Insights you're probably missing out on...

My goal with this thread is to aid founders, hiring managers, and anyone searching for community roles.
And where things go from here 💖

For context, I've been in the "web3" space for nearly two years as a creator, educator, community builder, speaker, writer, and sometimes marketer.

Here you'll find an overview of the work I've done and its impact.
https://mango-theory-002.notion.site/Riley-Blackwell-70bd2c7c73b245268fe8ade7a22c543a?pvs=4

Over the past 2-6 months I've seen an increase in a few things:

Need for dedicated community roles
Loads of Community & ___ roles (good thing)
A deep need for a community strategy that works
Many teams still all men w/ one woman 🙁

If you're a content creator reading this, here are a few learnings:

👀  More people see your content than you think
✍️  Keep going, whatever you're doing, it's working
🧘🏼‍♀️ Networking & relationship building is your cornerstone

The nature of work has changed, and so do hiring processes:

Interested in speaking with someone? Research them.
Interested in working with someone? Learn what they do.
Interested in gaining someone's expertise? Pay them.

No more wasting people's time.
Be prompt. Be respectful.

When conversations begin with:

"I read this thing you wrote and found it really insightful how you phrased ____, I'd love to hear what you think on ____"

Shows interest without "picking their brain" and, if done correctly, gives actionable insights on how they work.

Asking someone to do a project when they have an entire body of work to observe is way more helpful for you than it is for them, but is totally fair...

My suggestion: get back to them quickly, offer something in return
even if that thing is kindness 🙂

It's easier now than ever to find freelancers:

💡  Be honest
🧠  Have an idea of what you're seeking
👀  Seek out recommendations
😍  Experience matters!

Don't (only) seek out "influencers"
You're likely missing out on a lot of talent in this space...

With that said, here's where we're at...

Think beyond a single platform
Create culture, not vapor
Curate experiences
Have a strategy

^ I can help you with these things

People have asked what I'm seeking and... 🤔

I'm not sure if there is a clear answer or if there should be, but if you're interested, I would suggest checking out my recent tweets (posts) and newsletter for ideas.


You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: https://typefully.com/rileybeans_eth/zp5eUa7

Insights and Opportunities in Community

Is your community feeling stale? Do you need to distribute tasks to get people involved? Activate your members with this new role:

the Scribe ✍🏻️😈 read on for more

I've explained in a previous issue of my newsletter how scouting organizations have traditionally offered leadership roles to boys and girls.

In a lot of ways, the same systems apply to how we build community in web3.

So what is a Scribe? Here we'll cover:

📚 Origins and history
📐 Responsibilities and guidelines
🤔 Why it's useful for web3
💡 How can you get started today

The Scribe as it is known to Boy Scouts is a non-voting member of a troop yet still plays a significant role with the twist we'll be putting on it here.

They are known traditionally to record minutes during meetings, take attendance, and record troop advancements.

They also often act as a liaison between the community and core team.

The Scribe does some treasury tasks by collecting dues and payments for things like merch, etc.

What does all that mean?

Well, with Scouting think of a troop like a community and patrols like sub communities.

The Scribe would record meetings and distribute announcements to members. They would take attendance and send POAPs. They would record when members celebrate things.

Of course, all that is great but that's the bare minimum boring stuff 🤢

Let's kick it up a level by introducing new mechanics of this role

Consider this the community secretary, or better yet, your paid Varys

Not only could this person do the above administrative tasks but they would be the perfect person to scope out all the latest gossip.

Master of disguise, seeker of rumors and alpha, all-knowing, all-seeing, chaos inducing but... wholesome nonetheless, pretty please. No 🗡️🙅🏼‍♀️

They would already be recording minutes for meetings, Twitter Spaces, writing announcements, so they're the detective. The ultimate observer.

They record when members have successes and failures, birthdays and weddings. They can use this knowledge as a liaison with the team.

So how can you get started today?

Ask your favorite community manager if there are tasks you can help with. Take detailed notes on a community space and show them how you can help.

Some of my faves excel at these skills on top of their full time roles in the space:

@Majestique_eth
@chancysofancy
@emileevee
@lorrNFT
@cropcircle_eth
@web3heather

Want to be the first to read these new roles and all the creative ways to engage members?

