Strategies for Re-engaging Dormant Community Members

Inactive or dormant members represent untapped potential in any community. Re-engaging them can drive growth, boost loyalty, and improve overall community health. In this post we’ll cover how to identify inactive members, craft targeted campaigns, measure success with key metrics, and leverage Bevy’s platform to automate and scale your efforts.

Why Re-engagement Matters

Re-engagement is more than win-back marketing. It’s an investment in long-term community vitality. Consider these industry benchmarks:

• Only 24.9 percent of app users return the day after install and just 9.4 percent by week two. By day 90, 71 percent have churned
  
  
• Retaining an existing member is five to 25 times cheaper than acquiring a new one
  
  
• A 5 percent lift in retention can boost profits by 25 to 95 percent
  
  
• Re-acquisition costs can run three to ten times lower than new user acquisition
  
  

These figures underscore that a strategic win-back program delivers rapid ROI and strengthens your community’s foundation.

1. Identify and Segment Dormant Members

Clear definitions and precise segmentation are vital to tailor your approach.

Define Inactivity Criteria

Determine what “dormant” means for your community. Common criteria include:

1. Last login or visit date beyond a chosen threshold (90 days, six months)
   
   
2. Lack of participation in discussions or events
   
   
3. Zero content contributions in a set period
   
   

Segment by Behavior

Group members into cohorts based on inactivity duration or past engagement patterns. For example:

• Tier 1: Inactive 3 to 6 months
  
  
• Tier 2: Inactive 6 to 12 months
  
  
• Tier 3: Inactive over 12 months
  
  

Segmentation allows you to craft nuanced messages that resonate with each group’s specific journey.

2. Craft Personalized Outreach Campaigns

Generic mass emails rarely motivate return visits. Instead, focus on personalization and relevance.

Leverage Past Activity

Reference each member’s previous contributions, event attendance, or content preferences. An email subject line like
“Alex, we miss your insights on last quarter’s strategy session”
feels purposeful and memorable.

Offer Time-Sensitive Incentives

Exclusive offers reawaken interest. Examples:

• Early access to a premium workshop
  
  
• Complimentary one-on-one coaching session with a community expert
  
  
• Community badges or recognition for returning contributors
  
  

Urgency drives action. Clearly communicate redemption deadlines to motivate prompt engagement.

Incorporate Gamification Elements

Introduce challenges or leaderboards that reward reactivation:

1. Earn points for attending an event or posting a comment
   
   
2. Unlock levels or titles as engagement milestones
   
   
3. Redeem points for community perks
   
   

Gamification leverages friendly competition and taps into members’ drive for achievement.

3. Re-onboarding and Refresh Content

Onboarding isn’t a one-and-done process. For returning members, consider a re-onboarding flow.

Welcome Back Sequence

Build a short email or in-app tutorial series that:

• Highlights new features or content since last visit
  
  
• Provides quick start tips tailored to their interests
  
  
• Offers a point of contact for questions
  
  

Highlight Community Success Stories

Showcase recent wins and member spotlights in a digest. Seeing peers achieve success reinforces value and inspires return visits.

4. Multi-Channel Engagement Tactics

Don’t rely on email alone. A multi-channel approach maximizes reach and impact.

• In-app Notifications Friendly reminders when members log in to their dashboard
  
  
• Social Walls Display member posts live during virtual or in-person events to spark FOMO
  
  
• Direct Mail In niche or high-value communities, a personalized postcard can yield a 2.7 to 4.4 percent response rate versus 0.5 percent for email
  
  
• SMS Alerts Short, actionable texts with personalized messages and links
  
  

Choose channels that align with your community’s preferences and behavior patterns.

5. Measure Success with Key Metrics

Data-driven insights show what works and guide iterative improvements.

For example, if a re-engagement campaign costs $1,000 and drives $5,000 in membership renewals, that’s a 400 percent ROI. Regularly review these KPIs to refine messaging, incentives, and channel mix.

6. Best Practices and Common Pitfalls

Follow these guidelines for maximum impact and avoid these mistakes:

• Do test subject lines, send times, and incentive types with A/B tests
  
  
• Do clean your list periodically; remove members who remain unresponsive after multiple touches
  
  
• Don’t overload members with too many messages; prioritize quality over quantity
  
  
• Don’t ignore feedback; use survey responses to adjust offers and messaging
  
  

7. How Bevy Empowers Your Re-engagement Efforts

Bevy provides an all-in-one community platform that streamlines every step of the win-back journey:

1. Advanced Member Analytics Instantly segment dormant cohorts and track reactivation progress
   
   
2. Automated Email and Notification Workflows Trigger personalized campaigns based on inactivity thresholds
   
   
3. Event and Content Management Promote exclusive re-onboarding webinars or workshops with built-in registration and reminders
   
   
4. AI-Powered Insights Surface which topics and formats drive the highest return rates
   
   

With Bevy, you can automate repetitive tasks, measure success in real time, and focus your team on crafting high-impact experiences that bring members back into the fold.

Re-engaging dormant members is not an afterthought. It’s a strategic investment that pays dividends in loyalty, engagement, and growth. By identifying precise cohorts, delivering personalized incentives, leveraging multiple channels, and measuring results rigorously, you can transform inactive audiences into active, committed community advocates. Bevy’s platform makes it easy to implement these best practices at scale and ensure your community thrives for the long term.