The Outsider Test: Would You Join Your Own Community?

Take a moment. Step back from everything you've built. Forget what you know about your community—all the inside jokes, the shared memories, the carefully crafted rules and systems. Now ask yourself one uncomfortable question:

Would you join your community if you discovered it today?

It's a deceptively simple question that cuts to the heart of community building. Not just whether your community is good—but whether it's discoverable, welcoming, and compelling to the very people you want to reach.

The First Impression Test

Imagine you're browsing online, looking for people who share your interests. You stumble across your community. What do you see?

• Is your purpose immediately clear, or buried under announcements and rules?

• Does your welcome message speak to the heart of what newcomers are seeking?

• Can someone quickly understand what makes your community special?

• Are there clear paths for new members to start engaging?

Many of us put enormous effort into managing our communities but forget to look at them through fresh eyes. We know the value of what we've built, but does that value shine through to outsiders?

The Discovery Challenge

Here's an even harder question: Would you even find your community if you were looking for it today?

Think about:

• Where does your target audience naturally gather online?

• What search terms would they use?

• What problems are they trying to solve?

• How does your community appear in these spaces?

Sometimes we build amazing spaces but forget to create bridges that lead people to them. Your community might be exactly what someone needs, but if they can't find it, does it matter?

Beyond First Impressions

The reflection shouldn't stop at first impressions. If you joined your community today:

• Would you understand how to become an active member?

• Would you feel confident contributing to discussions?

• Would you see a clear path to deeper involvement?

• Would you find genuine value in the daily interactions?

These questions aren't about being perfect—they're about being intentional. Every community has room for improvement, but understanding where those improvements matter most starts with seeing your space through new eyes.

Taking Action

This reflection isn't meant to discourage you. It's meant to empower you to make meaningful changes. Here's how to use these insights:

1. Document your outsider journey

   • Try to find your community using only public information

   • Go through your onboarding process as a newcomer

   • Attempt to engage in the ways you encourage new members to participate

2. Identify the gaps

   • Where did you feel confused or uncertain?

   • What information was missing?

   • Which barriers felt unnecessary?

   • What value propositions weren't clear?

3. Make incremental improvements

   • Start with the biggest disconnects

   • Test changes with actual newcomers

   • Keep refining based on feedback

   • Maintain your community's authentic spirit while improving accessibility

Remember Your Purpose

This exercise isn't about completely reinventing your community. It's about ensuring that the value you've created is accessible to those who need it most. The goal isn't perfection—it's connection.

Your community matters. The connections you're creating matter. Make sure others can discover and experience that value, too.