Build With Becky: Smart Strategies To Grow Your Community-Driven Business

In this episode, I’m answering a question from a longtime newsletter reader who asked, “Should I move my community to Facebook? It feels dead where it is now.”

She’s not alone in wondering this so I recorded this voice note for Tina, and for anyone trying to breathe life into a quiet group.

We cover:

What’s working right now to grow a membership? And how do you avoid growing in the wrong direction?

In this episode, I share one of the biggest lessons I learned while leading community and product at Bossbabe — the mistake that led to our best growth month ever and a wave of churn the very next.

This is a story about good growth vs. bad growth, why urgency-based campaigns work only when they’re aligned with your membership’s transformation, and what to do instead if you want both new and long-term members to thrive.

Whe...

Thinking about starting a community? Or wondering why yours isn’t working the way you hoped? In this episode, I break down the top five reasons I see communities fail, based on real conversations with founders and the patterns I’ve seen across dozens of clients. From pricing mistakes to missing transformation, these are the lessons I wish every creator and coach knew before launching a membership.

Let's be friends:

Community leaders deserve a vacation too. In this episode, I’m sharing real strategies for stepping back without sacrificing connection. From member-led calls to pivoting your programming, you’ll learn how to build a culture where the community supports each other, not just you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or just ready to take a summer break, this one will help you lead your people while protecting your energy.

Let's be friends:

At a retreat earlier this year, I got to meet Ayman Al-Abdullah, former CEO of AppSumo. He shared the growth strategy that took their business from $3M to $84M in six years. And it all started with a Persona. In this episode, I’m breaking down what that actually means, why your “best” customer isn’t always your biggest, and how to build products, programs, and communities in true partnership with the people you most want to serve.

Let's be friends:

I haven’t talked much about AI publicly — until now. In this episode, I’m sharing the creative ways I’ve seen community builders use AI to improve member retention, automate high-touch experiences, and connect people in more meaningful ways. From custom renewal reports to member matchmaking and searchable private content libraries, I’m walking through real ideas you can borrow or build. If you feel overwhelmed... same here. But I’m finding a lot of potential here, and this episode is a peek at where things are headed.

Let's be friends:

Steal This Simple Event Format to Spark Real Connection

Live from Boise, I’m recapping Day 2 of the Lab Offline retreat hosted by Jay Clouse — and specifically, one powerful mastermind structure you can replicate in your own programs or in-person events. We did a mix of solo reflection and small group hot seats, and it gave me surprising clarity on my next offer at Affinity. I’m also sharing why in-person connection is becoming essential for digital communities and how to start simple with meetups that drive retention.

Let's be friends:

This episode was recorded from my hotel room in Boise, fresh off Day 1 of Jay Clouse’s retreat for Lab members, and I had to share one big takeaway that hit hard. During a fireside chat, Nathan Barry reminded us that if you’re not interested in what you’re creating, your people can feel it. I talk about how this applies to building community, what it means to co-create with your members, and why your energy is one of the most important growth levers in your business.

Let's be friends:

What does it actually feel like to be part of a great digital community? In this episode, I share a powerful question my friend Julian asked me that sparked a conversation about group chats, stickiness, and how strong community design creates a sense of home. If you’re building a space for transformation, connection, or creativity, this is your reminder that feelings matter — and that people stick around when it feels good to be there.

Let's be friends:

A recent CreativeMornings event reminded me how powerful it is to put yourself in the room... to follow the pull toward people, conversations, and spaces that expand you. In this episode, I reflect on how in-person connection sparks creativity, builds momentum, and supports your business in ways no algorithm ever could. If you've been feeling stuck or isolated, this is your invitation to step outside your usual routine and follow your curiosity.

Let's be friends:

Your first launch won’t be perfect — and it’s not supposed to be. In this episode, I walk through a real conversation with a friend who’s building a new offer. We talk about how to approach beta testing, why you should teach and deliver live the first time around, and how to use feedback to make your product better with every round.

If you're stuck trying to map the “perfect” offer before you’ve even sold it, this one’s for you.

Let's be friends:

Want the full checklist? DM me MAKEOVER on Instagram @buildwbecky and I’ll send it your way.

If your membership feels a little messy, like members are ghosting, your forum is quiet, or your content feels bloated, this episode is your fix-it guide. I’m walking you through the exact 5-part audit we use with our Affinity Collective clients to improve retention, engagement, and outcomes inside their programs. You’ll learn how to simplify onboarding, clean up your content, and refresh your programming so your members actually want to stick around.

Let's be friends:

I’m handing you the real behind-the-scenes look at how I went from fancy architecture school to building community-driven products for creator-led brands. I’ll walk you through my (very nonlinear) seven-part journey — including the moment I realized I was never meant for the corporate life, my unexpected side-gigs and cross-country moves, and how teaching UX led me to obsess over online education and membership strategy.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit neatly in a box… you’ll feel right at home here

Let's be friends:

Most people collect data they never use or worse, they’re flying blind, relying on gut instinct and assumptions. In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact prompts and data audit process we used on Day 1 of the Make Smart Retreat. You’ll learn how to spot the story your data is telling you, the difference between qualitative and quantitative insights, and how to identify what’s actually working across your funnel from lead magnet to checkout page.

If you’ve ever launched something and thought, “Why didn’t this work?”, this episode is for you.

Let's...

When your audience is small, the rules are different. In this episode, I break down the real strategy that helped me fill the Make Smart Retreat — and it wasn’t just email blasts or passive waitlist conversions. It was what my clients lovingly call “bully marketing”: personal, intentional outreach that connects with your people human to human.

If your first launch isn’t selling the way you hoped, this episode is your reminder to get scrappy, get personal, and go all in on the people you believe in most.

Let's be friends:

Introducing the Build With Becky Podcast: Smart Strategies To Grow Your Community-Driven Business

Your membership, course, or program should be working better than this.

You’re proud of what you’ve built — but members are ghosting, engagement is low, refund requests are creeping in, and let’s be honest... it’s harder than it should be to scale.

That’s where this podcast comes in.

Think of Build With Becky – that’s me – like a voice note from your smart friend to help you tweak your programs, get better student outcomes, and make more mone...