Subscribe here 👇🏻newsletter.rileybeans.xyz

You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: https://typefully.com/rileybeans_eth/5i0BF7z

Introducing the Community Role: The Scribe

It's March 8th, and I must say a few things about today while everyone celebrates women in web3.

Happy International Women's Day 🌈💖

I've been in the space for a little over a year and a half now, and I wasn't afraid of being out as trans from the start. 🧵

This is my chance to show a whole new set of people the excellence and wonder that queer people are capable of.

To introduce myself to thousands of people who didn't know me before.

Even though politicians campaign for my eradication and taking away our rights
2/14

Today I celebrate women I've met through this magical technology who inspire me.

Starting with 👇🏻

🧟 @betty_nft

Starting strong with undoubtedly one of the most influential and rightfully most outspoken at times.

Betty gets shit done, takes names, kicks ass, all while having moved across the world for the Horde.

⚡ @lorigraceaz

Literally the first person I met in web3 who helped me feel like I could possibly belong here and make something of myself.

If you need someone to talk to about DEI, she's got you covered.

One of the best Spaces Hosts and a wildly talented photographer.

🔮 @emileevee

Emily is like if these emojis 🎲💖😜💜🪐🤗 had a baby and it tumbled into a cute little vortex.

I'll never forget she was the first person in web3 I met in real life.

She's also the energy and embodiment of @ZenAcademy as Head of Marketing 👀

🌱 @me256ow

I recently had the great privilege of speaking with Meowy and I am wildly impressed by both her developer skills and the way they have been building community at @devdaowomen

If you're looking for a developer definitely check out Meowy 🌈💖

🪬 @chancysofancy

I've gotten to know Chancy through a shared interest in niche memes 😂

But most importantly her love and care for women in the space. She truly does speak from the heart and knows her way around tough conversations.

Definitely a star ✨

📓 @AshcroftAly

I've been part of a number of community events that Aly has organized. Each of them have been engaging, creative af, and innovative.

Zines, daily practice in public, snail mail, all things that build trust and bonding, especially among fellow artists.

💃 @KimboNFT

She doesn't have a signature emoji 😂 but this woman is a freakin powerhouse.

Mom, extraordinary people connector, social media lead @decentraland and so much more.

Kim is the one you want in your corner, she's got your back 💪🏻

💓 @ineffabelle_eth

When it comes to holostic education that is all encompassing of the diverse ways people learn and receive information, she leads the pack.

I'm incredibly privileged to be her friend and work together on making this space more complete.

🐼 @0xOddrey

Black Women on the freakin blockchain 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Audrey is THE developer of some of the most intriguing stuff I've seen, from @TokenGated to @DroppingGemsNFT to multiple gaming projects.

You must go check out this cute website 🥹 the pandas https://www.nanupanda.com/

As for myself, I am a voice for community builders in web3 and founder of @together_xyz where I and dozens of others guide people of all skill levels through this career path.

Keep a close eye on that account. A shift is coming to how we build community.

If you enjoyed this thread and want to hear more from these women scroll up and RT.

DM them with new work and partnerships.

Appreciate them all days of the year, not just today or this week or this month.

And damnit celebrate all women in all their complexities.

Celebrating International Women's Day in Web3

As we kick off women's history month, let's take a moment to honor the incredible women making waves in web3.

These trailblazers serve as a constant source of inspiration, and their contributions are nothing short of remarkable.

Follow along and RT to share with others 💖

I don't believe in doing mass tags of people who I admire.

Instead, it's best to show you their direct impact on our lives and the tech, art, and people we love.

Without delay, let's get into who these magnificent women are ⬇️
(disclaimer: these are not all "influencers")

. @debsoon 🤗

Debbie, co-founder and best hugger @thehugxyz, is the powerhouse behind a community of art curators doing otherworldly shit in web3 with an army of artists and creatives.

You must check out this newsletter and all the 🔥 threads she writes https://creatorroyalties.beehiiv.com/

. @maggielove_ 💫

Maggie, the founder of @She__Fi, is educating women about what this web3 and crypto stuff is all about - she works to show that YOU can do this too, Supernova! 💪

Find out more here → https://www.shefi.org/

. @heyheyitsRP

Rachel is a recruiter and founder of @xcollectiv, co-founder @sublayerapp.

She helps women and non-binary folks in web3 find their next career move, network together, and provide comforting advice and balance to those seeking work in web3.
https://app.sublayer.com/

. @shondradanielle

Shondra is a force to be reckoned with as the founder of @Blackatxyz, who recently celebrated a year of building in web3.

