How Can We Involve the Community in Community Engagement Activities?

“Community is much more than just belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter” – Brian Solis

As Brian Solis states, community engagement—or community—is not merely about belonging to something; rather, it is closely tied to doing things together that make that sense of belonging meaningful.

To reach that stage, there needs to be a mutually beneficial relationship between both parties—in this case, a company and its community. Activities carried out by a company that involve the community—commonly known as “community engagement”—are one of the most effective methods for driving change.

Objectives of Community Engagement

Furthermore, through community engagement, a company can better increase brand awareness, generate a sustainable impact, and build its image and reputation; the greatest benefit a company gains from community engagement is the ability to foster brand loyalty.

Before engaging with a community, a company should start by building a good relationship with that community. This is exactly what Paxel—a startup in the logistics industry—did with the food SME community.

Through these community relations, both parties can experience a very positive impact. Further details regarding Paxel’s community relations efforts can be found on the Media Buffet PR website.

Moving up a step from community relations brings us to the stage of community engagement. At this stage, the company consistently involves the community in every activity it undertakes.

Community Engagement Case Study

This is exactly what one of Media Buffet PR’s clients, Shell—a private fuel and lubricants provider in Indonesia—has done. On May 5, 2022, Shell partnered with The Walt Disney Company for the first time to host the premiere of the film *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*.

Uniquely, in addition to inviting loyal customers and business partners, Shell also invited the Marvel fan community and the online motorcycle taxi community to this event. The event was held at CGV Cinema, Pacific Place Mall, Jakarta.

Read also: Shell and Disney Present the Premiere of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”

According to Shell Indonesia’s Director of Mobility, Dian Andyasuri, this event was specifically organized as a gesture of appreciation for Shell’s loyal customers and as a way to foster relationships with partners and various communities, such as the Marvel fan community and the online motorcycle taxi community.

This event also serves as tangible proof that Shell aims to provide an exclusive experience—attending the premiere of one of Marvel’s highest-grossing films, *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*—while others scramble to secure tickets.

This community engagement activity by Shell demonstrates that Shell is more than just a gas station—a sentiment that aligns with the brand positioning Shell aims to establish. The target audience isn’t limited to automotive enthusiasts or similar groups; rather, Shell also embraces communities outside of that sphere. The event was well-received by thousands of attendees who came to the premiere of *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* two weeks ago.

Read also: Boost Brand Awareness Through Press Releases

Media Buffet PR’s Role in Community Activities

Here, Media Buffet PR, a Jakarta-based digital PR agency, plays a role in helping clients execute the community engagement activities they wish to hold, thereby creating changes that are far more effective than before.

This article also serves as an example for other companies that engaging with the community is an important and effective method for maintaining good relationships, particularly with the company’s external stakeholders.

Written by Putri Agna, PR Intern at Media Buffet PR