The Community Field Guide for Web3

If you are one of the 108 founding members who signed up on Revue, you will receive a paid lifetime subscription.

Dec 16, 2022

1. Why this, Why now?

You’re receiving this email because you signed up for the “Minimal Viable Community Newsletter,” a new newsletter I created on Revue. Unfortunately, that platform is shutting down soon, so I have moved us to Substack to continue sharing our learnings as an indie with community building at its core!

Currently, all posts will be available for free. However, we are setting up a paid option to offer bounties and promote the newsletter in the future. If the newsletter becomes wildly successful, we may also consider paying contributors. This paid option will allow us more flexibility in supporting and promoting the newsletter and its content.
If you are one of the 108 founding members who signed up on Revue, you will receive a paid lifetime subscription.

2. What kind of community are we looking to build here

We’re on a mission to inspire you to be the spark that lights a fire and spreads change within your team!
This is a community of community builders! Our newsletter is all about building communities in the world of Web3. As community managers, we know firsthand the critical role strong communities play in the growth and success of decentralized networks, platforms, and products. That's why we've created this newsletter, to provide valuable resources and insights for those looking to improve their skills and create thriving online communities.
Each edition covers tactical and strategic approaches to building and maintaining communities, focusing on the commercial value a strong community can bring to a business. Our goal is to help community managers become more credible and effective advocates for the importance of community in the world of Web3. Whether you're a developer or a leader in Web3, our newsletter will provide valuable insights and inspiration for building strong, supportive communities. If you want to improve your skills and make a real impact in the world of Web3, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

3. You are here!

Let’s talk briefly about Web2 vs Web3 Revolutions. Web2 and Web3 refer to different phases or eras of the development of the World Wide Web.

Web2 refers to the second generation of the World Wide Web, which emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This era was characterized by the rise of social media, online collaboration, and user-generated content. Web2 technologies, such as blogs, wikis, and social networking sites, enabled users to easily create and share content online. They also allowed users to connect and collaborate in new ways.
Web3, also known as the Semantic Web, refers to the next generation of the World Wide Web, which is still developing. This era is characterized by advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to make the Web more intelligent and interactive. The goal of Web3 is to create a more personalized and seamless user experience, with the ability to understand and interpret user intent and provide relevant and tailored information and services.

In conclusion, the main difference between Web2 and Web3 is that the former revolutionized how people create and distribute content without gatekeepers—and Web3 will change how we self-organize as a society without relying on centralized power structures.

Web2 was transactional, about ownership, and tended to be a monologue to an audience.

Web2 was a significant milestone in the development of the World Wide Web, and it represented a major shift in how content was created and distributed. Before Web2, the creation and distribution of content were primarily controlled by a few gatekeepers, such as traditional media outlets and publishing companies. It was similar to the Gutenberg Printer press in that it revolutionized how information was created and distributed. It enabled a broader range of individuals and organizations to have a voice and share their ideas and perspectives with the world. With the emergence of Web2 technologies, such as blogs, wikis, and social media, the barriers to creating and sharing content online were greatly reduced. This enabled a broader range of individuals and organizations to easily create and distribute content without going through traditional gatekeepers. One of the key benefits of this revolution was that it allowed the flow of information to move faster and be more open and accessible. For example, independent journalists could use platforms like Twitter to share their work and reach a wider audience without going through traditional media outlets. This enabled them to bypass traditional gatekeepers and have more control over their content and distribution.

Web3 (you are here!) is relational, about shared success, and is a dialogue because now people expect to have input.

Web3 is the next generation of the web, characterized by advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. It promises to create a more decentralized, open internet where users have greater control over their data and online identities. Web3 technologies are tools for self-sovereignty, such as blockchain and peer-to-peer networks. This allows for greater collaboration and new business models and opportunities. However, Web3 is about much more than the technology itself — it's also about how people use new powerful tools to share success. Decentralization ultimately means more freedom of association, commerce, and expression. We can spend less time listening to large institutions and brands and more time taking action and solving their problems.

If you’re building a community, the reason why people join isn’t why they stay.

Consider an onboarding plan and increase the signal-to-noise by providing easy ways to catch up and get back into the community, such as newsletters and content. Be a good listener, so run surveys and gather feedback. Ultimately, you want to drive decisions within the community and your team, so you'll need to provide different levels of abstraction when communicating. North Star Metrics is a good example of making it easy to understand what's happening in your community's orbit and beyond it (in the Kuiper belt!).

4. Remember, certainty is the siren's call

Being overly attached to a plan or model is risky because you may fall apart when things change. Please get comfortable with uncertainty and learn to build while in flight because the map isn't the territory! A key factor is understanding how people make decisions to better influence and react. As people face tens of thousands of choices daily, decision-making can become complex and fast-moving on a community scale.

This is where the OODA Loop, a concept developed by John Boyd, can be helpful.

The OODA Loop emphasizes the importance of observation and orientation in decision-making.
It provides a framework to think about how to help people make better decisions and take more effective actions on a larger scale.
This can result in fewer resources being wasted, more opportunities being realized, and more decisions being made.
In turn, this can give individuals and communities an advantage over competitors by effectively manipulating time so that they can do more with less.

One valuable resource for understanding this concept is John Boyd's OODA Loops, which provides a framework for improving observation and orientation in decision-making. I will share that with you now here Boyd’s OODA Loop (It’s Not What You Think).