The folks she's gathered are making MAJOR moves thanks to the amazing community she's built. You NEED to know her
https://www.blackat.io/

. @lagunacarta

Laguna has a mission and vision very similar to my own. She isn't a founder but works hard to de-mistify what community building and audio hosting mean to web3 users.

She also has a network outside of ETH, and you should follow her to tap into it 👀

. @EmilyLuvsCrypto

Co-founder of @FoolProofApp, providing FoolProof solutions to safeguard your NFTs.

Being friends with technically-driven women in this space has been wildly illuminating. If you have yet to hear her speak on Twitter Spaces... you're missing out!

. @eislyn_eth 🐿️

I'm a huge fan of the power of storytelling, especially with the ownership and community-driven experiences that web3 offers members.

I've loved seeing how she's built a community through world-building at @KorusWorlds and of course tons of squirrels.

That's all for today - with 30 more days left in the month, I'm sure you'll see another one from me.

I'd love to know which women in the space you admire and, most importantly, WHY! So let me know and give a RT to share these fantastic women with your network too!

You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: https://typefully.com/rileybeans_eth/jSqwg9p

beep boop here's a non-exhaustive list of incredible women in web3

You may feel lost when under pressure.

You may feel lonely when stressed.

You don't have to do it alone. Let me tell you about a few communities and people who are valuable sources of comfort.

🤗 @thehugxyz

With leadership from two of the most lovable and caring folks in the space comes one of the most helpful communities of curators and tastemakers.

The pairing of @debsoon and @randizuckerberg stewarding a rockstar team with @lorrNFT @cropcircle_eth @NicMints + more

🤗 @thehugxyz

Featuring many opportunities for community members to get involved, from curation to hosting and coordinating audio spaces for education and entertainment.

They also host an accelerator for early-stage web3 ventures called HUG Studios, led by @Michael_Littig

🎈@CPGCLUB

The value created by sharing vital knowledge and insights via the many laser-focused community channels is unmatched in many parts of the web3 space.

Founders @chriscantino and @jaimeschmidt have repeatedly proven how vital community is to crypto.

🎈 @CPGCLUB

Beyond 🧠 chats though

Take, for example, the rewards system or:

If you're a builder in the space, this is the community to pay close attention to. The CPG Accelerator program holds massive opportunities for anyone building blockchain products and services.

🌈 @MyBFF

A community is strong because of the conviction they have in one another.

The BFF community led by @jaimeschmidt @renae_eth @Ann_Xarlen and @CFair1 has a whole host of micro-community Clubs that are perfect for the creative, entrepreneur, or developer in your life.

🔮 @ZenAcademy_

Places of Zen, comfort and trusted sources of knowledge are often difficult to find online.

That's where Zen Academy comes in!

Led by @Zeneca_33 with a brilliant team of web3 kindness factories like @emileevee @praetor_eth @DancingEddie_

#zenfollowzen 🔮

🚢  @lagunacarta

Laguna is a brilliant writer of all things community and has recently been shipping all sorts of content on topics ranging from community sizes to how to be good at community moderation.

Pay close attention to her content. She is one of the leaders to watch 👀

🔒 @anonymissNFT

Anonymiss is creating a space for DAO security tooling.

You will need this type of product in the future when overall DAO tooling advances.

From hosting sensational Twitter Spaces to helping out numerous communities she's kind, resourceful, and brilliant!

🔒 @EmilyLuvsCrypto

Emily's evangelization on the need for secure shadow NFT tokens and 🧵s not only keeps community members safe, but she gives simple and actionable lessons on how to understand the technology she builds at @FoolProofApp

Hit her up to keep you safe!

🧠 @wonderwomancode and @cult_leader_en

In my mind, these two have become a dynamic duo of community goodness and a guiding light to some of the best web3 tools I use.

These two always make time for others and are both so gentle with members no matter what's going on.

I've also created this Twitter list that you can follow and view tweets from those I have notifications for 👀

https://twitter.com/i/lists/1603080014383251463

These are just a few of the best communities and people I've been inspired by lately.

You will find that following their accounts is a valuable use of your time!

If you've found this thread helpful, a kind gesture is to scroll to the top real quick and RT to share 💖

You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: https://typefully.com/rileybeans_eth/PXLIm3a

Where to Look

A Community Strategist is as, if not more important, than hiring a Community Manager.

