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

Courses are getting harder to sell, not because people do not want to learn, but because they want results faster than ever. I talk about recent conversations with clients, why even leaders like Amy Porterfield are shifting away from traditional courses, and how the market now expects fast track systems, short actionable lessons, and coaching experiences that prioritize time to value. I also share how we are redesigning onboarding, personalizing member journeys, and rethinking the word course entirely. If your course sales have slowed or your completion rates are stalling, this episode will help you rethink your positioning.Interested in working with my team? Book a discovery call hereLet's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

Every client we work with at Affinity starts with a Community Strategy Intensive. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what actually goes into that process and how we design strategies that drive both engagement and business results.I’ll walk you through the core questions we ask to uncover the right focus, how we collect member data to inform decisions, and why every great community strategy needs to connect member goals with business goals. You’ll hear exactly what happens inside our 90-minute strategy session, what you walk away with, and how it becomes the roadmap for every build or upgrade we take on.If you’re ready to improve or launch your community, this episode will help you start asking the right questions.If you'd like to see if a Community Strategy Intensive is right for you, book your discovery call with me here. Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

Memberships are shifting — and the old evergreen sales model isn’t converting like it used to.In this episode, I share what’s actually working right now: blending cohort-style programs with ongoing community memberships. This hybrid model gives you the best of both worlds — urgency for conversions and momentum for retention. I break down why this approach works, examples from client strategies, and how to layer a short program or challenge into your own member journey to create stronger activation and long-term engagement.Interested in working with my team? Book a discovery call hereLet's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

This week I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how we recently migrated more than 1,000 members into a new custom Circle app for a client.If you’re getting ready to launch a new community or move your existing customers onto a new platform, this episode walks you through exactly what to plan for. I share the full list of what we did to make this migration a success — from member interviews and beta testing, to communication plans, onboarding emails, DM automations, and how we used ambassadors to model engagement.Whether you’re scaling an existing program or adding community to your offer suite, these are the steps that make members excited to log in and stay engaged.Links:Book a free discovery call hereCheckout Circle App with a free trial here Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

We talk a lot about increasing engagement, but not enough about defining what meaningful engagement actually looks like. In this episode, I break down a smarter way to think about engagement beyond likes, posts, and comments.You’ll learn how to:Identify what meaningful engagement looks like for your communityUse live calls, events, and curriculum prompts to model and reinforce those behaviorsBuild flywheels that make engagement easy, intentional, and measurableIf you’ve been wondering how to move your members from passive to active participation, this episode will help you rethink your approach to engagement entirely.Want to work on this strategy with my team? Book a discovery call here.Mentioned on this episode:Jay Clouse's membership, The LabCheyenne Buttrey's membership, The Funnel MethodLet's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

When I’m working with a client on engagement and retention, one of the first things I like to do is run a member survey. There’s one deceptively simple question I always include: What’s your favorite part of the membership?In this episode, I share why this question is so powerful, a story from my time at Bossbabe when it completely changed our retention strategy, and how you can use the answers to shape both your short-term programming and your long-term membership design. Sometimes the insights point to easy wins... and sometimes they reveal that it’s time to rebalance your entire strategy.Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

Cheyenne asked me two questions: what’s a normal churn rate for a membership, and do I recommend monthly, quarterly, or annual pricing? In this episode, I walk through how to decide on pricing models based on the transformation your program delivers, why quarterly pricing can sometimes backfire, and what red flags to look for in your retention charts. I also share the churn benchmarks I use with clients and examples of when monthly, annual, or seasonal pricing makes the most sense.Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

Today I’m answering a question from Cepee, founder of She Hit Refresh. She asked how to encourage members to share knowledge with each other beyond the community chat. In this episode, I walk through practical examples of peer-to-peer events like Lunch & Learns, roundtables, and member-led AMAs. I also share ways to incentivize participation using social currency, recognition, and rewards. If you’ve ever wondered how to get members contributing more actively, this episode is for you.Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

In this episode, I answer Amanda’s question about how to use AI inside your programs. I share real examples I’ve seen like surprise and delight GPTs, prompts that support programming, and creative tools that make content stronger, as well as the risks and caveats you need to consider. As community builders, our job is to help members reach their goals as quickly and safely as possible, and AI can play a powerful role in that if we design it with care.Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

In this episode I’m answering a listener question from Leslie, who asked how I prioritize my health while running a business. Over the past 18 months, I’ve been on a major health journey that’s transformed not only my body but also my energy, confidence, and ultimately my business growth.I share my personal routines, the boundaries I’ve set with my calendar, and the tactical practices that keep me regulated and focused. This isn’t medical advice – I’m not a health coach – but I walk you through what’s worked for me, from movement and meal prep to nervous system regulation and saying no to false urgency. For community builders especially, prioritizing your health matters, because you can’t create a thriving member experience if you’re drained and running on empty.Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

Enzo asked me whether he should restructure his large software courses into smaller trainings inside a membership. I love this direction, and in this episode I share why. If you’re teaching something that evolves quickly, like software, AI, or social media, a membership model creates space for live teaching, troubleshooting in real time, and faster wins for your students. I also share how to avoid overwhelm with too much content, the gym-style free trial model that can drive long-term retention, and what to prioritize in onboarding.Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity CollectiveCheckout Circle App with a free trial here (using this link supports my business, thank you!)

