What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Online Community (Don’t Make these Mistakes)

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If I had to start my online community all over again today, I’d do it very differently.

I’d ignore most of the “growth hacks.” I’d obsess less about follower counts. And I’d pick tools that actually make members want to show up every day—like Skool.

This post is a mix of what went wrong, what finally worked, and the specific systems and tools I’d use if I were starting fresh. If you’re even thinking about starting an online community, read this before you spend another hour “planning.” And if you decide you’re ready while you’re reading, you can spin up your own Skool community in a few minutes using my affiliate link: Start your Skool community here.

Quick answers: What I wish I knew upfront

Here’s the short version, for the skimmers and SGE-style summaries:

You don’t need a huge audience to start a paid or free community.

You do need a clear promise and a clear path for members.

The platform matters more than you think—friction kills engagement.

Trying to “be everywhere” burns you out and confuses your people.

Communities thrive when content, accountability, and connection are in one place.

Skool handles courses, community, events, and gamification in a single simple app.

If you only take one thing from this article: pick a platform that supports how people actually behave (mobile, simple, fun), not what looks impressive in a pitch deck.

My early mistakes (so you can avoid them)

Mistake #1: Thinking I needed a massive audience first

I waited way too long to launch a community because I thought:

“I’ll start when I hit X followers.”

“I’m not an expert enough yet.”

“Who am I to charge for a community?”

Meanwhile, people were already DM’ing me questions, asking for a place to go deeper, and saying, “I wish there was a group for this.”

What I learned:

You don’t need thousands of people; you need the right 20–50 to start.

Communities grow from clarity and transformation, not vanity metrics.

If people are already asking for ongoing help, you’re ready.

If you have:

A specific topic (e.g., email marketing, fitness for busy parents, coding bootcamps, wedding photography)

A repeatable result you can help people get

Even a small group of engaged followers or clients

…you’re ready to start a community. Use it to deepen relationships and multiply your impact.

Mistake #2: Building on platforms my members barely used

My first few attempts lived on:

A Facebook Group (algorithm roulette, tons of distractions)

A Slack workspace (felt like work, not like a community)

A course platform with a “forum” bolted on (clunky, no one checked it)

What happened:

People bought the course… then never logged back in.

New posts got buried by bad UI and notifications no one saw.

Community “energy” died because nothing pulled people back.

What I wish I’d done instead: started on a platform where:

Courses, community, events, and DMs live together.

Members get pull-notifications when something matters.

The mobile app is actually good, so people participate on the go.

This is why I eventually moved everything to Skool. It’s not magic—but it removes a ton of friction.

Mistake #3: Selling “access” instead of a clear outcome

My early offers sounded like this:

“Join my community to connect with like-minded people and get support!”

That’s vague. No one wakes up thinking, “I want more vague support.”

When I reframed the promise to something like:

“Go from zero to your first $1,000 online in 8 weeks.”

“Publish your first newsletter in 30 days with our help.”

“Lose 10 pounds in 90 days without crazy dieting.”

…enrollment and participation both increased.

Lesson: your community needs a clear promise and clear path:

Who is it for? (be specific)

What problem does it solve?

What’s the main result they can expect?

What milestones will they hit along the way?

Mistake #4: Overbuilding before anyone joined

I lost weeks creating:

Fancy course curriculums no one finished

Complicated tech stacks with automation webs

Custom designs and branding

Meanwhile, zero real humans were giving feedback.

Better approach:

Launch messy with a minimum viable structure.

Serve your first members deeply.

Build with them instead of for an imaginary audience.

Tools like Skool make this easy because you can:

Create a simple course area with a few core modules.

Add more lessons as questions come up.

Adjust the community categories, rules, and events in real-time.

Mistake #5: Underestimating accountability and gamification

I used to think “if the content is good, people will show up.”

Not true.

People are busy. Competing priorities win unless you:

Create accountability (check-ins, challenges, action tasks)

Make participation rewarding (progress, status, recognition)

Skool bakes this into the platform with:

Levels and points for engagement

Leaderboards and rewards

Simple ways to run challenges and track progress

Once I started using points, levels, and small rewards (like unlocking bonus lessons at certain levels), participation spiked without me nagging.

The mindset shifts that changed everything

Beyond tools, a few mindset shifts made my community finally feel alive.

Shift #1: From “content machine” to “results architect”

I used to think:

“If I just release more content, people will stick around.”

But people aren’t paying you for libraries of information. They’re paying for a result and a process that gets them there.

So I shifted to thinking like a results architect:

Map the journey from A → B.

Create only the content needed to move them along that path.