In the new year of building, it will be all about setting yourself up for success.

Let's look at what a Community Strategist does and what they can do for you. 🧵

I'll define these two words separately and then combine them to determine how they fit into the web3 space.

I'm not here to give all the answers but my perspective, so your mileage (and opinion) may vary.

A community is a set of people who share a mutual concern or care for one another, guided by principles, identities, or values.

A community might share a mutual interest in its founder, but a cult of members worshiping said founder would be dangerous and harmful.

Strategy is not how you do a thing but how you get the desired result.

Strategy is a guideline for aligning decisions as an organization or team.

There are countless strategies, and this is just the basic definition related to this discussion.

Now that we have those definitions and ideas of community strategy let's discuss some questions you might ask yourself when determining your unique strategy.

These general questions open up the conversation that a strategist typically facilitates with a team.

Why does your community need to exist? 🤔

Here you'll answer why your members are motivated to gather.
You'll find out what sort of problem your community solves.
You'll learn what type of emotional support your community provides.

Who are your members? 🤔

Here you'll find out what your members care about, their personalities, their families, and their struggles.

This can come in the form of discovery calls or an intro channel in a community space or any other forms of observation.

Where do these members gather? 🤔

To be able to meet your members where they are, first, you need to find them. Sounds easy, but that is not always the case.

Your web3 members may gather on Twitter, Instagram, at local events, or even in VR groups. Do your research.

What do members do? 🤔

Do members of your community spend time creating art or are they musicians?
What are their careers? Will this help you with community-building efforts, and can you tap into their talents?

What are your policy, rules, and guidelines? 🤔

Will you choose to boot anyone who has a negative attitude? Will you put up with drama and play arbiter of truth?

Who decides who gets in trouble and what their penalty is?
Do you let just anyone join or only certain people?

How will your community grow? 🤔

This is where you envision scaling from friends and family members to broader audiences.

Determine if you will open up your community space after creating ample content or ship the community and create on the fly with them.

How is success measured? 🤔

What KPI will you implement and what analytics tools will you use to measure growth?

Find out what matters to you and your members. Do they care that there is a dedicated chat platform? Will you be beholden to floor price and speculation?

The NFT and blockchain space is all about collaboration, ownership of underlying technical assets on an immutable ledger, and this wild concept that everyone should have a voice in the future of the internet.

That can be facilitated in many ways so you'll have to explore them.

If you've found this helpful, a kind gesture on Twitter is to scroll to the top and RT to spread around.

If you are a founder in need of strengthening your community foundation, I'm available for work.

If you're a community professional, join my community called Together 🤝

You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: https://typefully.com/rileybeans_eth/Bf0xr3V

Community Strategy 🤝

Community themes and best practices for 2023

Including:
Events and Activations
Networking
Design and Strategy
Creative Building
Job outlook🧵

Overarching themes for 2023 community are:

Collaboration over competition
Creative freedom
Slow and patient building
Obsessive curiosity
Both critical and absurd content
Stewardship of both culture and abundance

Deeper collaboration between communities will continue to trend upward in the next year.

As economic pressure chugs along, the network effect of inviting members to collaborate and partner with other communities will be a driving force in shaping how members interact.

We've already seen the move away from the noise of speculation, constantly active social platforms that have historically been full of meaningless chatter

A movement towards a period of building and creative efforts will awaken a season of blossoming change. Patience is 🔑  here

The walled gardens of communities will slowly be broken down as the centralization within platforms dissipates.

The unlocks for the next year are found in efforts that seamlessly blend ease of use with fun, education, gamification, safety, and diversity of activations.

At the same time, we will see much more clarified and targeted brand messaging, creating sustainable community value through scaled and vertical brand universes.

Teams will begin separating their value from others to meet attention demands.

Integrations of token-enabled tools to create and build communities continue to rise as teams see incentives to business ideas become a reality and tools become more accessible.

When tools, resources, and community professionals become more accessible creative drivers succeed.

Community models see pivots in 2023 to unique gathering styles, using advanced tools to reach new member acquisition and funding.

PFP collections as community foundations are largely on their way out, while utility-focused, collective, and subscription-based memberships are in.

Content creation within communities on social media and beyond see shifts toward movement (gifs, videos, 3D animation) and attention-grabbing scroll-stoppers.

