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

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 c...

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...

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...

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 m...

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...

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...

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 members...

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...

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 sti...

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...

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 co...

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 ho...

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 2025 What to do when your forum isn’t buzzing (esp...

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 a...

Thinking about starting a community? Or wondering why yours isn’t working the way you hoped? In this episode, I break down the top five reasons I see communities fail, based on real conversations with founders and the patterns I’ve seen across dozens of clients. From pricing mistakes to missing transformation, these are the lessons I wish every creator and coach knew before launching a membership....

Community leaders deserve a vacation too. In this episode, I’m sharing real strategies for stepping back without sacrificing connection. From member-led calls to pivoting your programming, you’ll learn how to build a culture where the community supports each other, not just you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or just ready to take a summer break, this one will help you lead your pe...

At a retreat earlier this year, I got to meet Ayman Al-Abdullah, former CEO of AppSumo. He shared the growth strategy that took their business from $3M to $84M in six years. And it all started with a Persona. In this episode, I’m breaking down what that actually means, why your “best” customer isn’t always your biggest, and how to build products, programs, and communities in true partnership with...

I haven’t talked much about AI publicly — until now. In this episode, I’m sharing the creative ways I’ve seen community builders use AI to improve member retention, automate high-touch experiences, and connect people in more meaningful ways. From custom renewal reports to member matchmaking and searchable private content libraries, I’m walking through real ideas you can borrow or build. If you fee...

Steal This Simple Event Format to Spark Real Connection Live from Boise, I’m recapping Day 2 of the Lab Offline retreat hosted by Jay Clouse — and specifically, one powerful mastermind structure you can replicate in your own programs or in-person events. We did a mix of solo reflection and small group hot seats, and it gave me surprising clarity on my next offer at Affinity. I’m also sharing why i...

This episode was recorded from my hotel room in Boise, fresh off Day 1 of Jay Clouse’s retreat for Lab members, and I had to share one big takeaway that hit hard. During a fireside chat, Nathan Barry reminded us that if you’re not interested in what you’re creating, your people can feel it. I talk about how this applies to building community, what it means to co-create with your members, and why y...

A recent CreativeMornings event reminded me how powerful it is to put yourself in the room... to follow the pull toward people, conversations, and spaces that expand you. In this episode, I reflect on how in-person connection sparks creativity, builds momentum, and supports your business in ways no algorithm ever could. If you've been feeling stuck or isolated, this is your invitation to step outs...

What does it actually feel like to be part of a great digital community? In this episode, I share a powerful question my friend Julian asked me that sparked a conversation about group chats, stickiness, and how strong community design creates a sense of home. If you’re building a space for transformation, connection, or creativity, this is your reminder that feelings matter — and that people stick...

I’m handing you the real behind-the-scenes look at how I went from fancy architecture school to building community-driven products for creator-led brands. I’ll walk you through my (very nonlinear) seven-part journey — including the moment I realized I was never meant for the corporate life, my unexpected side-gigs and cross-country moves, and how teaching UX led me to obsess over online education...

Most people collect data they never use or worse, they’re flying blind, relying on gut instinct and assumptions. In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact prompts and data audit process we used on Day 1 of the Make Smart Retreat . You’ll learn how to spot the story your data is telling you, the difference between qualitative and quantitative insights, and how to identify what’s actually w...

Your first launch won’t be perfect — and it’s not supposed to be. In this episode, I walk through a real conversation with a friend who’s building a new offer. We talk about how to approach beta testing, why you should teach and deliver live the first time around, and how to use feedback to make your product better with every round. If you're stuck trying to map the “perfect” offer before you’ve e...