The PERFECT time to launch your community
You’re probably closer to being ready than you think
This is something I see in people who want to start a community, but don’t feel ready to take the leap. 👇
They are really smart, capable, established experts. Expert attorneys, psychologists, authors, fill in the blank.
But community founder is a new role. With new skills to learn. And the pull of perfection is hard to resist.
So they postpone their launch again and again, because there’s always something that’s just not quite perfect yet.
They say, “Oh, I’ll launch after I fix my landing page…after I’ve built some more resources…after I nail the PERFECT marketing plan…”
Perfection is alluring. I feel it, too.
Imagine the pressure I felt when I launched The Hive last month. As a community strategist who studies community best practices, I’m in the middle of embracing the less-than-perfect early stage that every community goes through.
Starting from scratch will never be perfect. Not in an early-stage business, not in an early-stage hobby, and certainly not in an early-stage community.
When website expert Kelsey Gilbert-Kreiling visited The Hive to talk about building great websites, one of the key takeaways from her talk was, “Just start”.
Don’t worry about making it perfect before you unveil it to the world.
In fact, there’s not even any point in worrying about perfection. Because your community or business is going to grow and change and evolve over time no matter what.
Launching with an imperfect landing page isn’t such a big deal when you recognize that, perfect or not, that page is going to change. And so is your marketing plan. And so are your resources.
A community is an organic thing - it is literally made up of people. And living things grow and change. That’s their beauty.
If you’re waiting until you’re 100% ready before you launch, you might wait forever.
Meanwhile the people who need your insights, your encouragement, and your community are going without.
Who is missing out while you wait for perfect?
Here’s a little clip of Kelsey’s talk. I hope it inspires you as much as it inspired those of us in the room:
Imperfectly yours,
P.S. Still hesitating? Let me help you muster up the courage you need. Schedule a call if you need to gain clarity, get feedback, or have someone with an outside perspective confirm you’re ready. ☀️
Kelsey Gilbert Kreiling is a seasoned entrepreneur, Squarespace expert, and author known for her transformative impact in the digital world. With a passion for web design and a flair for disruption, Kelsey has cemented herself as a trailblazer at the intersection of technology, creativity, and empowerment.
As the co-founder of a cutting-edge agency, Week of the Website, Kelsey has spearheaded the creation of over 800 Squarespace websites, redefining the way businesses approach their online presence. Her visionary leadership has disrupted the male-dominated tech landscape, paving the way for inclusivity and innovation. Kelsey's commitment to empowering others led her to pen the comprehensive guidebook Squarespace from Signup to Launch, a resource that equips designers, entrepreneurs, and beginners with the tools to craft captivating digital narratives.