This week’s listener question came from Vidy, who asked how to get back into community building and networking to grow her design business. I share my favorite ways to find “the right rooms” — whether that’s free local events, intentional coffee chats, or bigger conferences worth investing in. I also talk about the difference between peer communities and client-facing communities, why volunteering has been such a powerful way for me to connect, and how to make networking a consistent priority instead of an afterthought.Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

Today I’m answering a question from Leslie: how do you decide what to charge, and do you use sliding scales? Pricing is never one-size-fits-all, so in this episode I share the key factors I consider when setting prices. We’ll talk about experience value, product purpose, your customer’s budget, street credibility, and audience size. I also share real examples of how different models — from memberships to masterminds — can shape your pricing decisions, plus how I think about scholarships and sliding scale options.Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

This episode kicks off my new listener Q series, where I answer your real questions about building community-driven businesses. Audrey asked: if you’re running a three-tier membership, should onboarding live in one central place or be separated by tier?I share why onboarding is the most important driver of retention, how to design quick wins that actually match the promise of each offer, and why I always recommend customizing the onboarding journey for each tier. You’ll also hear how I use Circle’s features to make this simple for clients, and why onboarding is not just a welcome email — it’s a long-term strategy for engagement and success.Checkout Circle App with a free trial here (using this link supports my business, thank you!)Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

A Slack group isn’t a community. Just opening a forum and inviting people to “connect” doesn’t create meaningful results. In this episode, I’m breaking down why people don’t buy for community — they buy for transformation. I’ll walk you through how programming, onboarding, and carefully designed touch points create the conditions for connection, and why community is the thing that keeps people sticking around, not the reason they join. If you’ve ever wondered why “like-minded individuals” isn’t enough of a promise, this one will give you a new lens on how to design your member journey.Let's be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

I was in a mastermind call last week when someone shared their goal to grow their community by a significant number of new members within one month. That opened up a deeper discussion: what happens to culture when you bring in a big wave of new members at once?If you’ve ever wrestled with whether to go all-in on open-cart campaigns or lean into evergreen trickle-in growth… this episode will help you think more clearly about how those choices shape the member experience.Let’s be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity CollectiveNeed help with your evergreen marketing funnel? I highly recommend Cheyenne Buttrey (aka CopyGirl)

This episode started as a voice note for my friend Cheyenne, who asked a great question: How do I make sure my program doesn’t just become a fan club for me?If your community is built entirely around you, your time, and your personal brand, you’re going to hit a growth ceiling... and burn out in the process. In this episode, I break down why you shouldn’t build a “fan club” and how to design a community that thrives without you being in the center of every interaction.You’ll hear:Why personal brand–driven communities stall at scaleHow service-based memberships can transition away from being fully founder-ledReal examples of programs that have successfully replaced the founder in key rolesWhy naming and branding your program matters for future growthThe role of connection facilitation in building sustainable communitiesWhether you’re running a service membership, program, or transformational community product, this episode will help you start thinking about growth beyond you – while keeping members happy and engaged.Let’s be friends:Learn about Cheyenne & The Funnel MethodConnect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

If you’ve built your community around your own presence, what happens when you want to step out of the hot seat? In this episode, I share lessons from my time at Bossbabe and from client work on how to successfully transition leadership to coaches, facilitators, and other community members ... without sacrificing member satisfaction.We’ll cover:Why members often resist leadership changes (and how to address it)How to set expectations in your sales process and marketingMetrics to track during the transition to ensure quality stays highTraining, feedback, and support your new leaders need to succeedHow this shift can unlock scale without burning you outIf scaling your community is the goal, letting go of the reins is a must. Here’s how to do it without losing the magic.Let’s be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity Collective

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:Whether Facebook Groups are ever a good idea in 2025What to do when your forum isn’t buzzing (especially with <50 members)Why real connection doesn’t always look like daily postsTactical ways to drive engagement through onboarding, intros, small groups, and in-person momentsWhen a real-time chat tool like WhatsApp can make sense (and how to avoid letting it compete with your forum)If you’re running a smaller community and wondering how to create more meaningful connection, this one’s for you.Let’s be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity CollectiveInterested in Circle App? Try it here!

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.Whether you’re gearing up for your next community campaign or building your marketing strategy from scratch, you’ll walk away with clear guidance for sustainable growth.Let’s be friends:Connect with Becky on Instagram or LinkedInRead the newsletter at beckypierson.comLearn more about Affinity CollectiveFollow Austin L Church on LinkedIn