Using Community to Turn Virality into Longevity | Lonnie Marts

Meet Lonnie Marts, the creative mastermind behind the viral content series God and Gabriel! Lonnie knows that when it comes to turning content into your career, it's not just about going viral - it's about building a brand that can withstand the test of time.

Lonnie recognized early in his content journey that in order to build longevity, he couldn’t just focus on growing an audience. He wanted to build a community as passionate about his work as he is.

That's when he turned to Discord.

HOW LONNIE'S SERVER WORKS

Home to over 1,000 people, Lonnie views his Discord server as the place to bring the best minds of his audience together.

"It's almost like a high octane fan club," he says.

Discord allows Lonnie’s audience to be creative alongside him, and form connection that goes deeper than the comment section allows for.

While Lonnie's content might be what drew members in initially, it's the fun and lively community  that keeps them coming back for more. In the server, members talk about everything from art, to sports, to their careers.

For Lonnie, these ongoing conversations have expanded his creativity.

He even uses his server as a listening tool to communicate with fans in real-time and co-create content ideas. For example, Lonnie has a video series where he react to the best memes shared on Discord.

FROM CONTENT CREATOR TO COMMUNITY CULTIVATOR

But building a successful community doesn’t always come overnight. According to Lonnie, it’s important to create a space that feels unique to your brand as a creator, and sometimes that takes testing new strategies. Lonnie shares that he struggled particularly in figuring out how to engage with his audience in a community space.

"Figure out what works for you," he advises. "Experiment with different types of content and communication in your server. I feel like it’s an ongoing journey for me, but it’s just important to just take the first step. I still feel like I am still constantly finding new ways to engage with my community, and that’s what keeps it fun.”

So, if you're a creator looking to build longevity, take it from Lonnie:

"Building and sustaining a community is crucial in your career as a creator. Having a space for your community will not only help you connect with your audience on a deeper level but also serve as a support system in refining and expanding your brand!”

If you're ready to take your creator game to the next level, you can use Discord’s creator template to start building your very own community. We can’t wait to watch your brand soar to new heights!