Roles within community building and designing mobile apps for maximum growth may seem like two unrelated topics, but they actually share common points and can be connected naturally. Both require a focus on understanding the needs and priorities of the current community or user base before aggressively trying to grow. In community building, settlers, explorers, and town planners play different roles in ensuring meaningful participation and sustainable growth. Similarly, in mobile app design, there are actionable steps that can be taken to maximize growth, such as finding opportunities for positive reinforcement, busting unexpected sources of friction, and focusing on the best referral channels.

Roles within community building and designing mobile apps for maximum growth may seem like two unrelated topics, but they actually share common points and can be connected naturally. Both require a focus on understanding the needs and priorities of the current community or user base before aggressively trying to grow. In community building, settlers, explorers, and town planners play different roles in ensuring meaningful participation and sustainable growth. Similarly, in mobile app design, there are actionable steps that can be taken to maximize growth, such as finding opportunities for positive reinforcement, busting unexpected sources of friction, and focusing on the best referral channels.

In community building, it is crucial to settle before exploring. This means taking care of the needs and priorities of the current community before attempting to grow more aggressively. Without a community that can retain participation, any efforts to bring in new participants will be wasted. The settlers, or community management, are responsible for nurturing the existing community, fostering engagement, and addressing any issues or concerns that may arise. They create a strong foundation for growth by ensuring that the community feels valued and supported.

Similarly, in app design, it is important to design with growth in mind. One key aspect is to find opportunities for positive reinforcement. Instead of over-educating users with lengthy onboarding screens, it is more effective to provide "tool tips" layered on top of UI elements. This allows users to learn about the app's features while taking real-time actions. By guiding users through the app in a more interactive and intuitive way, they are more likely to have a positive experience and continue using it.

Another common point between community building and app design is the need to bust unexpected sources of friction. In community building, this can involve designing every call to action to move users forward consistently. For example, if users are signing up and creating a password, it is best to avoid requiring both letters and numbers, as this may cause users to switch keyboards back and forth, creating friction. By streamlining the user experience and removing unnecessary obstacles, users are more likely to complete desired actions and stay engaged.

In app design, busting unexpected sources of friction can involve adding a progress bar to indicate how far users have progressed in a task or process. People feel compelled to finish something when they know they are almost done. By adding a progress bar, app designers can increase conversions by up to 40%. This small but effective design element can greatly impact the user experience and encourage users to continue using the app.

Furthermore, both community building and app design can benefit from focusing on the best referral channels. Referrals are a powerful source of growth, and it is important to identify and focus on the channels that bring in the highest-value users. In community building, referrals can be in the form of word-of-mouth recommendations from existing community members to their friends or colleagues. By creating a valuable and engaging community experience, users are more likely to refer others who have similar interests or needs.

In app design, referrals can be encouraged by making them a valuable win-win for both the person sending the referral and the recipient. Referrals should be tied to the core experience of the app, offering intrinsic value to both parties. App designers can consider what users are doing outside and around the app to discover opportunities for valuable referrals. For example, if the app is related to food reviews, users who frequently check Yelp reviews may be potential referrers. By leveraging existing behaviors and providing incentives, app designers can harness the power of referrals for growth.

Additionally, both community building and app design can benefit from considering double-sided incentives. In community building, this can involve offering rewards or incentives for both the person sending the referral and the recipient. However, it is important to ensure that these incentives are balanced and do not attract users who are only looking for short-term deals. Setting clear expectations that these rewards are temporary can help maintain long-term engagement.

In app design, double-sided incentives can be used to encourage users to refer others to the app. By offering rewards on both sides of the referral equation, app designers can increase the likelihood of users referring their friends or colleagues. However, it is important to strike a balance and ensure that these incentives do not compromise the profitability of the app. Temporary rewards can be released with the expectation that they are only available for a limited time.

In both community building and app design, it is important to avoid relying solely on standard social media sharing. While social sharing buttons can be useful for apps or communities where social interaction is core to the product, they can take up valuable real estate if social sharing is not a primary focus. It is important to prioritize features and functionalities that align with the core experience of the app or community. By focusing on the most important aspects, app designers and community builders can create a more streamlined and impactful user experience.

Finally, both community building and app design require a focus on steady growth. It is important to identify the main traffic sources that bring in the highest-value users and double down on making it easier for more users to come through those channels. In community building, this can involve analyzing user cohorts and measuring short-term retention to understand user behavior and optimize the onboarding process. By regularly comparing the behavior of the best users to that of churned users, community builders can identify areas for improvement and ensure that the community is ready for growth.

In app design, steady growth can be achieved by continuously evaluating user behavior and the effectiveness of the onboarding funnel. By formulating a thesis about the best possible users for the app and benchmarking their behavior, app designers can identify areas of improvement and address any issues in the onboarding process. If the app's stats are not looking great, it is important to dig in and determine whether the problem is isolated to specific steps in the funnel or distributed throughout the product. By constantly iterating and refining the app, app designers can ensure that it is ready for growth and maximize its potential.

In conclusion, community building and app design share common points and can be connected naturally. Both require a focus on understanding the needs and priorities of the current community or user base before aggressively trying to grow. By settling before exploring, nurturing the existing community or user base, finding opportunities for positive reinforcement, busting unexpected sources of friction, focusing on the best referral channels, considering double-sided incentives, avoiding reliance on standard social media sharing, and aiming for steady growth, both community builders and app designers can maximize their potential for success.