Hey there, Creator!
Thanks for tuning in, and welcome if you're new to this corner of the internet. I never take your time and attention for granted, and I'm grateful you're here.
Someone forwarded this? 💌Subscribe to get it fresh, every Tuesday.
Missed an issue? 💬Catch up on past essays.
Curious what else we’re building? 💡Insane Media lives here.
Want your campaign in front of our creator community? 📌Reach out here.
🌀 TL;DR
Tribalism is the human drive to belong, and it’s rocket fuel for creators. 🚀
A healthy “us” makes your community magnetic; a vague or toxic one drives people away.
Do it right, and your promotions run on autopilot because your tribe becomes your loudest advocate.
✅ The quick answer: Build your tribe by naming it, creating rituals, not excluding others, and spotlighting members.
Some communities just feel magnetic. 🧲 You sense the collective energy, the inside jokes, the shared vibe. They don’t just attract — they pull you in and keep you there.
That’s the magic of tribalism. It’s the primal drive to belong, to share, and to rally around identity. Harness it, and you unlock loyalty, momentum, and word-of-mouth promos that money can’t buy.
Of course, tribalism has a dark side (more on that later), but done right, it’s your best tool to turn casual followers into true fans. 🤩
Why tribalism works
At its core, tribalism taps into social identity theory, which says that the groups we join shape how we see ourselves.
Everyone belongs to something. And yes, everyone is part of a group of some kind, even introverts. Whether it’s your roommate, family, or followers, you are the company you keep.👥
Tribalism is helpful for creators because it creates a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) sense of “us versus them,” which increases group solidarity. With this principle, rituals (even small ones like a weekly sign-off or inside joke) reinforce belonging.
Tribes catalyze identity, meaning, and action. When people feel part of something bigger than themselves, they’re more likely to engage and champion it. As a creator, the better you leverage tribalism, the more likely you are to build a long-lasting fan base.🏟️
… but sometimes tribalism works too well
The same “us vs. them” that bonds people can also create drama. 😤
If your “tribe” vibe is vague, cliquey, or confusing, people feel left out instead of invited in. Suddenly, your community looks more like a gated club than a movement. When tribalism lacks clarity, it breeds toxicity, power plays, or apathy.
What you want is the opposite: a tribe that includes, uplifts, and welcomes.🤗
Supported by Wispr Flow
Wispr Flow lets you:
Dictate scripts, captions, and outlines 4x faster than typing
Capture ideas mid-scroll, mid-walk, or mid-shoot—hands-free
Speak in your own words, while Flow auto-formats into clean text for YouTube, podcasts, and newsletters
Stay focused on creating, not correcting typos
Creators trust Wispr Flow to keep them in flow when producing content, batching ideas, or building digital products.
👉 Try Wispr Flow today and turn every thought into publish-ready content.
4 hacks for building a healthy, magnetic tribe
Ready to put tribalism to work? Here’s how to channel it without the cringe or toxicity.
1. Identify what unites you
Remember, you’re building a movement, not a moment. Your people need a rallying cry to unite them in a shared cause. 🤝
Take children’s creator Ms. Rachel: she’s known for kid-friendly videos, but her deeper cause is raising awareness for child welfare. She’s built a community of folks concerned about something important, and that goes way beyond cutesy videos about potty training, doesn’t it? 👶
Identify what unites your audience. Here are a few examples:
Curiosity: “We believe curiosity is a superpower. Every post and project is about asking better questions.”
Authenticity: “Our mission is to create without filters—messy drafts, honest stories, and unpolished wins included.”
Growth: “We’re here to get 1% better every day, together.”
Play: “We make things because it’s fun. Period.”
Resting: “We reject hustle culture and champion creative energy that lasts.”
You get the idea.
Whatever your rallying cry is, make it clear and repeat it everywhere — your bio, website, and sign-offs.
2. Create mini rituals and symbols
Close-knit communities will naturally create little rituals and symbols without realizing it. 🕯️If you’ve ever made up an inside joke or secret handshake, you’ve participated in a mini ritual.
Every tight-knit community develops little rituals and artifacts: inside jokes, nicknames, and shared language. These create shared meaning, and people adopt them as part of their identity.
Try:
Giving your community and members a creative name
Creating weekly content themes like “Talk About It Tuesday”
Using branded emojis 🦖or shorthand phrases
Making DIY merch or crafts for giveaways
Just explain your rituals and symbols enough so new members can join without feeling lost.
3. Don’t gatekeep, bestie
Exclusivity can bond people, but leaning too heavily on it can turn your fun tribe into an oppressive cult.🦹🏻♂️
Instead:
DO run limited-time events or early access.
DON’T lock out new members.
DO welcome diverse thoughts and backgrounds.
DON’T create toxic enemies. 🤼 Instead, unite against shared challenges like procrastination, burnout, or “the algorithm. That way, “us vs. them” energizes your people without excluding anyone.
4. Encourage member-generated meaning
Every tribe has its leader (you!), but it won’t work if you’re running the show solo. Communities only work when members participate and lift each other up.
Encourage more member ownership by:
Asking members to create content: Co-created content deepens ownership, and members become champions, not just consumers. 🌟
Highlighting member stories: Prompt community members to share “why I’m part of this tribe” stories. This reinforces the emotional pull of belonging and helps others recognize themselves in your tribe.
Creating a few titles: Not everyone should just be “a member.” Invite moderators, cheerleaders, curators, or ambassadors. 👑 Titles — even informal ones — create status ladders, and status fuels identity inside tribes.
Create micro-challenges: Run small, repeatable challenges (e.g., “7-day reel sprint” or “One doodle a day”). They give members a way to act together, producing momentum and reinforcing the sense that “we do things as a tribe.”
The bottom line
Tribalism works not because it excludes, but because it gives people a place to belong. Your community should feel like a digital home that’s uplifting, energizing, and meaningful.
But it requires intentionality. Left unchecked, communities can sour fast.
Here’s the truth: numbers matter less than connection. Build for belonging, and the metrics follow.
So, what will your tribe be known for?
👉 Your move: Audit your community this week. Do you have a rallying cry? A ritual? Pick one tactic, test it, and watch casual followers transform into committed members.
How's the depth of today's edition?
As always, hit reply if something in here hits home.
P.S. If you want to get a feature about your own IP, reply to this email. If you’d like to reach our newsletter audience (founders, creators, and marketers), click the button below.
If you’re new here, I’m over the moon you’ve joined us! To help me craft content that’s actually useful (and not just noise in your inbox), I’d love it if you took 1 minute to answer this quick survey below. Your insights help shape everything I write.
✨ Insane Media is more than one voice
Dive into our other newsletters - where psychology meets the founders, e-commerce marketing, Human resources and AI trends.
