How to Handle Low Community Engagement (+ why it might be perfectly fine)
You've poured your heart into creating an amazing online course or membership site. You're posting regularly in your community, sharing valuable content, and waiting for the likes and comments to roll in. But instead of a chatty community, you're met with... crickets.
Your immediate thought? "I'm failing. No one likes this. It's not working."
Hold that thought. We’ve helped countless creators build successful online programs and we’re here to tell you why low engagement might not be the red flag you think it is.
The Silent Majority: Understanding Lurker Culture
Most of your members are probably lurkers, and that's completely okay. We both confess - we’re lurkers, too. Put us in an in-person workshop front row center, and we’re the ones asking questions and soaking up every detail. But in an online space? We both transform into observers. We read everything, process it all, but rarely feel compelled to drop an emoji or write "Great post!"
And guess what? There are tons of people just like us.
The 2025 Reality Check
It's not 2015 anymore. Back then, online communities were novel and exciting. People would eagerly jump into every "Welcome Wednesday" or "Share Your Win" thread. Today? We're all members of multiple online spaces, and community fatigue is real – especially post-pandemic.
This doesn't mean online communities can't thrive. They absolutely can. But success in 2025 looks different than it did a decade ago. You can't just tack on a community feature and expect magic to happen. The days of "if you build it, they will engage" are over.
Value Doesn't Always Equal Visible Engagement
You don't know what someone is getting from your offering unless they tell you. And here's the kicker – they might be getting exactly what they need without ever making a peep.
Think about it this way: Out of 100 videos in your program, what if someone only watches two? Your first instinct might be to see this as a failure. But what if those two videos were exactly what they needed? What if they're watching those same two videos repeatedly, implementing the strategies, and getting massive value?
Some people even find value in simply knowing they have access to your content or expertise. It's like having a safety net – they might not use it every day, but knowing it's there brings peace of mind.
The Community Conundrum: To Have or Not to Have?
If you're running an online program, you might be wrestling with whether to include a community component. Here's our take: It depends entirely on your business model and audience.
Some businesses thrive on community engagement – it's their central hub, their main attraction. But forcing a community aspect when it doesn't naturally fit? It never works.
Consider your audience:
Are they introverts or extroverts?
How busy are they?
Is your topic sensitive or private?
Are they new to the space or seasoned veterans?
The answers to these questions should guide your community strategy.
The New Member Effect
New members are typically your most engaged community participants. They're excited, they're introducing themselves, they're "shaking their tail feathers". This energy is fantastic – but it's also temporary.
As members settle in, their engagement often naturally decreases. This isn't a bad thing; it's just the natural evolution of their journey. Your long-term members might pop in occasionally to mentor newcomers or answer questions, but they're not going to play "share your favorite breakfast food" games anymore.
Setting Clear Boundaries
One often-overlooked aspect of running online communities is the importance of ground rules. People tend to be bolder (and sometimes brasher) behind a keyboard than in real life. Whether you're discussing business numbers or sensitive personal topics, clear guidelines about acceptable behavior and information sharing are crucial.
The Bottom Line
Before you spiral into "my program is failing" territory because of low engagement, remember:
Engagement metrics aren't always accurate measures of value
Silent members might be your most successful ones
The online community landscape has evolved – your expectations should too
Know your audience and build accordingly
Instead of making assumptions, gather real data. Ask for feedback regularly. Make it safe and easy for members to tell you what they need. But most importantly, don't let low engagement numbers shake your confidence. Your impact might be much bigger than your engagement metrics suggest.
Remember: Base your thinking on facts, not feelings. Your members might be getting exactly what they need – they're just doing it quietly.
And sometimes, that's perfectly fine.
RESOURCES:
Teach on Marvelous
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