Co-creation and community participation help build loyalty and brand identity, creating organic brand champions.

Looking to upskill during this build period? Learn these things:

AI prompts
Video editing
Public speaking
Community design
Motion graphic design
Newsletter writing/editing
Partnerships and Collaborations

The key for skill building here and the theme for most emerging career paths is being a generalist.

We need people building with a wide set of skills to fill in gaps on smaller teams.

Can you create content AND develop code?
Are you a brand designer AND educator?
GREAT! 💖

Where should community professionals be seeking employment and freelance opportunity? Check these paths:

Build-your-own style roles
Community strategy and design
AI content development
Creative storytelling and brand building

Building community and learning from other professionals in the community industry are my focus for the next year.

Platforms that allow for ease of networking within smaller, more intimate pods and formations that empower communal growth.

This is where the Together community, in partnership with @xcollectiv, comes in 🤝

We will, over the year, take community education to the next level creating opportunities for web3 curious users to engage with and explore new tech, style of work, collaboration, and co-creation.

Do you agree with these trends? Do you have some to add that would be helpful to readers?

What do you hope to see from web3 communities for the next year? Let me know below 👇

You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: https://typefully.com/rileybeans_eth/IaJyOxU

Community Trends for 2023

Together project information release 💖

We're very excited to share a lot of new information today and recap some already existing information in one place. 🤝

What we'll cover:

Problems being solved and their solutions
FAQ
Community Value
Where funds go
How the community works
Design refresh and NFT preview

Problems and Solutions:

Problem:
Community builders in web3 often need more time outside of their work to devote to learning new skills and discovering new tools.

Solution:
Teamwork and co-creation offers a way to get credit for work, spending little time for the most value.

Problems and Solutions:

Problem:
We need help networking with others in the industry in meaningful ways.

Solution:
Learning experiences and unique networking opportunities will consistently be available via hybrid events, Spaces, and some IRL activations.

FAQ:

Q. Who is on the Together team?

A. Together was founded in July 2022 by Riley Blackwell (@rileybeans_eth) in partnership with the @xcollectiv team of Rachel (@heyheyitsRP) and Ashley (@AshleyG_GTO). Updates to the team roster will be added to website.

FAQ:

Q. How was Together created?

A. Together was born out of encouragement from many in the web3 community, specifically our artist @VeronicaThomp, an early advisor and strategist. Together came to life out of a love for education, diversity in web3, and epic branding.

FAQ:

Q. How do I join Together?

A. The best way to join the community is to fill out this heymint application. Once accepted, you can mint a Badge NFT and unlock all the benefits of our community. We are also releasing partner communities as we fill up.

https://heymint.xyz/together

FAQ:

Q. Who is Together for?

A. Together is built for and by community professionals of all disciplines, including social media, marketing, community managers, moderators, content writers, teachers, public speakers, etc.

FAQ:

Q. Do I need experience with community building to join?

A. Not at all. Community-curious friends are always welcome to join. You may be a founder who knows that community is important to your growth in the space but need help to launch a community.

FAQ:

Q. Is there a roadmap?

A. We prefer to lead by example through evolving efforts. We see no clear reason for a roadmap due to the ever-changing web3 ecosystem.

We see an increasing list of goals as a more accurate representation of long-term success.

FAQ:

Q. What is the official website?

A. The current website is https://xcollective.squarespace.com/together

This is where you will find the mint site and other important information. Updates coming soon!

FAQ:

Q. Is there a secret handshake?

A. Duh 🤝

Together NFT FAQ:

Q. What are the membership tiers for Together?

A. We have 4 total Membership Tiers

1.  Free member
2.  Together Genesis Badge
3.  Together All-Access Badge
4.  Together Graduate (SBT)

Together NFT FAQ:

Q. What are the benefits of holding at least 1 Together Badge?

A. Free Membership (released via Unlock, dates TBA)

• Access to a newsletter with exclusive offers and resources
• Limited access to community activations or tooling

Together NFT FAQ:

Q. What are the benefits of holding at least 1 Together Badge?

A. Genesis Badge

• Access to community-led education
• Access to a professional job network
• Community tools and resources
• Cohorts leading content creation and community design

Together NFT FAQ:

Q. What are the benefits of holding at least 1 Together Badge?

A. All-Access Badge

• All benefits of Genesis Badge
• One 45-minute chat with Together core team per month

Together NFT FAQ:

Q. What are the benefits of holding at least 1 Together Badge?

A. Graduate Badge (SBT)

• Discount on future education modules
• Access to the Community Skill Tree
• Access to the Alumni network directory and work opportunities

Together NFT FAQ:

Q. Are there benefits to holding more than 1 Together badge?

A. Holders of more than one minted Genesis Badge can gift (transfer) one 7-day membership token to a potential community member. Gifting trials are paused each month during class sign-ups.

