On 2025-04-09T04:00:00Z, members of our Customer Success Team hosted the Getting Buy-In for Your Community webinar, focused on how to build internal and external support for your community and make it a strategic priority.
Watch the Replay
Key Takeaways
Buy-In Scorecard
Want a quick way to assess your current level of community buy-in?
Check out the Buy-In Scorecard shared during the webinar to identify your strengths and areas for improvement.
(This is a quick, fun resource put together by the CS Team. It’s not a formal diagnostic—just a helpful starting point to reflect on where you are today and where you might want to go based on your community goals.)
Leadership & Stakeholder Buy-In (60 Points)
- At least two key stakeholders are aware of your community’s purpose. (20 points)
- You have a defined business case that aligns with company goals. (15 points)
- You have a set time to revisit and discuss the business case with leadership. (10 points)
- Your community has a dedicated budget or resources. (10 points)
- Your community’s goals are connected to at least one KPI. (5 points)
Member Buy-In & Engagement (40 Points)
- It’s easy for members to determine your community’s purpose. (10 points)
- New members are welcomed with clear guidance and prompts to join conversations or explore key topics. (10 points)
- Your community has an engagement strategy. (10 points)
- Members (or admins/moderators) actively contribute and interact. (10 points)
80-100: Strong Buy-In
Your community is well-supported by leadership and members. Keep nurturing relationships and demonstrating impact!
60-79: Moderate Buy-In
You have some key support, but there are gaps to fill. Strengthen your business case and engagement strategies.
40-59: Needs Improvement
Your community may lack leadership backing or strong engagement. Prioritize stakeholder conversations and member involvement.
Below 40: At Risk
Without stronger buy-in, your community may struggle with funding, visibility, or engagement. Focus on building relationships and proving value.
Office Hours
After the webinar, we continued with live office hours—and the questions kept coming! This part of the session is definitely worth a watch if you’re facing similar challenges in your own community.
Here are a few of the great questions we tackled:
- “What should I do if leadership supported our community at first, but now no one’s engaging?”
- “How can I become a better community manager?”
- “What if I keep hitting a wall with buy-in, even though I really believe in the community?”
- “How do you handle a situation where a key member leaves and takes part of the group with them?”
- “Do you have any stories about teams that started with no buy-in and turned it around?”
- “What’s something new in Discourse that you’re excited about?”
Jump to the Q&A portion in the replay if you’re looking for real-world ideas, encouragement, and a little honesty about what it takes to build internal and external momentum.
