What is Community?

Community is a word that has taken on various meanings over time. If I were to ask you what community means to you, what would you say? What words come to mind when you think of community? 

For many people, the word community brings up thoughts of connection. A close-knit group of people who share a common bond and interest. You may form a community with your neighbors, school, or group of friends. Community has changed rapidly with the rise of today’s digital age as more and more people connect and collaborate online.

For the purposes of this post, I will specifically focus on online communities. An online community, for a company like PandaDoc, is a place where our users can come together to collaborate, share best practices and tips, and support each other. It is about coming together to achieve common goals. Online communities can take many forms and have many distinct places to gather and connect. For example, there are online communities that exist within the realm of social media exclusively and various online forums. While others take a more hybrid approach, with a mix of online community servers and chats and in-person user gatherings. 

A community is more than just a group of people with a common interest. It is also about creating a sense of belonging and shared identity. It is about fostering a sense of connection and camaraderie that can be difficult to find in our increasingly digital world.  When it comes to product-driven communities, however, it is about empowering users to take ownership of their experience with the product and to help others do the same.

If you’ve never participated in PandaDoc’s Community, today is a great day to start. You may think you have nothing to contribute, but you may be surprised by what you have to offer and what you can learn from other members of the community. 

Have you ever been a part of an online community for a company (other than PandaDoc)? What was your experience like? Did you find it helpful and supportive? Or did you feel like you were just another user in a sea of users? We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences and learn what we can do to better serve you.