Engagement
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Do you use specific strategies to attract new members? If yes which ones?
Despite the open-ended nature of the responses, we successfully created a clear breakdown of strategies to attract and engage new members, as shown in the graph. The data reveals that:
Social Media Usage (34%): Platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram are widely used for promoting events, posting updates, and running campaigns with strong CTAs.
Events and Meetups (27%): Leveraging personal networks and direct recommendations remains a key driver for engagement.
Word of Mouth (20%): Organizing hackathons, bootcamps, open days, and partnering with companies or universities to host events attracts members effectively.
are the most commonly adopted methods. Collaborations, outreach, and creative approaches follow as additional strategies.
Additional Strategies Mentioned in the answers:
Collaborations: Joint events and partnerships with local communities, companies, or universities broaden reach.
Giveaways and Discounts: Offering prizes, discounts, or food as incentives to attract participants.
High School and University Outreach: Engaging younger demographics through talks, surveys, and student-focused events.
Content Creation: Creating videos, spotlighting members, and sharing valuable resources increases visibility.
Unique Formats and Added Value: Offering creative workshops, influencer spotlights, and networking opportunities (e.g., appetizers) to stand out.
Personal Outreach: Direct, personalized engagement both online and offline to build stronger connections.
Sustainability Efforts: Hosting carbon-neutral events to appeal to environmentally conscious audiences.
This structured approach demonstrates how tech communities combine traditional and creative strategies to sustain growth and engage new members effectively.
What do you actively do to decrease the no-show rate during your events?
The graph highlights the key strategies that community managers use to reduce no-show rates during their events—an ongoing and significant challenge in community management.
Hera are the top strategies:
Sending reminders via Email and SMS (13.1%) emerges as the most effective approach to keep participants engaged and confirm attendance.
Providing food and beverages (10.4%) acts as an additional incentive to encourage physical presence.
Using an RSVP confirmation system (9.5%) ensures clearer commitment from attendees.
Engagement Before the Event: Strategies like ensuring event relevance (7%), engaging participants in advance (6.6%), and scheduling at convenient times (6.6%) help align events with attendees' expectations and availability.
Creating Value and Exclusivity: Approaches such as limited capacity (5.8%), engaging event agendas (5.6%), and highlighting guest speakers (5.3%) ensure participants see the event as a unique opportunity worth attending.
Additional Measures:
Offering freebies or swag (4.4%) and attendance incentives (3.6%) provide tangible motivation.
Smaller actions like personalized communication (5.5%) and virtual participation options (5.6%) address various attendee needs.
The data shows that reminders, engagement, and value creation are at the core of no-show reduction strategies. However, even though other methods like incentives, follow-ups, and discounts rank lower, they remain important tools in a combined effort.
Addressing the no-show issue requires a mix of timely communication, added value, and participant-focused planning to ensure that attendees are not only interested but also committed to showing up.
How much it is important for your community members to have tailored training sessions/mentorship to increare their growth?
0 = not important at all, 10 = really meaningful
55,9%
of european tech communities evaluate important (score >7) to have tailored training sessions/mentorship to increare their growth.
Why?
Skill Development: tailored training helps members acquire specific, in-demand skills, aligning with community goals and individual professional growth.
Mentorship for Guidance: mentorship programs provide valuable guidance and support, especially for junior developers or members new to the community. This fosters engagement, reduces skill gaps, and builds confidence.
Retention and Engagement: offering personalized training and mentorship increases the perceived value of the community, encouraging members to stay active and engaged.
Accelerating Growth: Personalized sessions allow communities to focus on specific challenges and opportunities, ensuring members gain practical tools to contribute effectively to community growth.
Supporting Leaders: community leaders often have limited resources and time (84.2% of communities have fewer than 5 organizers). Tailored training helps equip members with leadership skills, creating a pipeline for future organizers and avoiding burnout.
In short, tailored training and mentorship foster professional development, stronger engagement, and a sustainable leadership structure, driving the overall growth and success of tech communities.
How do you engage your members?
The graph shows that tech communities employ a variety of strategies to engage their members, with a strong emphasis on activities that foster interaction, learning, and networking.
Top Engagement Methods:
Regular Meetups (16.4%) are the most popular approach, reflecting the importance of consistent, in-person or virtual gatherings to keep members connected and engaged.
Networking Opportunities (13.2%) are equally vital, as they provide members with chances to grow their professional circles and collaborate.
Conferences (9.2%) and Workshops/Training Sessions (8.7%) show that offering value-driven events focused on knowledge sharing and skills development is a key engagement driver.
Strategies such as Feedback and Surveys (5%) and Newsletters (5%) emphasize the role of continuous communication and input in maintaining engagement.
Supportive activities:
Initiatives like Mentorship Programs (4.5%), Interactive Webinars (4.7%), and Unconferences (4%) highlight the importance of creating interactive and learning-focused spaces for members to thrive.
Smaller initiatives such as Resource Sharing (3.8%), Open Source Projects (3.6%), and Diversity and Inclusion Programs (3.5%) showcase efforts to add long-term value and inclusivity.
Collaborative and Career-Focused Efforts: activities like Job and Internship Opportunities (2.6%), Collaborative Projects (2.1%), and Industry Partnerships (2.1%) support members' professional growth while fostering engagement.
Which are the triggers that foster collaboration between members?
