Building Communities That Stick: Retention, Loyalty, and Real Engagement

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In an age where audiences are fragmented and attention is fleeting, building a loyal community that sticks is more valuable than ever. This panel brings together community and content experts from Shake Shack, YouTube, and University of Washington (with brand experience spanning Microsoft, Disney, and Starbucks) to explore how brands can foster real engagement, boost retention, and drive long-term loyalty. From surprise-and-delight tactics and AI-driven personalization to community-informed content strategies, hear how top brands turn casual followers into devoted brand advocates—and why community should be treated as a two-way street, not a one-time campaign.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the difference between fandom and audience—and how each contributes to brand loyalty
• Explore how real-time, proactive engagement turns conversations into community touchpoints
• Learn how to leverage community feedback to shape broader content, marketing, and ops decisions
• Discover tactics for building community across both short-form and long-form content platforms
• See how personalized moments and niche alignment foster long-term retention and connection