Use the community for implementation, not just consumption.

On Skool, that looks like:

A course area with 5–10 core modules (not 50).

Weekly implementation calls or Q&A sessions.

A feed where members share wins, ask questions, and get feedback.

Shift #2: From “everyone is welcome” to “this is for these people”

At first, I tried to create a community that could work for anyone vaguely interested in my topic.

That led to:

Mixed expectations

People at wildly different levels

Vague conversations that went nowhere

When I narrowed the target:

“Beginner creators who want their first $1,000 online”

“Busy parents who want to get fit in 30 minutes/day”

“Developers aiming for their first remote job”

…the quality of the group skyrocketed. It became easier to:

Design specific lessons

Run targeted challenges

Celebrate relevant wins

Your community isn’t for everyone. It’s for the people who will thrive with your support.

Shift #3: From “I have to do everything” to “members are the engine”

At first, I tried to:

Answer every question myself

Start every conversation

Host every call

I became the bottleneck.

Healthy communities are member-driven, not creator-dependent. That means:

Encouraging members to help each other

Highlighting member wins and contributions

Giving leadership roles to power users

Skool helps here with:

Leaderboards that surface your most active members

Levels that can be tied to perks (like co-hosting calls, moderating, or getting access to special channels)

You’re the guide, not the entire show.

Why Skool is the platform I wish I had from day one

You can run communities on a lot of platforms. I’ve tried most of them.

Here’s why I now recommend Skool as the default starting point for most creators and experts.

1. Courses + community in one clean interface

Instead of:

Courses in one app

Community in a Facebook Group or Slack

Events inside another calendar tool

…Skool puts everything in one place:

Community feed – like a focused, distraction-free group.

Classroom – your course modules, drip content, and resources.

Calendar – live calls, workshops, office hours.

DMs & profiles – members connect with each other easily.

Fewer tabs = more engagement.

2. Simple pricing and easy setup

One of my early headaches was juggling multiple subscriptions:

Course platform

Community platform

Payment processor upgrades

Calendar/booking tools

Skool keeps it simple:

One simple monthly fee per community (with built-in payments)

Unlimited members on paid tiers

Straightforward setup that doesn’t require a developer

You can literally:

Create your Skool community.

Add a few intro lessons.

Set your price.

Invite your first members.

If you’re ready to test it, here’s the link again: Create your Skool account.

3. Engagement built-in: levels, points, and leaderboards

Skool turns engagement into a game:

Members earn points for posting, commenting, and helping.

They level up as they participate.

You can unlock bonuses at certain levels (hidden content, special calls, etc.).

This matters because:

People love visible progress.

Friendly competition gets them to show up.

You no longer have to nag people to participate.

Example uses:

Level 3 unlocks a bonus “advanced Q&A” call.

Level 5 unlocks a private channel for power members.

Levels unlock extra resources or templates inside the Classroom.

4. Great mobile app (this is underrated)

Most members will interact with your community on their phone.

If your platform:

Has a clunky mobile experience

Sends confusing or delayed notifications

Makes posting or replying annoying

…your engagement tanks.

Skool’s mobile app is simple and clean. Members can:

Check the community feed

Watch lessons

Join calls from event links

Reply to posts and DMs

All from their phone, in a few taps.

5. Easy to run live experiences and events

Live calls and events are where communities come alive.

On Skool, you can:

Add recurring weekly calls to the calendar

Drop Zoom (or other tool) links in the event

Have members RSVP and get reminders

Examples of events you can run:

Weekly Q&A

Hot-seat coaching calls

Implementation sessions (“Coworking” focus blocks)

Monthly guest expert sessions

Members see all of this in one place—no scattered links in old emails.

6. Builder-friendly for creators at any level

Whether you’re:

Just starting with 20–50 “founding members,” or

Managing hundreds or thousands of students

Skool scales with you.

You can start simple, then add complexity:

Start with 2–3 categories in the community feed.

Add a basic course with your core lessons.

Introduce levels and bonuses once you have momentum.

You’re never “locked” into a structure; you can adjust your setup as the community evolves.

How to start your online community the right way (step-by-step)

Here’s the process I’d use if I had to start again from scratch.

Step 1: Define your “one-sentence promise”

Fill in this sentence:

I help [specific people] get [specific result] in [timeframe or context] through [your method].

Examples:

“I help freelance designers land better clients in 90 days through positioning, outbound scripts, and a portfolio makeover.”

“I help busy moms build a consistent workout habit in 8 weeks using 30-minute at-home routines.”

“I help junior developers get their first remote job by building real projects and improving interview skills.”

