Basically, a brand community is a group of people who possess a common interest in a brand. But a powerful brand community, one that has a powerful impact on the bottom line for your business, has another element: instead of just being a group of people who are interested in a brand, they are a group of people who are also deeply interested in and connected to each other. There are 3 secrets to developing interest and connection among brand community members that will build a powerful brand community: you must offer your fans and customers mutual acceptance, expression, and transparency. Doing this breaks down barriers and builds connection. These are 3 very different brands whose ability to leverage these 3 secrets in their brand communities has had a significant impact on their bottom line: CrossFit Inc, Free People, and Buffer.