Despite the open-ended nature of the responses, we successfully created a clear breakdown of triggers that foster collaboration between members, with a clear focus on creating connection, shared purpose, and engaging environments, as shown in the graph. The results highlight the key. Here’s a closer look at the Top 3 factors and the reasons behind their effectiveness:
1. Networking Opportunities (21.4%): networking ranks as the most important trigger for collaboration. Opportunities to connect during or after events, such as over food, drinks, or dinners, help members build relationships in a natural, low-pressure setting. These informal interactions often lead to new ideas, partnerships, or collaborative projects.
2. Shared Interests and Common Goals (17.1%): collaboration thrives when members share similar passions, goals, or challenges. Whether through discussions, projects, or mutual interests, having a common ground creates a natural bond and incentive to work together. Communities built around niche areas or specific fields particularly benefit from this dynamic.
3. Engaging Activities and Events (15.4%): events like hackathons, workshops, coding challenges, and mentorship programs provide structured environments where members can interact, share skills, and solve problems together. These activities encourage teamwork while fostering both professional growth and collaboration.
Which contents do you create to help your community members to stay updated about technologies changement?
The graph highlights the top 4 content types that tech communities create to help their members stay updated about technological changes:
In person Meetups
Articles/Blog Post
Conferences
Online webinars
Here's an explanation of the reasons behind their effectiveness:
In-person Meetups (30.5%): In-person meetups provide a direct, interactive way to share updates, discuss trends, and foster collaboration. Face-to-face engagement allows for real-time feedback, networking, and practical demonstrations, making it a highly effective format for staying informed about tech changes.
Articles / Blog Posts (22%): Written content like articles and blogs remains a powerful way to deliver detailed, evergreen knowledge. Members can access these at their convenience, and they serve as valuable resources to explain complex technologies, share tutorials, and document industry changes.
Conferences (14.4%): Why it works: Conferences bring together industry experts, thought leaders, and enthusiasts to share the latest trends, tools, and innovations. They offer opportunities for learning, networking, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies in a single, structured environment.
Online Webinars (9.3%): Webinars provide an accessible and scalable format for sharing updates with community members globally. They are cost-effective, allow for interactive Q&A sessions, and can feature industry leaders or trainers without logistical barriers.
The top 4 content typeshighlight a balance between real-time interaction (meetups, conferences), flexible learning (articles), and digital accessibility (webinars). Together, these approaches ensure community members stay informed, engaged, and equipped to adapt to technological advancements.
Which are the KPIs that makes you understand that you have an active member?
The graph highlights the key performance indicators (KPIs) that tech communities use to identify active members. The results emphasize the importance of engagement, contribution, and participation as the primary markers of activity.
Here is the top 3:
Event Participation (23.8%): this is the most significant KPI, indicating that regular attendance at events—such as meetups, workshops, and webinars—demonstrates a member's active involvement and commitment to the community.
Interaction and Engagement (19.1%): interaction through discussions, Q&A, or collaborative platforms is a strong sign of engagement. It reflects how members contribute to conversations, network, and connect with others within the community.
Feedback and Suggestions (12.2%): members who provide constructive feedback or suggestions demonstrate a higher level of investment in the community's growth and improvement. Their participation ensures a sense of ownership and collaboration.
Others KPIs are:
Knowledge Sharing (10.8%): actively sharing expertise, resources, or insights within the community highlights not only the member's activity but also their role in fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Collaboration (8.7%): members engaging in group projects, pair programming, or collaborative challenges showcase a deeper commitment to community initiatives and teamwork.
Fidelity Rate (7%): The consistency of a member's participation over time.
Advocacy and Promotion (5.1%): Members who promote the community externally are critical for growth and visibility.
Mutual Support (4.7%): Offering help or mentorship strengthens community bonds.
Original Contributions (4.5%): Unique content or initiatives add value to the community.
Leadership and Mentoring (4.2%): Members taking on leadership roles ensure long-term stability and growth.
The data highlights that event participation, engagement, and contributions are the clearest indicators of an active member. These KPIs underline the importance of consistent involvement, knowledge sharing, and meaningful interaction in building a thriving and sustainable tech community.
How many active members do you have in your community?
51,2%
of European tech communities has up to 50 active members in the past 12 months.
At the other end, only 24.6% of communities report having more than 150 active members, highlighting a significant gap between small and large communities.
A quick analysis Based on Previous Insights:
Limited Organizing Capacity: with 84.2% of communities having fewer than 5 organizers, it's challenging to scale engagement effectively. Smaller leadership teams often lack the resources to retain or grow their active membership base.
Focus on Engagement Over Size: communities prioritize interaction, knowledge sharing, and event participation (key KPIs) rather than sheer size. As shown earlier, strategies like meetups, workshops, and networking opportunities are effective but often reach smaller, highly engaged groups.
Community Challenges: factors such as no-show rates and reliance on volunteer efforts limit growth. For example, reminders and personalized engagement are critical but require substantial time and effort from organizers.
Niche and Specialized Communities: many tech communities are built around specific technologies, shared interests, or professional goals, naturally limiting the number of potential active members.
The data reflects a clear trend: the majority of European tech communities remain small but engaged, with fewer than 50 active members. While some larger communities thrive, most face challenges scaling due to resource constraints and a focus on building quality engagement over quantity.