This one sentence becomes the backbone of your community.

Step 2: Map the member journey

Think of your community like a guided path.

Break the journey into 3–5 stages:

Onboarding – Getting oriented, setting goals.

Foundation – Key skills, mindset, and core knowledge.

Implementation – Doing the work with feedback.

Acceleration – Advanced strategies, scaling, optimization.

Mastery / Alumni – Staying sharp, giving back, mentoring.

Inside Skool, this can look like:

Course modules that match these stages.

Community categories that mirror them (e.g., #wins, #questions, #resources).

Events aligned with each stage.

Step 3: Start with a “minimum viable curriculum”

Don’t build a 40-module course before anyone has joined.

Create just enough to get early members moving:

1 welcome / orientation lesson

3–7 core lessons on fundamentals

1–2 quick-win exercises or templates

As members ask questions, you add more lessons where they’re stuck. Your curriculum grows organically from real needs.

This is easy to manage in Skool’s Classroom—just add new lessons, attach resources, and reorder modules as needed.

Step 4: Design your weekly rhythm

Communities thrive on rhythm.

Decide what happens each week:

Mondays: Goal-setting or intention post

Mid-week: Live Q&A or implementation call

Fridays: Wins + reflection thread

On Skool, you can:

Schedule recurring events on the community calendar

Post weekly prompts that members come to expect

Use pinned posts for ongoing challenges or announcements

When members know the rhythm, they’re more likely to show up.

Step 5: Launch with “founding members” first

Resist the urge to do a huge launch.

Instead:

Invite a small group of 10–50 founding members.

Offer them a special deal (e.g., lower rate or lifetime access) in exchange for feedback.

Work closely with them for 4–8 weeks.

During this phase:

Improve your onboarding.

Refine your curriculum.

Tweak pricing and positioning if needed.

Skool makes onboarding easy with:

Clear “Start Here” posts.

Introductory lessons in the Classroom.

Profile questions to learn about your members.

You’ll learn more from 20 real members than from 200 hours of planning.

Step 6: Use Skool’s gamification to drive behavior

Once you have some momentum, layer in Skool’s levels and rewards.

Pick 1–3 behaviors you want more of:

Posting implementation updates

Helping others solve problems

Attending live calls

Then design simple rewards:

Unlock secret resources at Level 3.

Access a private advanced channel at Level 5.

Get a 1:1 call draw entry when hitting certain milestones.

This shifts the community from passive consumption to active participation.

Step 7: Make your offer clear and simple

When you’re ready to open the doors wider, your offer page should answer:

Who it’s for

What they get (community, calls, course, support)

The main outcome/result

The price and what’s included

Example structure:

Headline: Get [result] in [time] without [big pain]

Subhead: Join a small, focused community where we do this together.

Section: “This is for you if…” (3–5 bullets)

Section: “Inside, you’ll get…” (course, calls, community, templates)

Section: “How it works” (step-by-step)

Then link directly to your Skool community checkout.

If you’re ready to set that up, you can start here: Set up your Skool community.

Common community mistakes (and how Skool helps you dodge them)

Here are some patterns I see over and over—and how to avoid them.

Mistake: Too many channels, not enough focus

New hosts often create:

10+ categories

Multiple platforms (Discord + FB + separate course site)

Complex rules that no one remembers

Fix: Start with 3–5 core categories in Skool, such as:

Start Here / Announcements

Wins & Accountability

Questions & Feedback

Resources

You can always add more later.

Mistake: No onboarding structure

If new members log in and think, “Now what?”, you lose them.

Fix: Create a simple onboarding flow:

Pinned “Start Here” post in the community feed.

A short Orientation module in the Classroom.

A welcome challenge (e.g., introduce yourself, share your goal, complete the first exercise).

Skool lets you pin important posts, so new members see what matters first.

Mistake: Relying only on async posts

Text-based communities are powerful—but without live touchpoints, they can feel flat.

Fix: Add live events:

Weekly office hours or Q&A

Monthly workshops or guest sessions

Implementation sprints

Use Skool’s calendar so everything is inside the same ecosystem.

Mistake: Ignoring data and feedback

If you’re not paying attention to:

Which posts get engagement

What questions keep repeating

Where people drop off in your lessons

…you’ll keep guessing.

Fix:

Use Skool’s stats and activity feed to see what’s working.

Ask members directly what they need more/less of.

Adjust your content and events every 4–8 weeks.

A good community is a living system, not a static product.

