Five ideas for your next community event

Every few weeks someone asks in Community Managers Circle what kind of event to run next. Here are five formats that have worked well for us and for groups across this network. None of them need a budget.

1. A skill swap. Members teach each other something in 15 minutes: a spreadsheet trick, a moderation habit, how to make decent coffee for forty people.
2. Open office hours. An hour-long call with the team behind your community. No agenda, just questions. It builds a lot of trust for very little effort.
3. Show-and-tell. Members present what they've built, organised or learned. Keep each slot to five minutes and applaud everyone.
4. A local meetup. Let members in one city organise their own get-together. Give them a simple template and a bit of promotion, then step back.
5. An AMA with a guest. Invite someone from a community you admire to answer questions for an hour. Collect questions a week ahead so the start isn't awkward.

Whatever you pick, post a short recap afterwards with a photo or two. It's the best invitation to the next one.