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18 Comments

Is Discord becoming a viable marketing channel?

Just saw this:

Discord plans to let creators sell downloadable products

You can basically sell downloadable products to a community (such as one-time ebooks, etc.)

This is a RADICAL step imo because communities (think: reddit, etc.) have a strong association with anti-monetization (imagine selling an ebook on a reddit sub as a pinned post. Not going to happen).

Will Discord become a viable acquisition channel for indie founders?

  1. 3

    Yes, I think Discord has the potential to become a viable marketing channel for indie founders. With its recent announcement allowing creators to sell downloadable products to their communities, it opens up the possibility to convert the audience into buying customers. Although we should see how the conversion would look, I think there is a definite possibility that it can become a viable UA channel considering the engagement of the users in specific communities.

  2. 1

    Makes sense. Some platforms similar to Discord are already doing this, like Telegram for example. While both are comparing apples to oranges, and taking note that acquisition is different from marketing, I'd say Discord will most likely go through this route.

  3. 1

    Acquisition channel is not the same as marketing channel. For marketing purposes, Discord is a wonderful tool to engage and create a community around a product. I recommend any indie founder to create a server for your product, get to know your user base and understand what makes them fired up.

    But Discord is not for acquisition purposes at the moment, for the simple reason that there is no advertising allowed in the platform (nothing from Discord, nothing from third-parties). In fact, having no advertising is part of the appeal of Discord, and a reason why people pay $10/month for Nitro, or pay server subscriptions.

    Maybe this will change in the future, but at the moment Discord is the only social platform that seems to be getting things right on the monetization front.

  4. 1

    This step is win-win for everyone, both for the creators and for the Discord itself.

    All those who have a server on discord, invest into making it more popular. Creators invest time, money, to summarize the most important ones, and the chance to sell to their community, will motivate the creators to do even more to attract more users. It will take Discord to another level.

    For several months I have been using a Discord server advertising service, which I pay with my own money, but the opportunity to use the money that comes back from the community will push me to invest even more in the growth of the server, both in content and in advertising. So it's a triple win — for Discord, for the creators, and for the community members.

  5. 1

    have to pay before joining discord?

  6. 1

    I doubt if that is going to work unless it's a strongly loved Discord group.

  7. 1

    this is very interesting. This really is a trend moving towards communities that can now also be paid. Discord, Circle.. and there are tons of ways in which a community is monetizable.. think:

    • Paid memberships
    • Gated content
    • Events
    • Recruitment
    • Jobboard

    Is anyone else interested in this?? Look into Greg Isenberg's content. Any else up for a chat?? send me a message!!

  8. 1

    Yes, Discord has increasingly become a viable marketing channel for businesses and communities. Originally known as a communication platform for gamers, Discord has evolved into a versatile platform that caters to a wide range of interests and communities. Its features, such as text and voice channels, direct messaging, and server organization, make it an attractive option for marketing purposes.

  9. 1

    Does anyone has more insight on being successful with marketing on Discord?

  10. 1

    Discord's plan to allow creators to sell ehsaas program downloadable products is indeed a significant step that could potentially make Discord a viable marketing channel. Traditionally, platforms like Reddit have been resistant to direct monetization, making it difficult for creators to sell their products within those communities. However, Discord's move to embrace monetization opens up new possibilities for indie founders and creators.

  11. 1

    I wonder if a lot of people are monetising their discord communities anyway, so they've figured that they may as well make it easier for people and take a cut while they're at it.

    (The only discord chats I'm in are NFT-related, so I've not seen any downloadable product sales.)

  12. 1

    Yes, discord is awesome

  13. 1

    It's a big decision from Discord.

  14. 1

    Love discord. It was basically the community hub for so man games and crypto. I hope indie devs adopt it too.

  15. 1

    That's interesting. I started a Discord group a few months ago, but have only used it as a community builder, but having direct sells could be huge imo.

  16. 1

    Maybe too radical, don't think it is probable

  17. 1

    Definitely. A huge step for Discord IMO.

  18. 0

    Yes, Discord is becoming a viable marketing channel for businesses. Originally designed as a communication platform for gamers, Discord has gained significant popularity and expanded its user base to include various communities, including hobbyist groups, professional networks, and brands.

    Discord offers several features that make it attractive for marketing purposes. Firstly, it allows businesses to create their own servers, where they can engage with their audience in real-time. This creates a sense of community and fosters direct communication between brands and their customers or fans.

    Secondly, Discord provides various tools for content sharing, such as text channels, voice channels, and video streaming. This versatility allows marketers to share promotional materials, host live events, conduct webinars, or provide customer support.

    Furthermore, Discord offers integrations with other platforms, such as Twitch, YouTube, and Spotify, enabling businesses to connect their existing content and communities across different channels. This cross-platform functionality increases the reach and visibility of marketing efforts.

    Additionally, Discord's customization options allow businesses to create branded experiences within their servers. They can design unique server layouts, add custom emojis and stickers, and create interactive bots to engage with users. These features help in building a cohesive brand presence and fostering brand loyalty.

    Moreover, Discord's targeted messaging capabilities allow businesses to segment their audience and deliver personalized content or offers to specific groups. This targeted approach can enhance the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and improve customer engagement.

    However, it's important to note that Discord's primary purpose is not solely for marketing. It is a community-focused platform, and users generally expect genuine interactions rather than purely promotional content. Therefore, successful marketing on Discord requires a balance of providing value to the community while incorporating relevant marketing messages.

    Overall, with its growing user base and range of features, Discord has become a viable marketing channel for businesses to connect with their target audience, foster engagement, and build brand loyalty.

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