The Importance of Micro-Communities
By definition, micro-communities are groups of individuals with shared interests, passions, or values that come together to share ideas, knowledge, and support each other. However, missing from this definition is how crucial these micro-communities are to building and maintaining community. Micro-communities are nothing new, but with the advent of Web3, micro-communities have become even more important as they play a crucial role in building and shaping the decentralized ecosystem through individualized actions and using their specialized talents to highlight underappreciated elements of the community.
One of the key benefits of micro-communities in Web3 is that they create a sense of belonging and identity. In a decentralized ecosystem where trust is paramount, micro-communities provide a safe space for individuals to connect with like-minded individuals who share similar interests and values. Fitting into any community, much less one with an identity that is as initially vague as a PFP project, can be incredibly daunting due to the combination of both a financial investment and the promise of something greater. However, a strong sense of community and belonging can be a powerful motivator for individuals to contribute to the ecosystem, whether through content development, community education, or other forms of engagement.
Cool Cats are an example of micro-community development I’m personally familiar with, having been a holder from less than 24 hours post-mint. From the very beginning, the community was centered around art and positivity, where people cheered on new purchases, compared traits, and rallied behind new members of the community when cats were stolen or scammed. From there, a series of micro-communities emerged, including the Frog Gang (a closed discord for frog hat trait holders), derivative art makers, and thread makers who helped evangelize for the brand. While each of these has evolved into different groups over time, Cool Cats were able to lead the way for PFP projects by forming a community council consisting of members of each primary micro-community in their universe. By forming the Cool Cats Community Council, the community leaders and founders clearly and definitively declared that they had their holder’s best interest at heart, and wanted to most effectively get their feedback synthesized through representatives.
Micro-communities can also serve as a source of knowledge and expertise. With the decentralized nature of Web3, there is an abundance of information and resources available. However, navigating this complex ecosystem can be daunting for newcomers. Micro-communities, even if they only have one or two people, can help individuals learn about the ecosystem, understand the various protocols and technologies, and provide guidance and support as they navigate the Web3 landscape.
Continuing the Cool Cats example, CCCC members The Good Knight, TastySnackz, and RedSoxGuy each used their skillsets to synthesize information from town hall events, major changes to the community, and upcoming drop mechanics. These individuals represent a micro-community within an overarching project that arose from a need for more concise and clear communication. While correlation isn’t necessarily causation, it is of note that each of the major projects (BAYC, Punks, RTFKT, Doodles, etc) each have unofficial representatives who help them get their message across effectively to a wider audience.
In addition, micro-communities can be instrumental in driving innovation and collaboration. With a diverse set of perspectives and expertise, micro-communities can spark new ideas and foster collaboration between individuals and organizations. This collaboration can lead to the creation of new protocols, applications, and services that can benefit the entire Web3 ecosystem. One of the focuses of community councils in PFP projects is to serve as a board to bounce ideas off of, and leverage their talents to come up with new and exciting projects or to help the founding team avoid pitfalls. Full community polls are helpful for general information gathering, but by reaching out to micro-communities, you can more effectively get the perspectives of your most loyal and vocal holders and implement those changes.
Finally, micro-communities can play a crucial role in creating new opportunities for individuals and organizations. In a decentralized ecosystem, individuals and organizations are no longer restricted by traditional hierarchies and power structures, leaving a stunning amount of opportunity available to be claimed by those who want it. Micro-communities can provide a platform for individuals and organizations to showcase their skills, collaborate with others, and create new opportunities for themselves and others. Often, projects hire from within. TIMEPieces hired me, our lead developer, our security manager, and our operations director all directly from the community. The founding team identified who was actively participating and looking to go above-and-beyond for the project with no expectation of reward.
Additionally, opportunities present themselves simply by being an active participant in the project or ecosystem! Figuregot is an emerging project that arose from connections made through the Cool Cat micro-communities. Founders Ali, Winny, Jess, and Callum each participated in the Cool Cats community as it expanded, made derivative art, chatted offline, and eventually decided to take Jess and Callum’s childhood character and turn it into a 3D-rendered character that can be used as a PFP, in their fashion designs, and as an overall brand icon.
Micro-communities are an essential component of the Web3 ecosystem. They provide a sense of belonging, knowledge, and expertise, drive innovation and collaboration, and create new opportunities for individuals and organizations. As the Web3 ecosystem continues to evolve, micro-communities will play an increasingly important role in shaping its future. Therefore, it is crucial to foster and support these micro-communities to ensure the success and growth of the decentralized ecosystem.
- Tyler “Tymo” Morgan