Together NFT FAQ:

Q. wen mint? 👀

A. Jan 2, 3pm ET 🤝

Together NFT FAQ:

Q. Who are the artists for the collection?

A. Co-artists for the Together collection Veronica Thomson (@VeronicaThomp) and Maleha Arif (@maleha_arif) along with special guest artists Vanshika (@vanshikaNFT) , Lisa Chow (@lisachowNFT) , and Eislyn (@eislyn_eth)

Together NFT FAQ (disclaimer):

Utilities discussed in this thread are subject to change with sufficient notice. Items may be added or subtracted in the future, but this is the general outline at the time of publishing.

Together Community FAQ:

Q. Where does the community gather?

We first gathered in a Twitter group DM, once you own a Together NFT you can verify in the xCollective Discord.

You may also be asked to gather in other community functions in the Metaverse and token-gated platforms.

Together Community FAQ:

Q. Is Together a DAO?

A. Not a traditional DAO but we will utilize some DAO-like concepts, tools and features. At the end of the day this project is defined by web3 concepts that push the boundaries of collaboration and community on the blockchain.

Together Community FAQ:

Q. How can I get involved?

The community leads all gatherings, creations, and events with guidance from the team.

Holders can sign up for a cohort or create one by submitting a proposal. These will be used to guide and advance community efforts

Together Community FAQ:

Q. Who can I contact for a collaboration or partnership?

All collaboration requests are fulfilled by submitting a form and will be reviewed by the Partnerships Cohort currently led by Deb (@debranipp) and Sparks (@_niki_sparks)

Together Community FAQ:

Q. Who do I contact for general questions about Together?

You can send a DM to Riley or Julie (@HelloJulieBird) anytime on Twitter and we will return your message ASAP.

Community Value:

The value realized by community members, and by default, the wider web3 ecosystem, is ultimately left to the members and participants of Together.

We will do everything we can to push the community space and web3 forward with innovation and thought leadership.

Community Value:

We utilize no-code and web3 tooling to enhance the Together community and the communities we manage and work with.

Every move we strategically make makes crypto/web3 more whole, diverse, simple, and exciting for curious users.

How will funds be used?

Funds from the mint will be used to pay team members for their hard work on the project and into a treasury for future needs.

Funds from all coursework led by the community will be dispersed to guest speakers, the team, and kept in a treasury.

How will funds be used?

We are open to sponsorships and funding from partners as well, please get in touch with Riley for further information.

Sponsorship funds will be used for IRL event activations and scholarships for courses.

How does the community work?

We've been gathering, sharing resources and partnering with communities in Twitter group chat for months.

After minting our NFT we will move chat to the @xcollectiv Discord, most of our daily community work will be done in @wonderverse_xyz.

How does the community work?

The @wonderverse_xyz space will be token-gated, so without an NFT from the collection, you will not be able to participate in the activities. However, as activities and tooling are rolled out, most items will be available to the public.

How does the community work?

Cohorts based on community skills will allow members to gain experience in any field of the industry they choose.

These include Spaces hosts, event coordination, design, marketing, education, public speaking, administration, management, and more.

If you've made it this far, you're amazing, so here's your reward!

A design refresh for Together! The incredible @mrsannavargas helped put this brand guide together for us.

We're very excited to chat about the inspiration for this design.

And the moment you've been waiting for! An NFT preview reveal!

We spent a lot of time working on this *generative* design and aesthetic, and though it isn't a PFP (not necessary for our needs or community), the team is incredibly proud of this art and our future artwork ideas.

The Together community looks forward to serving web3 in all possible ways, and we couldn't be happier to be building at a time when community is more needed than ever in crypto.

Thank you for reading, and if you have any questions, my DMs are always open. 💖 🤝

You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: https://typefully.com/rileybeans_eth/F0p0PFV

Together Information Release 🤝

Discord as a community chat platform is entirely fascinating.

