Why We Don't Chase Famous Names

It comes up a few times a year, always kindly meant: the fastest way to grow this network would be to get a famous name on board. A well-known founder, a tech influencer, someone with a big following who could post a link and bring in thousands of people overnight.

It's a tempting idea, and I've watched other communities try it. Here's why I keep saying no.

Borrowed audiences leave

People who arrive to see one person tend to leave when that person gets busy. You get a spike, a few weeks of noise and then a quieter community than before, now with a lot of inactive accounts.

It changes who feels welcome

When a celebrity is the centre of attention, everyone else becomes the audience. The member who runs a repair café in Utrecht or a patient group in Atlanta starts to feel like their posts matter less. That's the opposite of what we're building.

What we do instead

• Feature members. Every month we highlight one person's project, in their own words.
• Ask members to invite one or two people they've actually worked with.
• Show up in other communities as a helpful neighbour, not a billboard.

Growth is slower this way. But the people who join stay, and they bring the kind of conversations that made me start this place. The real stars here are the people answering newcomers' questions at midnight.

That said, if someone famous wants to join and just be a regular member, they're very welcome. The rules are the same for everyone.