6 cited strategies that worked for startups in building communities at an earlier stage:

• Building a scalable community for the brand's marketing value
  Building up thought leadership and customer advocates.

• Quantifying a support community
  Get your existing customers the help they need with a support  community.

• Create a flexible community
  “You build community in human time” not in “internet time.” ~ Chris Pedregal, founder of Socratic. Be agile and constantly evolve.

• Align community with your brand's core values
  Read up on best practices with resources from industry leaders.

• Measure your community’s
  value with customer retention.

• Hire a community manager
  Dedicate someone to owning and growing your community.