In the Orbit Model, a community is a network with a mission. The mission and network act as sources of gravity, pulling members into orbit and holding them there. Members move toward the center as commitment and connectedness increase.
The Orbit Model is a framework for building high-gravity communities that excel at attracting and retaining members. The model was created in 2014 as a tool to help community and developer relations teams multiply their impact and communicate business results. Since then it has been used by thousands of organizations to be more intentional in how they plan, organize, and scale their communities.
The Orbit Model is a complement to the sales and marketing funnel. It is a different metaphor that works better for the more intricate challenges of community building. While the funnel has a single goal and tries to push everyone toward it, the Orbit Model recognizes multiple goals and allows members to pull themselves toward the level of involvement that's right for them.
What is a community? The Orbit Model defines a community as both:
Or for short, a network with a mission. By looking at the intersection between the community as both a mission and a network, the Orbit Model unlocks powerful insights that make community leaders more effective.
The Mission: Center of Gravity
The Orbit Model and the Funnel