Most advice on community-led growth is outdated. I'm sharing the exact, behind-the-scenes playbook we used to achieve a 7-figure exit, including the mistakes that cost us thousands and the lessons that made us millions.
The secret to explosive growth isn't what you think. It's not about hustle or hacks. It's about this one simple, repeatable system that anyone can implement.
I’ve built and sold two companies, RemoteTeam and MovieLaLa. I’ve also invested in over 200 startups, including some of the biggest names in tech like Anthropic, OpenAI, Scale AI, and Hugging Face. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t when it comes to building a thriving community around a product.
And let me tell you, most of the advice out there is garbage. It’s written by people who have never actually built a successful community. They talk about “engagement” and “vibrancy” without giving you any real, actionable advice.
Well, I’m here to change that. In this article, I’m going to share the top 5 tools we used to build a massive, engaged community for RemoteTeam, which was eventually acquired by Gusto. These are the tools that helped us go from 0 to a 7-figure exit.
But before I dive into the tools, I want to share a quick story.
When we first started RemoteTeam, we were struggling to get traction. We had a great product, but nobody knew about it. We tried everything – paid ads, content marketing, social media – but nothing was working.
We were about to give up when we had a crazy idea. What if we built a community around our product? A place where our users could connect with each other, share best practices, and get help from our team.
It was a long shot, but we decided to go for it. And it was the best decision we ever made.
Our community became the engine of our growth. It helped us acquire new customers, retain existing ones, and build a brand that people loved. And it was all because we focused on providing real value to our members.
So, with that said, here are the top 5 tools we used to build our community:
1. Discord - The Hub of Your Community
Forget about Slack. Discord is the best platform for building a community in 2026. It’s more flexible, more customizable, and more engaging than any other platform on the market.
We used Discord to create a virtual home for our community. We had channels for everything – product announcements, feature requests, bug reports, and even a channel for off-topic discussions.
But the real magic of Discord is its voice and video capabilities. We hosted weekly office hours, Q&A sessions, and even virtual happy hours. This helped us build a personal connection with our members and make them feel like they were part of something special.
One of the biggest mistakes I see startups make is treating their community like a support channel. They just answer questions and solve problems. But that’s not a community. That’s a help desk.
A real community is a place where people connect with each other. It’s a place where they feel like they belong. And Discord is the perfect platform for creating that sense of belonging.
2. Circle - The Ultimate Course Platform
If you’re serious about building a community, you need to provide real value to your members. And one of the best ways to do that is by creating a course.
We used Circle to create a comprehensive course on remote work. It was called “The Remote Work Playbook” and it was a huge success. We had over 10,000 students enroll in the course, and it became a major source of new customers for our business.
But Circle is more than just a course platform. It’s also a powerful community-building tool. It has a built-in forum, a member directory, and even a private messaging system.
This allowed us to create a seamless experience for our members. They could take our course, connect with other students, and get help from our team – all in one place.
3. Ghost - The Content Marketing Machine
Content is the fuel that powers your community. It’s what attracts new members, engages existing ones, and builds your brand.
We used Ghost to create a beautiful, professional-looking blog for our community. We published new articles every week on topics like remote work, productivity, and company culture.
But Ghost is more than just a blogging platform. It’s also a powerful email marketing tool. We used it to send out a weekly newsletter to our community with our latest articles, product updates, and community news.
This helped us stay top-of-mind with our members and build a loyal following. And it was all because we focused on creating high-quality content that our members actually wanted to read.
4. Commsor - The Community-Led Growth Platform
If you’re serious about community-led growth, you need a way to measure your success. You need to know which members are most engaged, which channels are most active, and which content is most popular.
We used Commsor to track all of our community metrics. It gave us a 360-degree view of our community and helped us make data-driven decisions about how to grow it.
But Commsor is more than just a community analytics tool. It’s also a powerful community-led growth platform. It has a built-in CRM, a member directory, and even a private messaging system.
This allowed us to identify our most valuable members and turn them into brand advocates. We created a special VIP program for our top members and gave them exclusive access to new features, beta programs, and even a private Slack channel.
This helped us create a virtuous cycle of growth. Our most engaged members would invite their friends to join the community, who would then become engaged members themselves. And it was all because we focused on building real relationships with our members.
5. SwagUp - The Ultimate Swag Platform
Last but not least, let’s talk about swag. Swag is a great way to reward your most engaged members and turn them into walking billboards for your brand.
We used SwagUp to create a custom swag box for our community. It included a t-shirt, a hoodie, a hat, and even a custom-branded coffee mug.
We sent out our swag box to our most active members, our top contributors, and our biggest brand advocates. And they loved it.
They would post pictures of themselves with our swag on social media, which would then drive new members to our community. It was a simple but effective way to generate word-of-mouth marketing and build a brand that people loved.
Conclusion
So there you have it – the top 5 tools we used to build a massive, engaged community for RemoteTeam. These are the tools that helped us go from 0 to a 7-figure exit.
But here’s the thing. The tools are only part of the equation. The real secret to community-led growth is to focus on providing real value to your members. It’s about building real relationships with them. And it’s about creating a sense of belonging.
If you can do that, you’ll be well on your way to building a thriving community that will help you achieve your business goals.
And if you want to learn more about community-led growth, I highly recommend checking out my book, “Becoming Top 1%”. In it, I share the exact playbook we used to build a 7-figure business with a community-led growth strategy. You can find it on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
Frequently Asked Questions
How has this view evolved over time?
My thinking on most topics has changed significantly over the years. Early in my career, I held many conventional views that experience proved wrong. I try to update my beliefs when the evidence changes.
Do all experts agree with this view?
No, and that's fine. The best ideas in business are often contrarian. I share my perspective based on my experience and data, but I encourage you to seek out opposing viewpoints and form your own conclusions.
What experience informs this perspective?
This perspective comes from over a decade of building companies in Silicon Valley, two successful exits (RemoteTeam to Gusto, MovieLaLa to Gfycat), and investing in 200+ startups including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Scale AI. I write about what I've lived.