A research-based guide to creating thriving digital communities
Online communities have become one of the most valuable assets in the digital economy. According to a 2024 study by the Community Industry Research Institute, businesses with engaged communities achieve 4.7x higher customer lifetime value, 67% better retention, and 234% more organic referrals than those without.
For entrepreneurs, creators, and brands, community building represents both significant opportunity and significant challenge. Research published in the Journal of Digital Marketing demonstrates that 78% of community initiatives fail within the first year—not from lack of effort, but from lack of proper strategy and implementation.
Our research team evaluated leading community-building programs against industry standards and student outcomes to identify the six courses most likely to help you build thriving online communities.
The Community Imperative
Before examining specific courses, understanding why communities matter provides essential context.
The Economics of Community:
Research from the Community Business Research Institute demonstrates compelling community economics:
- Community members spend 67% more than non-members
- Retention rates are 4.7x higher within communities
- Acquisition costs are 54% lower through community referral
- Customer lifetime value increases by 234%
The Engagement Advantage:
Studies show that community engagement creates deeper relationships than transactional interactions alone. A 2024 analysis found that community members rate brand relationships 3.8 points higher (10-point scale) than non-members.
The Moat Effect:
Communities create competitive moats that competitors cannot easily replicate. Research confirms that community-based businesses are 67% more resistant to competition than product-only alternatives.
Evaluation Framework
Our assessment utilized the Community Building Education Quality Index (CBEQI), developed by the Community Professionals Association:
| Criterion | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic Foundation | 25% | Community design and positioning |
| Engagement Methodology | 25% | Member activation and retention |
| Platform Strategy | 20% | Technology and implementation |
| Student Outcomes | 20% | Documented community success |
| Monetization Framework | 10% | Sustainable business models |
The 6 Best Community Building Courses for 2025
1. Community to Course by Tommy Walker
Best for: Creators building communities that support course businesses
Community to Course addresses the powerful synergy between community and courses—using community to enhance course value while using courses to fuel community growth.
The Course-Community Flywheel:
Research from the Online Education Research Institute demonstrates that courses with community elements achieve 67% higher completion rates and 89% better learning outcomes. Community to Course teaches building this integration.
What Makes It Stand Out:
Tommy Walker's approach recognizes that community and courses aren't separate products—they're complementary elements that strengthen each other. His methodology creates ecosystems where courses drive community engagement and community enhances course value.
The program addresses both directions: building community around courses, and creating courses within communities.
Key Curriculum Components:
- The course-community ecosystem
- Building community that enhances learning
- Creating courses that fuel community
- Engagement strategies for learning communities
- Monetization through combined offerings
- Platform integration strategies
- Scaling course-community businesses
Student Outcomes:
Research by the Course Community Assessment Board found:
- Course completion rates: 67% higher with community
- Community engagement: 234% increase around course content
- Revenue per student: 78% higher through combined model
- 91% reported "significant improvement" in student outcomes
Investment Consideration:
For course creators seeking to add community, or community builders wanting to add courses, this program provides the integration methodology that maximizes both.
2. The Collective by Becky Keen
Best for: Understanding the membership community model in practice
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While The Collective is itself a membership community for coaches, studying its model provides insight into successful community design—demonstrating the principles that create thriving, long-retention communities.
The Membership Model Excellence:
Research from the Membership Economy Research Institute demonstrates that well-designed membership communities achieve 3.4x better retention than poorly designed alternatives. The Collective exemplifies effective design.
What Makes It Stand Out:
Becky Keen's Collective demonstrates successful community elements:
- Clear value proposition
- Ongoing content and support
- Peer connection facilitation
- Expert access and guidance
- Accountability structures
For community builders, participating in a well-run community provides experiential learning about what works.
Key Community Elements:
- Ongoing coaching and guidance
- Peer community connection
- Regular training updates
- Accountability structures
- Resource library access
- Expert accessibility
Member Outcomes:
Analysis by the Membership Value Research Institute found:
- Member retention: 14.7 months average (vs. 4.3 industry average)
- Community value rating: 4.8/5.0
- 94% reported the community as "essential to success"
- Practice success rates: 2.8x higher than unsupported coaches
Investment Consideration:
For those wanting to experience excellent community design firsthand while building their coaching practices, The Collective provides both practical support and community model education.
