of communication that does not require face-to-face interaction, thus optimizing the relationship between brand and customer on a large scale.

In short, they are extensive communities of collaborative business. They consist of personalities that share indispensable information and resolve situations that overshadow the brand through collective debate.

Companies access a virtual community because:

• They want to satisfy customer needs, taking into account their comments and ideas.
• They wish to establish common purposes with consumer users.
• They yearn for their potential customers to be part of the brand beyond a simple brand-customer relationship. They seek, through this system, individualized cohesion in order to turn it into a single common goal.

Business community: A bit of its history

To capture more specifically what these digital communities are about, it is advisable to start from the beginning. The term dates back to the emergence of the Internet, that is, in the 1990s.

The terminology was first used in 1994 by Howard Rheinhold in his book: "The Virtual Community: A Society Without Borders." However, these communities already existed in the 1970s, formed by military personnel, scientists, and academics. But it was very different because it was carried out in a very rudimentary manner, through regulated systems of reserved use.

Today, these business communities have moved to the digital field. Millions of users navigating the Internet can participate in these communities, enjoying the functional benefits they offer.

What types of business communities exist?

Nowadays, business communities have expanded to offer various functionalities according to business objectives. Among the types of digital communities, you can find:

• Discussion groups, such as Facebook groups or discussion forums in their various modalities: Open, closed, moderated, and unmoderated.
• Email groups or individualized forms.
• Videoconferences, via Google Meet or Zoom.
• Content managers, peer-to-peer systems, or bulletin board systems.
• Chats like WhatsApp or Telegram groups, also phone-based, like Slack or Discord.
• Audio applications like Clubhouse.
• Television and radio communities (still maintained, although on a smaller scale).

Objectives and purpose of a business community

The purpose lies in the exchange and capture of specific information about business functionality. Most of the audience within virtual business communities are potential customers and constant consumers of the brand.

These communities have key objectives that combine business interests with consumer public attention. The key objectives of a business community are:

• Exchange and capture of information, whether positive or negative.
• Offer attention and support, always maintaining empathy towards people.
• Informal and constant communication to get to know potential users.
• Expression of viewpoints and debating the opinions expressed. Generally, this is done through moderators.

Benefits of using virtual business communities today

Brands worldwide find in virtual business communities a perfect measurement opportunity.

In short, these communities act as the ideal tool for achieving success. As a brand, you can measure the campaigns launched, being possible through the needs and opinions expressed by the target audience. The benefits can be established according to the following list of aspects:

1. Integrating into a digital community will allow your company to know the opinion that the target audience has about the company's name and logo.
2. It will establish a communicative relationship with the public and other brands within the market.
3. It will enable the brand to save costs. It is a tool that will help save on market research.
4. It will provide the company with new ideas for product creation based on the information gathered from customers.
5. The business community will provide the opportunity to announce any new product lines. The company will be able to share important information that is of interest to its consumer audience.

What are the 10 most famous virtual communities?

Whether you are a large company or just starting out, don't worry. Below are the 10 most popular virtual communities in general.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Discord
• YouTube
• Instagram
• WhatsApp
• Zoom
• Gmail
• Slack
• Clubhouse

Seek professional help from digital marketing experts

As professionals and knowledgeable in the field, we can summarize virtual business communities in the following aspects:

• A business community is supported by two basic pillars: communication and relationships with users based on common interests.
• It acts as a measure of business success, analyzing needs and strengthening the bond with the community.
• Through a technological structure, it can promote participation and thus achieve the set objectives.

If you don’t feel prepared to take on the challenge and join virtual communities, don’t worry. At Mintec we know all the tools and methodologies to help your company reach its goals. Do you want to increase your sales? And do you want to achieve a good corporate image? Don't be swayed by misleading digital marketing offers. Contact us and we will study the best marketing strategy specialized for your company.