Some thoughts on the evolution of chat platforms as communication outlets for web3 brands as we head into 2023. 🧵

I've been a user of @discord since April 1, 2017.

Before my involvement in the web3 ecosystem, I used the platform for gaming, D&D groups, identity groups, and friend and tech communities.

I get asked all the time about my opinion of Discord.

I've managed and designed over a dozen Discord servers for various communities and tried other platforms like Telegram, Facebook, Discourse, etc.

While I don't claim to be a Discord expert, I'm adept at using the platform and maintaining it as a member of over 150 discords.

I have a lot of thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of such a platform for community gatherings.

We'll discuss:
🤔 Why I like and dislike Discord for web3 purposes
〽️ Discord alternatives to try
💻 Where I see communities gathering in 2023

We know these advantages of using Discord for your community platform:

Comprehensive moderation tools - through the use of bots
Curating a community vibe through the use of gifs, reactions, emojis, photos, and PFPs
Home base design is nearly unmatched by alternatives

The disadvantages or frustration is where most of the conversation is right now.

People and projects see Discord as an unfortunate necessity so let's talk more about how I see those frustrations.

Most of the frustrations being expressed are due to time or resource availability.

For many, a fast-moving chat platform creates psychological unease.

By this, I mean that for those users who have busy lives and want to keep up with a conversation, it's nearly impossible due to how the chats are designed.

Conversations and culture quickly become inaccessible.

In this sense, being an active member of more than 3-4 communities becomes overwhelming. Members can't keep up with conversations or events, no matter how dedicated they might be.

To be clear, these downsides aren't exclusive to Discord.

Having an active Discord also requires a fully staffed community team for which founders may need more funds during a bear market or economic downturn

At least one community manager, multiple moderators, and community builders - for a single year (should) be paid well over $200k

The problem with chat platforms, in general, is when founders recognize their importance yet aren't aware of everything that goes into creating and maintaining one effectively.

This leads to mismanagement, frustrations within the community, and often bad actors coming in.

If you are creating a web3 brand where community is your utility, which is ok in my book, you must be prepared to equip your community team with the best resources and funding.

Otherwise, your brand will fail, rug, or feel lost and misguided even with a half-baked strategy.

For web3 community teams exploring alternatives to Discord the field is getting spicy with entries like @geneva, @CommonGround_cg, @consoledao

The problem with these alternatives is that they suffer from similar issues as Discord due to the UI and being just another chat room.

There is little need for a massively populated chat room for community gatherings.

They aren't conducive to networking opportunities, they are overwhelming to most, and the UI/UX is trash for even the best platforms.

However, if you ditch Discord you must replace it.

So - the question is, how does your community gather and find connections outside of Discord if/when it's no longer working?

I and many others have talked about the need for a comprehensive community strategy that enables multiple avenues of connection and communication.

Web3 teams need to meet community members wherever they prefer to gather.

For some that may be in specialized branded apps and sites, for others it may be a homepage where members can get daily/weekly news, or it may be a newsletter, Twitter Space, or intimate group chats.

I love creating experiences along the member journey that don't immediately scale - 1:1 sessions, recorded audio/video rooms, hybrid events that use web3 functionality and token-gating, branded landing pages, and vertical marketplaces for community activations.

Experiment! 💖

Some truths:

Some people dislike the current layout of how web3 communities are structured.

Some founders in this space truthfully want a web2 experience on the blockchain and don't want to deal with community woes.

I'm not sure how far either camp will go.

Put simply, understand the community and how we interact with members or get out of the way.

There are plenty of ways community builders can and will accommodate accessibility. Still, people should at least try being part of these communities, even if that means leaving Discord.

Now, dealing with lower engagement on Discord isn't something you throw your hands up at. You can't give up there.

Community team members can use their talents in other ways by creating unique experiences catered directly to the brand.

Community builders are SO creative.

If you have questions about community platforms, I'm happy to answer in replies or privately.

Please reach out if you are looking for someone to help with community strategy 🤝

You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: https://typefully.com/rileybeans_eth/1goXUQk

Community Woes

Working in web3...

Lessons learned from:

Finding work
Navigating that work
Caring for teammates 🧵

You probably don't understand or see how much work contributors put into this space.

