Building an audience is one thing. Building a community that keeps showing up year after year is something else entirely.
Mike Potter has spent two decades growing the For Mac Eyes Only podcast and the last ten years turning those listeners into the thriving community behind MacStock Conference & Expo. In this conversation, he shares the lessons he's learned from creating an event people genuinely want to return to.
Mike explains why the best communities are built around shared experiences instead of endless content, how unplanned hallway conversations often become the most valuable part of an event, and why authenticity matters more than chasing someone else's engagement strategy. Whether you're dreaming about hosting your first meetup or creating a stronger connection with your audience online, you'll come away with practical ideas for building something that lasts.
Key Points:
- Start small. Meetups and mastermind groups can grow into thriving communities over time.
- Design events around connection, not just presentations. The "hallway track" often creates the biggest impact.
- Give people space between sessions so conversations can happen naturally.
- Traditions and recurring rituals help transform attendees into returning community members.
- Partnerships create stronger long-term relationships than traditional sponsorships.
- Perfection isn't the goal. Great communities remember the experience, not the small things that went wrong.
- Invite passionate people to share what they care about most instead of assigning topics.
- Stay true to your own communication style instead of copying someone else's community strategy.
Resources:
MacStock Conference & Expo: Website | Youtube | Mastodon
For Mac Eyes Only: Website | YouTube | Mastodon
Zac Brown: Website | Podcast
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