Set a defined end date

Before you build anything, decide when your community ends. Most communities fail because they try to last forever. You can't sustain that.

Set a timer. A weekend. A month. Whatever makes sense. The constraint matters more than the length.

Here's why: an end date creates urgency. People show up because missing it means missing it permanently. There's no archive to catch later. That pressure actually works in your favor—it forces people to engage now instead of deferring.

An end date also gives you permission to experiment. You're not locked into supporting this forever. You can try something, see what works, gather feedback, and do it differently next time. Each iteration teaches you something. Run ten of these, and you'll know far more than if you tried to build one perfect permanent community.

The limitation also makes the experience itself better. Members know it's temporary. That scarcity changes how they participate. They're more likely to show up, contribute, and connect with others because the window is real.