Workers are often burnt out, underpaid, underappreciated, and leaving left and right for various reasons on top of a poor macro market.

We must take actionable steps to be better.

Over my time in burnout land, I've lost too much weight, had too little sleep, had a spat of circulation issues, stopped dating, and was mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Now, however unhealthy all that is, I've grown because of it.

I'm much more resilient and prepared.

My first job in the space was with a company built by proven operators in other industries as well as web3.

No leader is perfect, and there's always room for improvement. I'm hopeful that they have had time to reflect on how to do and be better as a result.

Though there were expected growing pains it certainly proved the importance to founders who know how to run a business.

Letting go of resentment of any kind isn't easy.

Mentally and physically burnt out after leaving, tbh I too nearly left the space altogether.

In this role, as the person who a lot of the community heard from or recognized most, I think it's only right to say that nothing is ever rainbows and sparkles all the time.

The lesson here is that you are the only person who can support YOU best - you come first.

Hiring talented workers is incredibly hard and, at times, a make-or-break moment for projects that hinge on things getting done with efficiency, creativity, and quality.

But because there is SO much to be done in so little time, most of us work 14+hr days, weeks/months on end.

So, here are some problems I'm seeing with web3 work and thoughts on how to correct them.

We are without a doubt very early so I'd love to hear your thoughts too! Let's be open and voice concerns where we see them.

If someone is taking time out of their day to meet with you and give you advice freely and with no expectations, the least you can do is speak their name in a room full of awesome people

Add them to your network, give them resources, offer to cover breakfast for them - anything!

If you already have a product or thinking of building one and looking to get into web3, I highly suggest you look into @latecheckoutplz and @gregisenberg

The way he crafts community around products will help you understand the power of and importance of community.

More businesses are starting to see the benefits of the blockchain and the use cases outside of jpegs and animated animals.

They don't typically understand how to create community, and web2 community professionals looking in see the shit we go through. We're early.

Since there are so many projects and so few "qualified" or "proven" community professionals, we are stretched thin.

Which is why we need more of them.

We stretch our time, resources, creativity, and mental capacity for unfair wages, no equity, and unrealistic expectations.

For example: early on at projects I've been involved with the community team of 1, 2 if you're lucky, is managing discord, some socials, strategy, a volunteer team, and writing content.

If they aren't being paid well, that means some need to pick up multiple projects doing this.

Yet community professionals are to do all those things with the responsibility of being the voice of the brand in most cases - ask yourself who the hell you are if you are undervaluing this person's contribution.

If you're going through this and need help, my DMs are open. 🙏

The thing is, this isn't exclusive to community professionals, this is industry-wide.

I hear these stories from all over the space of people being used, abused, exploited, tossed aside, not supported properly, or given unreasonable workloads.

When it comes to pay, this space is largely disgraceful.

I'm open to talking about various payment methods for work because there are many but only paying someone in free mints is, in most cases, unacceptable imo.

We must ensure workers are compensated fairly.

If you're a founder without strengths in management, hire an excellent project manager or pair up with a co-founder with those skills.

It is important that team members feel supported and heard and know what success in their role looks like even with loads of ambiguity.

I have become friends with many founders in the space, they are each a wealth of knowledge.

Take time away from the hundred meetings and have open, honest, vulnerable discussions about the space so we can push the industry forward without the toxic positivity.

The diversity gap has to shift.

Men continue to be added to leadership positions, while women and diverse candidates are overlooked.

Representation is catching up; social impact communities like @TakeUpSpace_NFT, @thehugxyz, and @HoneyBadgesNFT are worth checking out.

Giving opportunities to those underserved is critical to adoption and growth.

We all know that women get the least amount of funding and diverse founders receive even less.

We can't have diversity in the space if VCs continue to overlook women and underrepresented builders.

The more opportunities we give to younger generations we will see shifts in social impact and diversity initiatives.

But we must treat these new workers and participants with the respect and patience they deserve.

Those sticking around need to be good role models.

I continue to be optimistic because I know I make a difference.

I know the power of representation and what it means to be one of the few trans people in the space.

I've seen the impact of community and how it positively affects the lives of others.

If you are a founder or team member and would like to chat in confidence or in a Spaces about these issues, my DMs are always open.

I don't want to be negative or complain which is why I try to provide solutions to problems and work with others to solve them.

You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: https://typefully.com/rileybeans_eth/3xYD9Gv