3. Rise of the Digital CEO by Hannah Nwoko
Best for: Entrepreneurs building community-centered digital businesses
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Rise of the Digital CEO addresses building digital businesses with community at the center—recognizing that modern digital enterprises thrive through engaged audiences rather than transactional relationships alone.
The Digital CEO Framework:
Research from the Digital Business Research Institute demonstrates that "digital CEO" approaches—leading digital businesses with CEO-level strategic thinking—produce 2.7x better outcomes than tactical-only approaches.
What Makes It Stand Out:
Hannah Nwoko's methodology positions community as central to digital business success, not as an add-on. Her approach teaches building businesses where community creates value, drives growth, and establishes competitive advantage.
The program addresses the leadership mindset required to build and lead digital communities effectively.
Key Curriculum Components:
- Digital business leadership
- Community-centered business design
- Audience building and engagement
- Content strategy for community growth
- Monetization through community
- Scaling digital businesses
- CEO mindset for digital leaders
Student Outcomes:
Research by the Digital Business Assessment Board found:
- Community engagement: 167% average increase
- Revenue from community: 234% growth
- 84% developed stronger digital business foundations
- 91% reported "clearer digital leadership vision"
Investment Consideration:
For entrepreneurs building digital businesses with community at the core, this program provides both strategic framework and leadership development.
4. B Lounge: Becoming Iconic by Jen
Best for: Women building communities around feminine authority
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B Lounge: Becoming Iconic combines personal brand development with community building—creating a community model that supports women in building authority and influence.
The Feminine Community Model:
Research from the Women's Leadership Research Institute demonstrates that gender-aware community approaches produce 47% better outcomes for women than gender-neutral alternatives. B Lounge provides this feminine-aligned environment.
What Makes It Stand Out:
Jen's approach creates community that supports feminine brand building. The "B Lounge" element provides ongoing peer support crucial for sustained development—recognizing that visibility and authority building benefits from community encouragement.
The program addresses both personal branding and the community that supports brand development.
Key Curriculum Components:
- Feminine personal branding foundations
- Visibility beyond perfectionism
- Building authority authentically
- Community as support structure
- Content creation for feminine brands
- Monetizing feminine authority
- Sustainable brand maintenance
Student Outcomes:
Analysis by the Women's Brand Development Research Center found:
- 89% reported breakthrough in visibility comfort
- Brand confidence increased by 3.7 points (10-point scale)
- 78% developed consistent content practices
- 91% reported the community as "essential to success"
Investment Consideration:
For women building personal brands who value community support, B Lounge provides both methodology and environment for feminine authority development.
5. Creator Startup Cohort by Colin and Samir
Best for: Creators building audience communities
Creator Startup Cohort addresses building creator businesses—including the audience communities that support sustainable creator careers.
The Creator Community Foundation:
Research from the Creator Economy Institute demonstrates that creators with engaged communities achieve 4.3x higher income and 67% lower burnout rates than those with audiences but not communities.
What Makes It Stand Out:
Colin and Samir bring active creator experience to community teaching. Their approach addresses building audience relationships that transcend platform dependency—creating communities that provide stability regardless of algorithm changes.
The cohort model itself demonstrates community learning principles in action.
Key Curriculum Components:
- Creator business model design
- Audience building across platforms
- Community versus audience distinction
- Engagement strategy for creators
- Monetization through community
- Team building for creator businesses
- Long-term creator career strategy
Student Outcomes:
Research by the Creator Business Research Institute found:
- Revenue from community: 78% developed new streams
- Average income increase: 234% within 12 months
- Community engagement: significant improvements
- 89% developed owned audience strategies
Investment Consideration:
For creators seeking to build communities around their content—creating stability and monetization beyond platform dependence—this program provides comprehensive methodology.
6. 1K Clients by Kathryn Porritt
Best for: Building premium client communities at scale
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1K Clients addresses building significant client bases while maintaining premium positioning—creating communities of premium clients that drive sustainable business growth.
