How to Build an Inclusive Community: Key Principles & Tips
Inclusion is not just a buzzword - it’s the foundation of a healthy, growing community.
Inclusivity is the DNA of any thriving community. If you are building a space for others - whether it’s around a brand, product or a shared interest; you need to create an environment that feels welcoming, safe and non-judgemental.
But how does inclusion actually look like in practice?
Following are some of the simple and powerful principles to keep in mind:
Set clear values in your community guidelines
Be explicit about what your community stands for, and what it will never tolerate. People feel safer when they know the boundaries and expectations upfront.
Use inclusive language
Avoid jargon. Avoid complex terms and buzzwords. Avoid anything that could make someone feel excluded. Keep your communication simple, kind and easy to understand.
Represent different voices
Make sure that your content, events and leadership reflect the diversity of your audience. Inclusion starts with visibility.
Design for all kinds of participation
Not everyone is ready to be active and post on day one. Build some low-effort interactions within your community. For example, people will easily vote on polls, add likes or click ‘follow’ button on user profiles.
Ensure accessibility
Focus on simple design, readable fonts, alt-text for images and keyboard-friendly navigation. It makes your community welcoming to diverse set of people and especially people with disabilities.
Moderate with empathy
Train yourself and your moderators to look out for subtle bias or exclusion. Sometimes people do not even realise that they’re being unkind.
Keep listening and adapting
Inclusivity is a process, not a checkbox. Conduct regular surveys and seek feedback from your users. Ask them how they feel and watch for who’s engaging and who’s missing.
Express something that you’ve done or seen that helped make your community more inclusive. Drop your thoughts below. We all can learn from each other’s experiences.
