How do you move beyond clicks and follower counts to create a space your listeners and viewers actually want to be part of? On this episode of First Frame, hosts Jennifer Park and Cameron Zinger take a deep dive into the topic of community-building, with the help of Stephanie Dacre, the creator of The Shroom Boom, and Ryan Fisher (aka Dandy), an Emmy-winning actor and drag performer. They each share how they’ve fostered growing, vibrant, engaged communities, both online and in-person. From responding thoughtfully to DMs to hosting unique in-person experiences, Stephanie and Ryan reveal strategies that go beyond likes and clicks to create meaningful engagement. They also discuss managing burnout, lessons learned from flopped content, and whether it’s better to post consistently or take intentional breaks. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your bond with your audience, this episode is packed with actionable insights on fostering authentic relationships that are sure to keep your own followers coming back for more.

Timecodes:

(2:20) - Stephanie Dacre & Ryan Fisher’s individual creator origin stories

(5:49) - Followers vs. community: what actually builds an engaged audience?

(8:53) - Creator burnout: how to stay consistent without losing yourself

(10:59) - Biggest community-building mistakes creators make

(12:20) - When your content flops: how successful creators respond

(16:14) - The cutting room floor: content regrets, editing mistakes & lessons learned

(18:51) - How to make your online community feel seen & valued

(21:50) - Proven community-building strategies that actually work

(28:44) - Best advice for creators who want to build a real community online

(34:18) - Final reflections for creators