10.1 Outpost #

Before anyone joins your community, they need to find your outpost.

Your community doesn't exist until people know it's possible. That's the job of your outpost.

Think of it like a speakeasy. The real experience is inside. But the sign out front is what gets people to knock.

Your outpost is the public-facing signal that something real is happening. It lives outside your platform. It works before and after your pop-up. It outlasts your launch.

This isn't just a technicality. It's strategy.

Your outpost could be a simple landing page. A recorded preview event. A manifesto that explains your why. A teaser that builds anticipation. A resource that showcases your expertise.

The key is separation. Your outpost must exist outside your community platform.

When Facebook changes its algorithm, your outpost survives. When Discord changes its pricing, your outpost remains. When your platform disappears, your outpost stands.

Place your outpost where your people already gather. Runners won't find you in gaming forums. Entrepreneurs won't discover you in knitting circles. Parents won't stumble across you in singles' bars.

Sometimes your pop-up community is the outpost. A weekend retreat that points toward a year-long program. A free workshop that introduces your full membership.

Remember, your outpost isn't about selling. It's about signaling. Let people know that what they're seeking exists.

Build it. Place it wisely. Let it guide your people home.