Comparing Audience and Community
Audience
Let's first understand various elements of audience.
ONE-TO MANY RELATIONSHIPS
The overarching figure of audience is the creator (a person or a brand). The creator would form relationships with the audiences.
AUDIENCES MIGHT RECEIVE YOUR COMMUNICATION
When you are creating audience, you can broadcast your message and expect your audiences to listen.
FOCUS IS ON GROWING AUDIENCES
When you are building audience, your focus is always on increasing the size and reach of the audience.
NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP
Audiences are traditionally unforgiving since there is minimal emotional connection.
LACK OF SHARED PASSION AND IDENTITY
Individuals in the audience don't always share a sense of belonging and common passion.
ILACK OF NDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION
Encouraging the individuals to voice their opinion, ideas, and feedback is not emphasized.
Community
Now let's understand how communities differ from audiences.
MANY-TO-MANY RELATIONSHIPS
In a community, the members are connected to strong networks. The members are also connected with the creator (brand or a person).
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES
In a community, members contribute and engage with each other to ensure others successfully achieving their goals.
FOCUS IS ON HELPING COMMUNITY
The community creator as well as members are focused on ensuring the peers are successfully achieving their goals.
SHARED SENSE OF BELONGING
The members of the community are connected with shared passion, goals, and a sense of belonging.
VOICE OF INDIVIDUALS
Communities give voice to the individual members so they can express their ideas, notion, and suggestions.
RELATIONSHIP IN COMMUNITY
Community members are loyal, supportive, and willing to help each other.