Taipei Blockchain Week 2024 played host to a fascinating discussion on the power of community in the Web3 space. The “Nice to Meme You” side event, co-hosted by Memecore, The Shib Magazine, Neiro, and BlockTempo, brought together a panel of experts to explore the theme: “Community is the Best Marketing Tool: How, When, and What?” Moderated by Anndy Lian, Managing Director of LIFT Ecofund and best-selling author, the panel featured Kyle, Community Admin of OG Peanut, and Russell Bennett, Founder of Metacade. The discussion offered valuable insights into how meme coins and gaming are leveraging community engagement to drive growth and create lasting value.
Building From the Ground Up: Two Different Approaches
Russell Bennett shared Metacade’s journey, highlighting the importance of community from its inception as an ICO two years prior. “Community is the single biggest reason why your project will succeed,” he emphasized. Metacade’s strategy focuses on transparency, building in public, and fostering trust within its community. By offering gaming utility and creating positive experiences, Metacade aims to attract and retain users, demonstrating that community building is not something that can be faked. “It’s clear within the meme culture,” Bennett noted, “the community identity, somewhere to turn up every day, is absolutely key.”
In contrast, Kyle from OG Peanut, a newer project, described a community built on shared experiences and personal connections. He highlighted the 24/7 voice chat where members connect on a deeper level, sharing both the highs and lows of life. “Even on the biggest red days,” Kyle shared, “I join VC and people are celebrating…a big win in life is much more important than the market cap at that moment.” This focus on genuine human connection has created a strong bond within the OG Peanut community, driving organic growth and engagement.
Bridging the Gap: Gaming and Meme Coins
Anndy Lian then explored the intersection of gaming and meme coin communities. Bennett explained how Metacade bridges this gap by allowing meme projects to utilize their tokens within the gaming ecosystem. This provides utility for meme coins while offering engaging experiences for gaming communities. “If you are a gamer, if you love the meme project that you’re in,” Bennett stated, “then you’re likely to be involved in both.” This symbiotic relationship benefits both sides, creating a win-win scenario for projects and their communities. Metacade’s commitment to supporting smaller projects, even offering grants and funding, further strengthens this collaborative approach.
Kyle echoed the sentiment of community-driven growth, emphasizing the importance of organic marketing efforts. He described how OG Peanut community members actively promote the project through word-of-mouth, sticker campaigns, and social media engagement. This grassroots approach, combined with a focus on creating viral content on platforms like TikTok, has proven effective in expanding their reach.
The Secret Recipe: Authenticity and Unity
The panelists agreed that the key to successful community building lies in authenticity and unity. For Metacade, this translates to transparency and a commitment to delivering valuable experiences. For OG Peanut, it’s about fostering genuine connections and celebrating shared moments, both big and small. Both projects emphasize the importance of putting people first, prioritizing community well-being over short-term market fluctuations.
Kyle’s closing remarks highlighted the power of unity within the meme coin space. “I think we can unite rather than divide,” he stated, advocating for collaboration and mutual support among projects. Bennett reinforced this message, encouraging projects to reach out for support and collaboration. “If you’ve got something that you need a second opinion on, get exposure on, get a leg up,” he offered, “please do contact us.”
Key Takeaways and Future Outlook
The “Nice to Meme You” panel provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Web3 communities. The key takeaways include:
- Community is King: A strong, engaged community is essential for project success in the Web3 space.
- Authenticity Matters: Building genuine connections and fostering trust are crucial for long-term community growth.
- Utility Drives Engagement: Providing real-world utility for tokens enhances community participation and value.
- Collaboration is Key: Working together and supporting each other benefits all projects within the ecosystem.
The panel’s emphasis on community-driven growth and collaboration offers a promising glimpse into the future of Web3. By prioritizing genuine connection and shared experiences, projects like Metacade and OG Peanut are building thriving ecosystems that extend beyond the volatile world of cryptocurrency prices. As Anndy Lian concluded, “Community is the best marketing tool,” and the projects that embrace this principle are poised for long-term success.
https://youtu.be/_CFQ9Mq33tg
Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.
Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.