Happy New Year {{first_name}}!

May your 2026 build on all the lessons, insights, and growth you gained in 2025 and may it be your best year ever!

On Monday, I started sharing my story with you by going back to the beginning when I thought I had it all (twice) and then the rug got pulled from under me, both times. I shared how I went from employee to entrepreneur at the end of my 10 year career in the DC Public School system.

The story on Tuesday left off with me being forced to take my event business and wellness brand Bliss House to the virtual world. At the time, Zoom was just beginning to explode onto the market and platforms like MeetUp were making it easy to host online events.

This was the beginning of building a community online and also my first email list. And my first time hosting my own online event (outside of a job or client work).

This is what I want to encourage you to do this month: host an online event to engage your community.

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If community is our greatest asset, then engagement is how that asset grows.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to engage an online community is by hosting a live event: webinar, workshop, or even a social event. Not a massive production. Not a multi day summit. Just a focused 1 hour experience where people show up, learn together, connect, and leave with clarity.

Momentum is built when people gather in real time.

A live event creates a shared moment.

People are no longer passive readers. They become participants. They ask questions. They hear other voices. They see they are not alone.

That shift changes the relationship.

An email list turns into a communication channel.
A newsletter turns into a conversation.
A brand turns into a community.

You do not need complex tech to start.

I host my workshops using Zoom because it removes friction. Most people already know how to use it. It works on any device. It allows for face to face interaction, screen sharing, chat, and recording.

That is enough.

A live event does not need to be perfect. It needs to be clear, welcoming, and intentional.

For scheduling, registration, and reminders, I use Luma.

I usually schedule a 1 hour workshop, but this format works for almost any type of event.

Luma makes it easy to:
• Create a clean event page
• Collect registrations
• Send reminders automatically
• Share the replay and get feedback if you choose

The goal is to reduce effort for both you and your community so participation feels natural.

Community does not grow through teaching alone. It grows through interaction.

Here are 10 online event ideas that work across industries and audiences.

These events are not about delivering content. They are about creating connection.

Here is where things get interesting.

My live workshops are not just an event. They are a content engine.

I record the session and download the transcript. That transcript becomes raw material. I use ChatGPT or Manus to repurpose this into all types of content.

You do not have to reinvent anything.

Start by reviewing the transcript and looking for patterns:
• Questions that came up more than once
• Moments where people leaned in
• Explanations that landed clearly
• Stories that sparked engagement

From there, the workflow is simple.

A single workshop transcript can become:
• A newsletter issue
• Several short form posts
• A blog article
• A follow up email
• A resource or guide
• Future workshop ideas

You are no longer guessing what to create. Your community already told you.

When people see their questions reflected in your content, they feel seen.

When they recognize their language in your writing, they feel included.

When they attend a workshop and later receive thoughtful follow up content, trust compounds.

This creates a loop.

Live engagement informs content.
Content drives deeper engagement.
Community strengthens over time.

The biggest mistake is waiting.

Waiting for a bigger list.
Waiting for perfect slides.
Waiting for confidence.

Community grows through action.

Host the event.
Invite your people.
Show up with what you know.

The rest will evolve.

One hour. One room. One shared experience.

That is how online communities become real.

That’s all for now,

Christel

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