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[2025 Latest] Are Your Shopify Store’s Sales Stalling? The Absence of “Fans” Might Be the Reason.

An expert’s complete guide to “Community Management” – dramatically boosting LTV without ad spend. From success stories to concrete starting steps and recommended tools. This one article will transform your store into a brand beloved by enthusiastic fans.

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Why Not Stop Pouring Money into Ads?

To you, Shopify store owner:

“My customer acquisition cost (CPA) is constantly rising…”

“Customers who buy once aren’t coming back for a second purchase…”

“I put effort into social media, but it feels like one-way communication with no real engagement…”

Put your hand on your heart—do any of these resonate? These are common concerns shared by many store owners I’ve consulted with.

Let me state the conclusion upfront: The root cause might be the absence of “passionate fans” for your brand.

In 2025, the era of simply listing good products and expecting them to sell is over. Customers have entered an age of “imi-shohi” (meaning consumption), where they pay not just for product features or price, but for the underlying story and emotional connection (meaning) to the brand.

So, how can you create fans and become a brand that customers choose and love?

The answer lies in “community management,” the theme of this article.

A community is not just a place for customer interaction. It’s the strongest engine for exploding your LTV (Lifetime Value), supporting the future of your store.

In this article, based on my experience leading numerous stores to success, I will fully reveal how to create a “community that excites fans,” including concrete steps and success secrets.

By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll have a clear roadmap for building a brand that continues to grow with its fans, without relying on advertising costs.

Why is a “Community” Now Indispensable for Your Shopify Store?

You might think, “Community sounds like a lot of work…” But once you know the benefits a community brings, you’ll want to start right away.

  • Dramatic Improvement in LTV (Lifetime Value): Community members have a deep affection for the brand, resulting in overwhelmingly higher repeat purchase rates and average order values compared to non-members. Selling limited editions or new products to the community first can even make selling out instantly a reality.
  • Spontaneous Generation of the Strongest Word-of-Mouth (UGC): Highly enthusiastic fans will spontaneously share information about your products on social media and blogs (UGC: User Generated Content). This becomes more trustworthy promotion than any advertisement, attracting new customers.
  • Free Access to Real Customer Voices: A community is the best place for market research. Real, high-quality feedback from customers, such as new product ideas or improvements for existing products, will make your store even stronger.

Many famous D2C brands overseas quickly realized the importance of community and achieved immense success. This wave is definitely coming to Japan too.

[Step-by-Step] How to Start an Engaging Shopify Community for Your Fans

Now, let’s look at the concrete steps to launch a community. It’s not difficult at all. Follow these 4 steps.

Step 1: Concept Design “Who do you want to create what future with?”

This is the most crucial step. If this is unclear, your community will lose its way.

  • Who? (Persona): What kind of customers love your brand the most? Clearly define your ideal member by visualizing their age, gender, lifestyle, values, etc., and state, “This community is for this person.”
  • What will you do? (Purpose): What do you want to do by gathering with these people?
    • Share exclusive information or development stories.
    • Exchange tips and tricks among members.
    • Co-create new products.
    • Organize online/offline交流 events.
  • What kind of place do you want it to be? (Worldview): Is it a safe, secret base-like place, or a lively clubroom where everyone has fun? Decide on a worldview that matches your brand image.

Step 2: Platform Selection 【Conclusion: Dedicated Tools Are the Strongest】

Once your concept is decided, choose the platform that will be the “home” for your community.

Free Tools (e.g., Facebook)Dedicated Tools (e.g., Circle, Mighty Networks)
Ease of Use◎ (Easy to start)◯ (Requires initial setup)
Brand Identity△ (Dependent on other platforms)◎ (Custom domain & design)
Functionality△ (Limited capabilities)◎ (Events, payments, analytics)
Shopify Integration×◎ (Customer data integration, etc.)
Asset Value△ (Subject to platform’s discretion)◎ (Customer list becomes your own asset)

While Facebook groups are an option for an easy start, if you’re serious about cultivating fans and growing as a business, implementing a dedicated tool is absolutely essential.

This is because dedicated tools allow you to “build your brand’s worldview and accumulate customer data as an asset.”

Among the many tools, I particularly recommend “Circle.”

Why is “Circle” Optimal for Shopify Stores?

  • Sophisticated UI: Beautiful and intuitive design that won’t compromise your brand’s aesthetic.
  • Shopify Integration: Links with your Shopify account, making it easy to create “purchaser-only spaces” and more.
  • Flexible Space Design: Freely design your community by dividing it into topics, planning events, or even selling online courses.
  • Data Analysis: Analyze which members are active, which content is popular, and use these insights for improvement.

Step 3: Gather Initial Members (Founding Members)

You don’t need to gather a large number of people from the start. Aim for around 30-50 highly enthusiastic individuals, and invite them carefully.

  • Existing Loyal Customers: Send a special email invitation to customers with a high number of purchases or high purchase amounts.
  • Newsletter Subscribers: Readers who consistently follow your content are strong candidates.
  • Social Media Followers: Reach out to active followers who frequently “like” and comment.

At this stage, conveying a sense of exclusivity, such as “You are a founding member,” or “We’d like you to help grow this space together,” is key to increasing participation and initial engagement.

Step 4: Content and Engagement Strategies to Activate Your Community

Once people have gathered, it’s time to start operating. Plan your content by focusing on these three elements:

  • Giving from the Operations Team (Exclusive Information):
    • Behind-the-scenes stories of new product development, even failures.
    • Product usage tips known only by insiders.
    • Community-exclusive coupons or early access sales information.
  • Member-to-Member Interaction (Horizontal Connection):
    • Always create an introduction thread.
    • Actively feature and praise member posts.
    • Pose questions like “How does everyone use XX?” to spark discussion.
  • Shared Experiences (Events):
    • Online workshops, offline meetups.
    • Member-participatory new product planning contests.
    • Monthly Zoom tea parties, etc.

The most important thing is for the “operators to enjoy it more than anyone else.” That enthusiasm will invariably spread to the members.

【Pro Tips】3 Golden Rules for Successful Community Management

Finally, here are three golden rules that you absolutely must uphold.

Rule 1: Create a Safe and Secure Space

Clearly define community guidelines and strictly address harassment or trolls. Psychological safety, where everyone feels secure to speak their mind, is the lifeline of a community.

Rule 2: Don’t Aim for Perfection

You don’t need to aim for perfect operation from the very beginning. A willingness to listen to members and gradually improve is essential. Imperfection can also be charming.

Rule 3: Don’t Expect Short-Term Results

A community needs time to grow slowly. Don’t be impatient if it doesn’t immediately lead to sales. As you continue for six months or a year, it will grow into an invaluable brand asset.

Conclusion: Your Community Will Be the “Heart” of Your Brand

In the coming era, the connection with your customers is your business’s most important asset.

Community management is not just a marketing method. It’s an activity that transforms customers from “consumers” into “partners,” creating a culture of co-developing the brand itself. It will become the “heart” of your brand, pumping warm blood throughout your entire business and driving powerful growth.

Now, you’re ready.

Why not start shaping your ideal community for free?

With Shopify, you can start building the best online space for your brand’s fans to gather, starting today. See its potential for yourself with a 14-day free trial.