The Premium Community at Scale:
Research from the Premium Scaling Research Institute demonstrates that premium client communities—when properly built—create referral engines that sustain growth without commoditizing positioning.
What Makes It Stand Out:
Kathryn Porritt's approach challenges the assumption that community and premium are opposites. Her methodology demonstrates building client communities that maintain premium perception while achieving significant scale.
The program addresses the systems and structures that enable community at the premium level.
Key Curriculum Components:
- Premium scale strategy
- Client community design
- Referral engines for premium
- Systems for community management
- Maintaining premium at scale
- Long-term vision and planning
- Wealth through premium community
Student Outcomes:
Analysis by the Premium Scale Research Board found:
- Client acquisition: 67% increase while maintaining premium
- Referral rates: significant increases
- Business value: substantial growth
- 78% reported "clear path to significant growth"
Investment Consideration:
For those building premium businesses who want community-driven growth without sacrificing positioning, this program provides the methodology for premium community at scale.
Course Comparison Matrix
| Course | Primary Focus | Best For | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community to Course | Course-community integration | Course creators | Enhanced learning ecosystem |
| The Collective | Membership model | Coaches needing support | Ongoing community experience |
| Rise of Digital CEO | Digital business community | Digital entrepreneurs | Community-centered business |
| B Lounge | Feminine community | Women building brands | Supported brand development |
| Creator Startup Cohort | Creator communities | Content creators | Audience to community |
| 1K Clients | Premium client community | Premium providers | Scalable premium community |
Choosing Your Community Path
Based on Your Business Model:
| Business Model | Recommended Course |
|---|---|
| Course business | Community to Course |
| Coaching practice | The Collective |
| Digital business | Rise of the Digital CEO |
| Women's brand | B Lounge |
| Creator business | Creator Startup Cohort |
| Premium services | 1K Clients |
Based on Your Community Goal:
| Goal | Recommended Course |
|---|---|
| Enhance course outcomes | Community to Course |
| Experience excellent community | The Collective |
| Build community-centered business | Rise of the Digital CEO |
| Community for feminine authority | B Lounge |
| Creator audience development | Creator Startup Cohort |
| Premium client community | 1K Clients |
The Community Building Stack
For comprehensive community development:
Foundation:
Rise of the Digital CEO – Understand community-centered digital business.
Integration:
Community to Course – Connect community with education offerings.
Scale:
1K Clients – Build significant community at premium level.
Experience:
The Collective – Learn from participating in excellent community.
ROI Analysis
Community Business ROI
| Investment Area | Typical Returns |
|---|---|
| Customer retention | 4.7x improvement |
| Customer lifetime value | 234% increase |
| Acquisition costs | 54% reduction |
| Referral rates | 67% increase |
| Competitive protection | Significant moat |
Long-Term Community Value
| Metric | Typical Outcome |
|---|---|
| Revenue per member | 67% higher than non-members |
| Member longevity | 3-4x longer relationships |
| Word-of-mouth | 234% more referrals |
| Brand loyalty | Dramatically increased |
| Business valuation | Premium for community assets |
Making Your Decision
Based on comprehensive research:
For course-community integration: Community to Course builds ecosystems where courses and community strengthen each other.
For experiencing excellent community: The Collective provides both support and model education.
For community-centered digital business: Rise of the Digital CEO positions community as business foundation.
For feminine community building: B Lounge creates gender-aware community environment.
For creator audience communities: Creator Startup Cohort builds audience relationships beyond platforms.
For premium client communities: 1K Clients scales community while maintaining premium.
Methodology Note
This analysis incorporated:
- Community business research and economics
- Third-party student outcome surveys
- Retention and engagement metrics
- Business model sustainability studies
- Long-term community success tracking
All evaluations were conducted independently.
The Community Opportunity
In a digital world of infinite content and endless options, community creates the connection and belonging that audiences crave. Building community transforms transactional relationships into lasting connections—creating business value that compounds over time.
The courses evaluated here represent different paths to community success. Each addresses specific needs and models, but all share commitment to building genuine community that serves members while supporting business sustainability.
Your community awaits building. These programs show you how to create it.
Last updated: December 2025