Identifying the right audience for your community is essential for its success of your community culture. It is important to understand who your community is intended for and what they are interested in. This will help you tailor your content and engagement strategies to better serve and attract the right audience.

One way to identify the right audience is to conduct market research. This can include surveying potential members, analyzing data on existing members, and studying the demographics and interests of similar communities. This research can provide valuable insights into the characteristics and preferences of your target audience.

Don’t shy away from setting up 1-1 “discovery” phone calls. I know it takes a lot of extra time, but the insights are well worth it. You can streamline the scheduling calls on specific days and hours of the week using a site called Calendly. That way you don’t get lost in a ton of back and forth emails coordinating the best time to speak.

Another way to identify the right audience is to define your community's mission and values. This will help you attract individuals who share similar beliefs and goals, and who are passionate about the topics your community covers.

Zappos popularized creating a culture though their 10 core values.

Zappos 10 Core Values

• Deliver WOW Through Service.
• Embrace and Drive Change.
• Create Fun and A Little Weirdness.
• Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded.
• Pursue Growth and Learning.
• Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication.
• Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit.
• Do More With Less.

Once you have identified the right audience for your community, it is important to stick to that target audience and not try to appeal to everyone. This means being selective about who you allow to join the community and being consistent in the type of content and engagement you offer.

Saying no to individuals who do not align with your community's target audience may be difficult, but it is necessary for maintaining the integrity and focus of your community. It is better to have a smaller, engaged audience than a large, uninterested one. Even if it means saying No to accepting a person willing to pay for membership. It’s not worth it long term.

Overall, identifying the right audience for your community and being selective about who you allow to join will help ensure the success and longevity of your community.