Increasing Member Engagement from Day One for your Coworking Space

So, you've built a beautiful coworking space. The coffee is top-notch, the Wi-Fi is lightning-fast, and the chairs are ergonomically designed. But here's the hard truth: people don't stay for the furniture. They stay for the community.

A lack of connection is the number one reason members leave a coworking space. They can get a desk and internet anywhere; what they're paying you for is the environment, the network, the feeling of belonging. If a new member doesn't feel connected within their first few weeks, the churn clock begins to tick.

Building that engagement isn't black magic; it's a deliberate strategy that starts the moment a new member walks through the door.

1. The Onboarding Isn't a Tour, It's a Welcome

The first day sets the tone for a member's entire experience. Don't just hand them a keycard and point to the toilets. Make them feel seen, welcome, and instantly part of the fabric of the space.

• Walk and Talk: Give them a proper tour and introduce them to at least three other members by name. Don't just point out who sits where; make a real introduction. "Sarah, this is Tom, he's just joined. Tom's a freelance graphic designer. Sarah runs a small PR agency." This simple act instantly breaks down barriers.

• The Welcome Pack 2.0: A branded mug is nice, but a truly great welcome pack includes offers from other members. A voucher for a free consultation from the marketing agency on the third floor, or a discount from the web developer by the window. This fosters internal commerce and connection from the get-go.

• An Instant Win: Start their membership with a gift. A simple "Your first coffee from our café is on us" or "Enjoy a free hour in a meeting room this week" is a powerful gesture. It’s an immediate demonstration of value.

2. Engineer Serendipity: Make it Easy to Mingle

You can't force friendships, but you can certainly create the conditions for them to blossom. Don't leave interactions to chance.

• Themed Socials: Friday beers are a classic, but they don't appeal to everyone. Mix it up. Think "Wellness Wednesdays" with a 20-minute guided meditation, "Lunch & Learn" sessions where a member shares their expertise, or a monthly board game night.

• New Member Breakfast: Once a week or fortnight, host an informal coffee and croissant morning exclusively for people who have joined in the last month. It's a low-pressure way for newbies to meet other newbies.

• Use Your Space: Create zones that encourage interaction. A communal lunch table, a "quiet car" for focused work, and a more social "café" area allow people to choose their level of interaction and find their tribe.

3. The Tech That Turns Coworking Space Engagement into a Habit

Running all these events and initiatives is one thing, but how do you encourage repeat participation and reward the members who are actively building the community alongside you? A clipboard and a pen won't cut it. You need a smart, simple system that works for you and your members.

This is where a platform like meed becomes your secret weapon for community building.

• Gamify Participation with STAMP by meed: Forget flimsy paper cards. Imagine a digital stamp card on your members' phones. You can reward any behaviour you want to encourage. For example:

  • "Attend 5 of our 'Lunch & Learn' events and get a free day pass for a guest."

  • "Book 10 hours of meeting room time and get one hour free."

  • "Check in to our Friday Social 4 times and get a free drink at the bar."

  
  

  STAMP by meed turns participation into a fun and rewarding habit. It’s a tangible way to thank your most engaged members and incentivise others to get more involved.

  
  

• Make it Effortless with CHECK-IN by meed: So how do you track all this without running around stamping things yourself? With CHECK-IN by meed, you can create a unique QR code for any event or location. Members simply scan the code with their phone to check in. It’s frictionless for them and automates the entire process for you. When a member checks into an event, they can automatically receive their digital stamp. It's seamless.

Together, these tools create a powerful ecosystem. You can effortlessly manage event attendance while rewarding the very members who make your space a vibrant, thriving community.

Ultimately, an engaged member is a loyal member. They stay longer, they recommend you to others, and they become the heart of the community you've worked so hard to build. By combining a thoughtful engagement strategy with smart, simple technology, you can lock in that loyalty from day one.