Community Clubhouse: Building a Big Community as a Small Developer (+ Networking Hour)
Stage 15 - Confex Level 2
Panel
~All~BusinessCommunity ManagementPR & Marketing
Information
In today’s game industry, community isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a development asset, a marketing engine, and a critical source of feedback, all rolled into one. A strong community can make or break the success of your game. But for small teams, time and money are always limited. The good news? You don’t need a massive budget or a dedicated marketing team to build a thriving, passionate player base. What you do need is to start early, stay authentic, and show up consistently.
This talk is designed to help small developers punch above their weight when it comes to community building. Whether you’re a solo creator or a tiny studio, you’ll leave with a toolkit of actionable, low-cost strategies that can make a big impact.
This talk is designed to help small developers punch above their weight when it comes to community building. Whether you’re a solo creator or a tiny studio, you’ll leave with a toolkit of actionable, low-cost strategies that can make a big impact.
Target Audiences
Studio Leadership, Marketing Leadership, Community Leadership, Development Leadership
Experience Level
Beginner
Key Take Aways
- Why You Need to Start Now
How early community-building pays off during funding, development, and launch—and what you risk by waiting too long.
- The MVP of Community Engagement
What to post, where to post, and how to build authentic relationships without draining your time or budget.
- High-Impact, Low-Cost Tactics
Practical examples of free (or nearly free) tools and campaigns—like developer diaries, polls, Discord rituals, and co-creation contests—that drive engagement.
- Measuring What Matters
How to track and share community traction in ways that resonate with investors, publishers, and your own team.
- Avoiding the Top 5 Pitfalls
Common missteps—from silent Discords to audience mismatches—and how to steer clear of them
Session Type
Panel
