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Community building glossary

Knowledge-based engagement

Creating interactions and activities centred around sharing and learning within the community.

Communities are not only social spaces. At their best, they are engines of learning, exchange, and growth. While social interactions create bonds, it is often knowledge-sharing that makes communities truly valuable and sustainable.

Knowledge-based engagement refers to the deliberate creation of activities, discussions, and opportunities that centre on sharing insights, skills, and experiences. When knowledge becomes a driver of participation, communities transform from simple networks into powerful ecosystems of learning.

What is knowledge-based engagement?

In simple terms, knowledge-based engagement means:

Designing interactions that encourage members to exchange what they know
Facilitating conversations that surface unique expertise or lived experiences
Creating learning pathways and activities that help members grow together

Rather than focusing purely on social connection or transactional participation, knowledge-based engagement builds deeper, more meaningful interactions that provide lasting value.

Why knowledge-based engagement matters

Builds collective intelligence

Every community contains untapped expertise. By encouraging knowledge sharing:

Members learn from each other
Solutions and best practices spread organically
The community becomes smarter as a whole

Deepens participation and retention

People are more likely to stay engaged when:

They feel they are learning and growing
They see opportunities to contribute meaningfully
They recognise the community as a trusted knowledge resource

Knowledge-based activities foster commitment and long-term involvement.

Reduces barriers and silos

Encouraging knowledge sharing helps:

Break down cliques or insider groups
Make expertise more accessible to new or less experienced members
Create more inclusive and open environments

Knowledge sharing promotes equality and accessibility.

Drives relevance and value

Communities need to offer more than chatter. When members gain tangible, useful knowledge:

The community becomes essential to their professional or personal development
They are more likely to return regularly
The community’s brand and influence are strengthened

Types of knowledge-based engagement activities

Peer-led discussions and Q&As

Encourage members to:

Share experiences and answer each other’s questions
Host "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) sessions
Create discussion threads on specific topics

Peer-to-peer exchange is informal but highly effective.

Expert workshops and live learning

Bring in internal or external experts to:

Host webinars, panels, or live workshops
Run deep-dive sessions on specialised topics
Facilitate live demonstrations or case study reviews

Structured learning events build excitement and drive participation.

Resource sharing and curation

Enable members to:

Share articles, guides, templates, or tools
Create collaborative lists of recommended resources
Curate best practices or lessons learned into central repositories

Communities become hubs for practical, easy-to-access knowledge.

Challenges and knowledge games

Gamify learning with:

Quizzes and knowledge challenges
Community contests based on shared knowledge
Learning journeys with milestones and rewards

Interactive formats make knowledge sharing fun and social.

Mentorship and skill-building programmes

Formal or informal mentorship models allow:

Experienced members to guide newcomers
Members to build connections while sharing expertise
Knowledge to be transferred in a more personal, relationship-driven way

Mentorship strengthens bonds and accelerates growth.

Best practices for knowledge-based engagement

Make sharing easy and frictionless

Provide templates, prompts, and clear formats for contributions
Use accessible platforms and channels
Recognise and showcase contributions

The easier it is to share, the more members will participate.

Balance structured and organic sharing

Plan formal sessions and activities
Allow space for informal, spontaneous exchanges
Create diverse opportunities to suit different styles and preferences

Both formal and informal knowledge contribute to a vibrant ecosystem.

Encourage diversity of voices

Invite contributions from members at all levels of experience
Actively reach out to underrepresented groups
Celebrate different perspectives and approaches

Communities thrive when everyone feels they can share and be heard.

Monitor and evolve knowledge activities

Collect feedback on engagement formats and topics
Adjust activities based on participation and relevance
Continuously surface and promote valuable contributions

Knowledge-based engagement should adapt to the community’s evolving needs.

Challenges of knowledge-based engagement

Member reluctance to share

Some members may:

Not see themselves as experts
Lack confidence or time
Prefer consuming rather than contributing

Create safe, supportive environments and offer gentle encouragement to unlock participation.

Knowledge overload

Without curation and structure, too much information can overwhelm members. Use:

Tags and categories
Summaries and highlights
Clear signposting to key resources

This keeps knowledge accessible and useful.

Maintaining ongoing momentum

One-off activities can generate spikes of engagement, but sustaining interest requires:

Regular scheduling of knowledge-based events
Rotating formats to maintain freshness
Celebrating and rewarding ongoing contributions

Knowledge engagement should become part of the community’s rhythm, not an occasional add-on.

Final thoughts

In a world where communities compete for attention, knowledge-based engagement creates lasting value.

It transforms a community from a passive gathering of people into an active, thriving network of learners, teachers, and collaborators.

By designing thoughtful, inclusive, and diverse knowledge-sharing experiences, community leaders:

Increase member retention
Strengthen bonds between members
Build reputations as trusted hubs of expertise

Ultimately, knowledge-based engagement creates the conditions where members do not just participate — they invest, grow, and help shape the future of the community.

FAQs: Knowledge-based engagement

How is knowledge-based engagement different from regular community engagement?

Regular community engagement may focus on social interaction, entertainment, or general participation, such as posting updates or reacting to content. Knowledge-based engagement, however, is intentionally centred around sharing, learning, and applying insights. It encourages deeper contributions that add value and promote learning within the community.

What types of communities benefit most from knowledge-based engagement?

While all communities can benefit, knowledge-based engagement is especially valuable in:

Professional and industry-specific communities
Educational and learning communities
Product or developer communities
Peer support groups

Anywhere members come together to solve problems, share expertise, or advance knowledge is ideal for this approach.

How do you encourage members to share knowledge if they do not see themselves as experts?

Many members may undervalue their knowledge. To encourage sharing:

Create low-barrier opportunities, such as quick tips or lessons learned threads
Highlight and celebrate everyday contributions
Use prompts and guided formats to make sharing easier
Foster a culture that values participation over perfection

Normalising casual and imperfect knowledge sharing helps increase engagement.

Can knowledge-based engagement be scaled as a community grows?

Yes, but it requires thoughtful structure. To scale effectively:

Use categories, tags, and search functions to keep information organised
Empower members to take on roles as facilitators, mentors, or knowledge curators
Implement systems to surface and highlight valuable content regularly

This prevents information overload and ensures continued accessibility.