Building Digital Belonging and Strong Online Communities with Todd Nilson

🔥 Excerpt

“Community is sacrifice. You put a little of yourself into it so people can find belonging that makes their hearts grow.”

⚡ TL;DR

In this episode I sit down with community strategist Todd Nilson to explore what it really takes to build digital spaces that feel human, safe, and alive. Todd shares how his journey from recruiter and lifelong gamer to community architect shaped the way he designs online environments that fight loneliness and deepen belonging. We walk through how to plan a community, enroll early champions, set healthy guidelines, and think clearly about monetization so founders can use community as a long term asset, not a quick campaign.

📄 Show Notes

When I invited Todd Nilson into the studio, I expected a conversation about technology and platforms. What I experienced was a masterclass on belonging.

Todd opened by sharing his path into the community world. Performing arts, journalism, tabletop games and early social media all pointed him toward one big question. How do we create spaces where people feel seen and connected. That curiosity became a career in designing online communities that feel cozy, purposeful, and human.

He described the loneliness he sees in the world and how thoughtfully designed communities give people a place to land. One example that stayed with me was a large quit smoking and vaping community he helps support. Members tell him they are alive because that space exists. They find practical tools, emotional support, and grace when they slip. Hearing that reminded me why our work with founders has to reach beyond revenue into real human outcomes. 

We then dug into the work behind communities that thrive. Todd talked about sacrifice as the core of community building. You invest time, attention, and care before the benefits show up. That means clarifying the purpose of the space, talking directly with the people you want to serve, and shaping a clear journey for their first thirty days.

Todd walked me through a simple way for founders to think about community strategy. Start with a very specific niche. Speak with early members and let their needs inform programming, events, and even platform choice. Invite a small group of committed people first, your willing co conspirators, and build momentum with them before opening the doors wider.

We also talked about norms and safety. Todd sees community guidelines as a form of hospitality. When expectations are clear and modeled by early members, people relax and share more freely. That is where deeper stories, richer learning, and real loyalty begin to form.

Finally, we explored monetization. Todd encouraged founders to treat community as a long term program that supports the entire customer life cycle. That can include membership fees, courses, or premium circles inside a broader space. The key is to charge in ways that keep the community sustainable while honoring the value people receive.

For founders who aim to build stable, sustainable companies with a real sense of connection around the brand, Todd offers both vision and practical next steps.

✅ Key Takeaways

• Digital communities can ease loneliness and create powerful belonging when designed with empathy and intention.
• Community building requires sacrifice, consistent presence, and clear purpose before results appear.
• Early members set the tone, so recruit people who love the mission and will show up often.
• Thoughtful guidelines and modeled behavior create safety, which opens the door to deeper conversation and trust.
• Monetization works best when it sustains the space and aligns with the long term value members experience.

👤 Bio

Todd Nilson is a community strategist and founder of Clocktower Advisors. For more than fifteen years he has helped organizations design, launch, and manage online communities that deepen connection for customers, employees, and mission driven groups. His work spans tech firms, nonprofits, education initiatives, and large behavior change communities focused on health and wellbeing.

🧭 Chapters

00:01 Welcome and why Todd’s work matters
02:24 From journalism and performance to digital community
06:20 Online connection and the future of belonging
12:24 Games, storytelling, and the spark for community work
18:00 Leaving agency life and launching Clocktower Advisors
21:54 Impact stories and saving lives through community
24:18 What it really takes to keep a community alive
26:47 Designing a founder community from idea to experience
34:05 Guidelines, norms, and healthy responsibility
40:37 Monetization models and making community sustainable
44:03 Final advice for founders on playing the long game