Community as the Future of Business

David Spinks

CEO, CMX

@davidspinks

#cmxsummit

The Future of the Community Industry

#CMXSUMMIT@davidspinks

How Community Made Me Wear Girl Pants

Our identities are formed by our communities.

The context has changed in the social era.

Community isn’t just support forums any more and it’s not social media.

It’s a core part of how businesses function.

The top two reasons companies are launching communities are:

1. Customer retention 2. Fueling innovation

Source: Keys to Community Readiness and Growth Study

80% of companies consider it important to integrate core business processes into community.

Source: Keys to Community Readiness and Growth Study

Community is one of the primary catalysts of innovation, resulting

in up to 37% increase in company performance.

- MIT 2016 Study

“Community and purpose are the new sources of advantage in the Social Era.”

- MIT 2016 Study

The community industry of the last 10 years is drastically different than the community industry of the next 10 years. 

The #1 challenge community professionals face is lack of internal awareness about the value of community.

Source: Keys to Community Readiness and Growth Study

The #1 reason branded online communities fail is lack of internal support and awareness.

Source: Keys to Community Readiness and Growth Study

Businesses have become obsessed with the short run.

Community Value

3 months 6 months 12 months

Community

Advertising

Community Value

3 months 6 months 12 months

Community

Advertising

What is the future you want to create?

The CMX CORE Values

How We Can Shape the Community Industry, and the World

1. Community First

2. Optimize for Health and Happiness

3. Raise the Bar

4. Embrace Radical Communication

5. Wear Girl Pants

Onward!