Simple comparison: Skool vs common alternatives

Here’s a quick, high-level comparison based on what usually matters to creators:

Feature / Need	Skool	Facebook Group	Slack/Discord
Courses + Community	Yes, in one place	No (needs external tool)	No (needs external tool)
Distraction level	Low, focused	High (feeds, ads, DMs)	Medium-High (chat noise)
Gamification (levels/points)	Built-in	None (needs manual hacks)	Limited (bots, custom coding)
Events & Calendar	Built-in	Basic events, scattered	Bots/integrations required
Mobile app experience	Clean, purpose-built	Good but noisy	Varies, often overwhelming
Payment integration	Built-in checkout	Needs 3rd-party tools	Needs 3rd-party tools

You can make almost any stack work if you’re determined… but if you want to maximize focus, simplicity, and results for your members, Skool is hard to beat.

What I’d do in my first 30 days on Skool

If I were starting a brand-new community today, here’s my exact 30-day plan.

Week 1: Setup and structure

Clarify the one-sentence promise.

Create the Skool community and set up:

Name, branding, and description
3–5 core community categories
1–2 recurring weekly events

Add a “Start Here” post and orientation lesson.

Create 3–7 core lessons in the Classroom.

Week 2: Founding member invitations

Personally invite your warmest leads:

Past clients
Engaged followers
Email subscribers who reply often

Offer a “founding member” deal with a clear deadline.

Onboard each member with a welcome DM and tag them in the “Introduce Yourself” thread.

Week 3: Deliver, listen, adjust

Run your first live call (Q&A + orientation).

Encourage members to post wins and questions.

Note common struggles and add or tweak lessons in the Classroom.

Ask for honest feedback: “What’s most valuable so far? What’s missing?”

Week 4: Solidify your rhythm and add light gamification

Lock in your weekly rhythm (e.g., Monday goals, mid-week call, Friday wins).

Turn on Skool’s levels/points (if you haven’t already).

Announce simple rewards for hitting certain levels.

Collect 3–5 short testimonials from early members.

After 30 days, you’ll have:

A real community with real members

A tested structure and rhythm

Proof that your offer works (or clarity on how to refine it)

From there, you can open the doors wider with more confidence—and your Skool setup will be ready to scale.

FAQ: Starting an online community on Skool

1. Do I need a big audience before launching a Skool community?

No. You can launch with as few as 10–20 members, especially if they’re committed and aligned around a specific goal. It’s better to have a small, focused group than a big, scattered one. Start with your warmest leads—past clients, engaged followers, or your email list—and grow from there.

2. Should my community be free or paid at the start?

Both can work, but if you’re teaching a skill or guiding people to a result, a paid community usually leads to more commitment. One option is to start small, paid, with founding members at a lower lifetime rate, then raise the price as you improve the offer. Skool supports both free and paid communities, so you can test what works best.

3. Is Skool only for course creators?

Skool is great for course creators, but it’s also ideal for coaches, consultants, membership sites, masterminds, and even internal teams. If your work involves teaching, guiding, or supporting people over time, Skool’s mix of Classroom + Community + Calendar fits naturally.

4. What if I’m not “techy”? Can I still set this up?

Yes. Skool is intentionally simple—most creators can set up their community, add a few lessons, and start inviting members in a single afternoon. You don’t need custom code, complicated zaps, or multiple tools talking to each other just to get started.

5. How do I keep my community active over time?

Activity comes from a mix of structure and care. Use a weekly rhythm (goal-setting, live calls, wins), recognize members publicly, and keep tying everything back to the main promise of your community. Skool’s points, levels, and leaderboards help reinforce healthy behavior without you constantly pushing.

6. Is Skool worth it if I’m just starting out?

If you’re serious about building a community that drives real results for your members—and you value simplicity over tech juggling—yes, it’s worth starting on a solid foundation. You’ll save time, reduce overwhelm, and give your members a better experience from day one. You can get started here: Launch your Skool community.

Final thoughts: Build the community you wish you had

If there’s a through-line in everything I wish I’d known, it’s this:

Start before you feel perfectly ready.

Focus on a clear promise and a clear path.

Build with your members, not for imaginary ones.

Use tools that make showing up easy and fun—for you and for them.

Skool won’t do the work for you, but it removes a huge amount of friction so you can spend your energy where it counts: helping people get real results. If you’re ready to turn your knowledge into a focused, lively community, you can start your own space in a few minutes using my affiliate link: Create your Skool community today.

More tools you might like

If you’re building digital products or communities, you’ll probably also appreciate CodeFast for speeding up the technical side of your projects and Outrank for improving your SEO and content visibility.

Together with Skool, they give you a powerful stack for building, running, and growing a profitable online community.