The Real Reason Members Ghost After Joining Your Free Community (and how to fix it)
If you’ve ever launched a free community, you know the drill. You’re hyped. Members flood in, grab your lead magnet, and for a moment, it feels like your community is buzzing. But then, silence. Conversations stop. Posts go unanswered. Your community turns into a ghost town. 👻 So, what’s going wrong? Here’s the uncomfortable truth: the problem isn’t your members. It’s your lead magnet. Most community admins make the same mistake—they think a good lead magnet is just about attracting members. Sure, it gets them in the door, but what happens next? If your lead magnet doesn’t keep them engaged, they’ll grab the freebie and vanish faster than a Snapchat message. Think about your lead magnet for a second. Is it: 1. A downloadable checklist? 2. A free PDF? 3. A basic resource? If so, it’s no wonder members aren’t sticking around. These types of lead magnets are great for initial attraction but terrible for retention. Why? Because they’re transactional. Once the member gets what they came for, there’s no reason for them to stay. You want members to feel like they’re part of something bigger, something worth sticking around for. Here’s how: 1. Instead of “Download this guide,” try something like “Join the 30-Day Challenge to Hit $10K in Revenue.” This sets a clear, exciting goal that keeps members engaged long after they join. 2. Once members join, use the golden window to build connections. Recognize them with shoutouts, drop unexpected tips, or ask questions that invite participation. People stay where they feel seen and valued. 3. After your members achieve their first goal, give them the next one! For example, if your lead magnet was a 30-day challenge, invite them to an exclusive group or mastermind for advanced strategies. Keep them moving forward. I worked with a community that had this exact problem. Their lead magnet was a free list of content ideas. Members joined, downloaded it, and ghosted. We switched things up by launching a 30-day content creation challenge. Each week, members got personalized tips, recognition for their progress, and mini-rewards for participating.