To understand the benefits of an online community, knowing the positive effects of “belonging” will perhaps inspire you to partake in this famous kind of “neighborhood.” It’s true that many young people have come to belong to online communities such as Twitter and Facebook. However, in the relatively recent history of these communities, people young and old alike are quickly beginning to see the benefits of an online community. Staying in touch with friends and loved ones is probably the first benefit that comes to mind. For most, this is just fine. For business owners, especially online business owners, the benefits of an online community are becoming indispensable.

Brick-and-mortar businesses are clamoring for their share of exposure because customers are becoming harder and harder to find, and loyal, repeat customers are even more rare. Belonging to an online community is a great way to reach millions of people that are interested in what a business has to offer. From a business perspective, becoming a respected member of an online community is a win-win for both parties. Belonging to an online community allows the business to offer products and services to potential customers on a more personal level. This tends to build trust in the company, which ultimately brings with it future sales. The customer feels more important to the company, and the company senses that it has fulfilled its customers’ needs. Over time, this will help develop a following of repeat customers, the bread and butter of any business.

Online businesses are similar in many respects to brick-and-mortar businesses in that customers are what drives a company’s success. More specifically, customer satisfaction is by far the most important factor in any business. Looking a little deeper into the benefits of an online community, here’s the short list of some of the intangible benefits:

• Sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself

• Feeling of confidence in knowing that your voice will be heard

• Camaraderie formed when communicating with like minded members

• Learning from others who have experienced similar situations

• Providing help and guidance to those who are less informed

If you’re contemplating starting an online business, getting to know more about online communities and what they can do for your business is an essential first step and also something you should continue for the life of your business. The power of communication is no more apparent anywhere else than it is in an online community.