While the talk of having your own membership site continues to have its spotlight as a new business model, the plus size community has been doing this very well with their eyes closed for quite some time. Whether you visit Ning, Curvy Chicks, Club Cushions, Facebook, you’ll find tons of plus -sized related groups all networking and socializing with each other.

The only major difference is, they’re not monetized or very rarely are they profitable. So as I was brainstorming, the first thing that came to mind was the ‘tribes’ concept made popular by best-selling author and marketer Seth Godin. Then my brain started churning some more…who is best at building a community AND making money? Can you guess? Celebrities!

So if your goal is to have a thriving community of people who are excited to invest in your products and services, then here are some strategies you can use to grow your plus size community and your income too.

Expose Yourself

• Celebrities are always making guest appearances on TV, radio, on social media sites. It seems like everywhere you turn, there they are in the limelight.
• You can do the same. Incorporate guest blogging, interviews, networking events, hosting your own radio show, etc. to help get the word out about you and your community.

Gather the troops

• Celebrities have fan sites, facebook fan pages, myspace pages, concerts, book signings, etc. where their fans can get a chance to come together and connect with them.
• You can do the same. Your blog, ning groups, facebook groups, etc. are a great way to have a place of like-minded individuals to connect with each other and you too. The key is to encourage communication amongst the group members outside of the typical 1-to-many and many-to-1 model. Be a resource but also be a connector.

Put the troops to work!

• Celebrities are always asking you to vote for them here, donate to this here, come out to this event tomorrow. You get the idea.
• You can do the same. Some of the most exciting communities allow the members to advertise, share their website, submit comments/videos, vote on a poll, etc. Make your group as interactive as possible and give them the tools they need to keep the momentum going. For example, make sure to have the link, directions, and rules when it comes to voting for a particular topic.

Launch Products

• Celebrities launch clothing lines, perfumes, DVDs, CDs, toys, etc. to add multiple streams of income.
• You can do the same. You can create t-shirts, caps, information products, bags, etc. that really helps to bond the group and also build your brand. Fraternities and sororities are a great example of what it’s like for a group of people to own products that represent the community they belong to.

This is a proven model that works well for celebrities but it can work for you too. Like I said, many entrepreneurs do this successfully today and have jazzed it up as growing your  “tribes” and “membership sites” but the essentials remain the same.

P.S. Do you need help implementing these strategies for your community? Then send me an email or comment below! I’m happy to help!