How to Turn Your Ordinary Discord Server into a Business

Discord is now more than simply a platform for gamers to communicate; it's a vibrant community place where people with similar interests can interact. What began as a basic chat app for gamers has developed into a powerful platform which fosters interaction, socialising, and content creation. You can transform a basic Discord server into a profitable business that makes money and offers value to its members with a little creativity and effort.

In this blog, we will delve into essential steps that will guide you in transforming your ordinary Discord server into a thriving and profitable business venture.

Define Your Niche and Audience

As touched on in my previous article, you need to figure out a target audience with a defined niche or topic.By identifying a specific area of interest and understanding the preferences and needs of potential members, you can create a focused and engaging community. This clarity allows for tailored content, positioning the server in its chosen niche and attracting the right audience seeking specialized interactions.

To find the right niche for your Discord server, first, think about what you really love and are good at. It could be anything like games, music, art, tech, fitness, or a special hobby you really care about.

Next, it's important to know your audience well. Take time to research and understand the preferences, needs, and problems of the people you want to invite to your server. As your community grows, you can continue to refine your content and offerings based on feedback and changing needs, ensuring that your Discord business remains relevant and continues to provide value to its members.

Create a Professional and Welcoming Server

When making a business Discord server, how it looks and works is important. Make it attractive, neat, and easy to use. Use the right names and categories for channels so people can find what they want easily. Set clear rules to keep the server friendly and respectful for everyone.

Use Discord's role system to give different roles to members based on their involvement or contributions. This can encourage people to participate more and recognize those who are dedicated. Controlling permissions ensures that only relevant people can access specific content and features.

Create a friendly and informative welcome message for new members. This message should tell them about the server's purpose, rules, and available resources. A good onboarding process helps new members feel welcomed and informed right from the beginning.

Here's an example from VALORANT's server:

Offer Exclusive Content and Services

By offering unique and valuable benefits to premium or paid members, you create a sense of exclusivity and motivation for users to invest in your community. These exclusive perks may include access to specialized channels, premium-only content like behind-the-scenes updates and advanced tutorials, early announcements, or one-on-one sessions. Such offerings demonstrate a higher level of engagement and dedication, fostering loyalty and commitment among your community members and encouraging them to support your business's growth.

These also contribute and give members a compelling reason to upgrade to premium or paid memberships. People are more likely to invest in your server if they feel they are getting something special and valuable in return.

1. Early Access and Sneak Peeks: Give premium members early access to new features, upcoming content, or announcements before they are released to the general public.
2. Personalized Support: Offer one-on-one support or coaching sessions to premium members, addressing their specific needs and providing personalized guidance.
3. Premium Content: Create high-quality content like e-books, guides, or video tutorials that are exclusively available to premium members.
4. Access to Exclusive Private Channels: Create exclusive channels where premium members can have more intimate discussions, access behind-the-scenes content, or receive exclusive updates.

It's important to strike a balance between the free content you offer to all members and the exclusive content for paying members. The goal is to entice members to upgrade to premium tiers while still providing value to those who may not be able to or prefer not to pay for the premium features. By curating compelling exclusive content and services, you can build a loyal and engaged community that supports your Discord business and helps it thrive.

Collaborate and Network

Expanding your network is crucial for the success of your Discord business. Collaborate with other server owners or influencers in your niche to cross-promote each other's communities. This mutually beneficial arrangement can lead to a substantial increase in members and exposure for your server.

Cross-promotion also nurtures a sense of comradery amongst communities, creating a supportive ecosystem where members may find multiple channels catering to their interests. As you share and engage with other servers, you build relationships with like-minded individuals, potentially leading to future collaborations or valuable insights to enhance your own community.

When it comes to successful collaboration, you gotta find genuine partners who share your interests and content. Look for servers or influencers who connect with their audience in an authentic way. Team up and support each other by promoting each other's stuff and providing value to your members. It's like building a cool network that benefits everyone and boosts your Discord business in the community. 🤝😎

Analyse and Adapt

Regularly analyse server metrics, member engagement, and feedback to identify areas for improvement. Be open to making necessary changes and adaptations to cater to your community's evolving needs. A dynamic and flexible approach will help you stay relevant and appealing to your target audience.

Listening to your community's feedback is equally important. Encouraging open communication with your members and taking their suggestions and concerns into account creates a sense of ownership and involvement among the community. Actively seeking feedback through polls, surveys, or tickets can help you better understand your members' preferences.

Conclusion

Just so you know, success won't happen overnight. Turning your Discord server into a booming business takes time, patience, and a real dedication to serving your members. So, nurture your community, make meaningful connections, and always strive to get better.