How to Turn Passive Lurkers into Active Community Contributors

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Every Skool community has two types of members:

1️⃣ The engaged contributors who post, comment, and participate regularly.

2️⃣ The silent lurkers who consume content but never interact.

Here’s the problem: most online communities are 80-90% lurkers. These members never comment, rarely engage, and eventually disappear.

But what if you could activate those lurkers and turn them into engaged contributors?

Ryan Duncan has helped multiple Skool communities convert silent members into active participants, leading to:

✅ Higher engagement and more valuable discussions

✅ Stronger community culture and member retention

✅ More user-generated content, reducing your workload

In this guide, you’ll learn:

✅ Why people lurk (and how to break the cycle)

✅ The exact strategies to turn passive members into contributors

✅ How to create an irresistible engagement loop

Want to see member activation strategies in action? Join Ryan’s free Skool community and experience how passive members become engaged contributors.

Why Do So Many Members Lurk Instead of Engage?

Lurkers aren’t necessarily disengaged—they just haven’t been given a reason to participate yet.

The 3 Main Reasons People Lurk

✔ Fear of Posting – They worry about saying the wrong thing or looking inexperienced.

✔ No Clear Incentive to Engage – They don’t see what’s in it for them to post or comment.

✔ Not Sure How to Get Involved – They’re waiting for the right moment to jump in.

📌 Example: Many Skool groups see low engagement from new members simply because they don’t know where to start.

Pro Tip: Lurkers become contributors when participation feels easy, valuable, and rewarding.

How to Turn Lurkers into Active Contributors

The goal is to lower the barriers to participation while creating habits that keep members engaged.

1. Make the First Engagement Easy & Low-Stakes

Most lurkers don’t engage because they don’t know what to say—so give them a simple way to start.

✔ Ask a Low-Effort Question – Example: “Drop an emoji in the comments if you’re here!”

✔ Create a “First Comment” Challenge – “Haven’t posted before? Start with this one!”

✔ Use Polls as a Gateway to Engagement – It’s easier to click a button than write a post.

📌 Example: Communities that use engagement polls for first-time interactions see higher long-term participation rates.

Pro Tip: A member’s first comment or post is the hardest—once they break that barrier, they’re far more likely to continue.

2. Tag Lurkers & Personally Invite Them to Participate

Many lurkers don’t engage simply because no one has acknowledged them.

✔ Tag New Members in a Welcome Post – Make them feel seen from day one.

✔ DM Lurkers With a Personal Invitation – “Hey [Name], excited to have you here! Drop a quick intro in this thread so we can welcome you!”

✔ Feature Lurkers in a Conversation – Example: “[Tag Member], would love your thoughts on this!”

📌 Example: Skool communities that proactively tag and invite lurkers see a 30-50% increase in engagement.

Pro Tip: If members feel personally invited, they’re more likely to participate.

3. Use Gamification & Recognition to Reward Participation

People engage when there’s an incentive to do so.

✔ Leaderboard Recognition – Highlight members who start engaging more.

✔ Exclusive Content Unlocks – Example: “Post your first comment to unlock this special resource.”

✔ Feature Member Contributions – Showcase first-time posters in a “New Contributor Spotlight.”

📌 Example: Communities that reward participation with status, shoutouts, or access see higher conversion from lurkers to contributors.

Pro Tip: Recognition is a powerful motivator—even a simple “Great comment, [Member]!” can reinforce participation.

4. Create an Addictive Engagement Cycle

Lurkers won’t engage unless they see active discussions happening.

✔ Run Daily or Weekly Recurring Posts – Example: “What’s your #1 goal this week?”

✔ Encourage Comments on Posts (Not Just Likes) – Example: “Drop your biggest insight in the comments!”

✔ Use “Fill in the Blank” Prompts – Example: “The biggest lesson I learned this week is ________.”

📌 Example: Communities that train members to engage through structured content cycles retain members 3x longer than those with random posts.

Pro Tip: If engagement feels like a habit, even lurkers will eventually join in.

5. Host Interactive Live Events That Pull Lurkers In

Many lurkers aren’t comfortable posting, but they’ll attend live sessions where they can participate passively.

✔ Run Live Q&A Calls – Invite lurkers to submit anonymous questions to encourage participation.

✔ Host Open-Format Discussions – Example: “Drop your thoughts in the chat—no pressure!”

✔ Follow Up With Attendees – DM members after an event: “What was your biggest takeaway?”

📌 Example: Skool communities that host bi-weekly live calls see a higher conversion from passive members to active contributors.

Pro Tip: Once a lurker participates in a live session, they’re more likely to engage in the community afterward.

Creating a Lurker-to-Contributor Activation System

Strategy	How It Works	Why It Works
First Comment Challenge	Invite new members to engage with a low-stakes post.	Removes hesitation and makes it easy to start.
Tag & DM Lurkers	Personally invite them to participate.	People engage more when they feel personally welcomed.
Leaderboard & Recognition	Reward members who start contributing.	Public recognition creates motivation.
Engagement Loops	Recurring threads train members to engage regularly.	Builds a habit of participation over time.
Live Events & Follow-Ups	Lurkers engage more in interactive sessions.	Reduces fear of posting and creates real-time participation.

📌 Example: Communities that combine multiple activation tactics see higher participation rates than those that use only one approach.

Pro Tip: The best Skool communities don’t just create content—they create engagement systems that turn lurkers into contributors.

Join a Community That Activates Every Member

Want to see how structured activation turns lurkers into active participants? Join Ryan’s free Skool community and experience how engagement loops, recognition, and live events drive participation.