One of the fastest ways to grow a thriving Skool community is through collaboration. While organic content and ads can bring in members, nothing accelerates trust and engagement like guest speakers, partnerships, and cross-community events.
Ryan Duncan has seen firsthand how strategic collaborations can quickly grow a Skool community. When you bring in outside experts or partner with complementary communities, you instantly tap into a new audience, boost credibility, and create more engagement opportunities.
In this post, we’ll cover:
✅ Why collaborations are the key to faster community growth
✅ How to find the right partners for guest sessions and joint events
✅ A step-by-step breakdown for planning a high-impact collaboration
✅ How to turn new event attendees into long-term members or paying clients
Want to see collaboration-driven community growth in action?Join Ryan’s free Skool community here and network with other community builders and guest experts.
Why Collaborations Work: The Power of Shared Audiences
The fastest way to grow a Skool community isn’t just by posting great content—it’s by leveraging existing audiences.
The Benefits of Guest Speakers & Cross-Community Events
✔ Instant Trust & Credibility – Bringing in a respected expert elevates your authority and makes your community look high-value.
✔ Expands Your Audience Without Ads – Every collaboration exposes you to a new, pre-engaged group of people who are already interested in your niche.
✔ Increases Member Engagement – Live guest sessions get members excited, spark discussions, and create long-term engagement.
✔ Boosts Conversions & Monetization – People are more likely to invest in your offers after seeing high-value collaborations.
📌 Example: A Skool community focused on AI copywriting could partner with a Facebook ads expert for a workshop on how AI-driven copy boosts ad conversions. This attracts new members from both audiences and creates a strong bridge for monetization.
Pro Tip: The most successful collaborations aren’t just about exposure—they’re about delivering massive value that leaves people wanting more.
Finding the Right Partners for Guest Sessions & Joint Events
Not all partnerships are created equal. A great collaboration aligns with your audience’s needs and interests while bringing in fresh perspectives.
How to Choose the Right Guest Experts or Partner Communities
🔹 Niche Alignment – Their content should complement your community’s focus (e.g., if you teach business growth, a guest on high-performance habits would be relevant).
🔹 Engaged Audience – Look for people who already have an active, engaged following—not just big numbers.
🔹 Mutual Benefit – Collaborations should be a win-win where both communities gain new members and insights.
🔹 Credibility & Value – Choose experts who bring real knowledge and actionable insights rather than just promotion.
📌 Example: If you run a community for fitness coaches, a perfect guest could be a nutritionist or biohacker who teaches how coaches can optimize client performance.
Where to Find Guest Experts & Community Partners
✔ Inside Skool Communities – Engage with other community owners who share your target audience.
✔ On Twitter & LinkedIn – Many industry experts openly share insights—reach out and invite them to a collaboration.
✔ Podcast Guests & Webinar Hosts – People who already speak on niche topics are usually open to guest appearances.
✔ Existing Members – Some of your own members may have deep expertise and can be featured in a guest session.
Pro Tip: If you’re reaching out to a larger influencer, offer them exposure to your community, a chance to pitch an offer, or a percentage of revenue from the event.
Planning a High-Impact Joint Event or Guest Session
A great collaboration is planned well in advance to maximize reach, attendance, and engagement.
Step 1: Define the Event Format & Topic
✔ Choose a Specific Topic – Avoid generic sessions—focus on a niche pain point or solution.
✔ Decide on the Format – Will it be a workshop, fireside chat, panel discussion, or AMA (Ask Me Anything)?
✔ Clarify Expectations – Ensure both parties understand the structure, timing, and audience value.
📌 Example Event Title:
"How to Turn Your First 100 Skool Members Into Paying Clients – Live Workshop With [Guest Name]"
Step 2: Promotion Timeline & Strategy
Your event is only as good as the number of people who show up.
✔ Announce Early (10-14 Days Before) – Post in your Skool community, email your list, and get your guest to promote it to their audience.
✔ Use Multi-Platform Promotion – Post teasers on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and inside other relevant Skool groups.
✔ Create an RSVP List – This builds anticipation and commitment before the event.
"🚀 Big Announcement: We’re bringing in [Guest Name] for a live session on scaling your Skool community! Drop a 🔥 if you’re joining!"
Step 3: Running the Live Event for Maximum Engagement
During the call, engagement is everything—you want people asking questions, commenting, and actively participating.
✔ Start with Quick Wins – Get the guest to share 1-2 rapid insights upfront to hook attendees.
✔ Encourage Live Q&A – Ask attendees to drop questions in the chat throughout.
✔ Use Polls & Interactive Elements – Keep members actively involved rather than just listening.
✔ Record for Repurposing – The event should become evergreen content inside your Skool Classroom.
📌 Example Live Call Flow:
1️⃣ Intro & Context – Who the guest is, why this session matters.
2️⃣ Main Content (20-30 min) – Actionable insights & case studies.
3️⃣ Live Q&A (15 min) – Open-floor discussion.
4️⃣ Soft CTA (Last 5 Min) – Invite members to take the next step (offer, community, next event).
Turning Guest Attendees Into Long-Term Members & Paying Clients
A collaboration isn’t just about a one-time event—it’s about capturing new leads and converting them into engaged community members or buyers.
Post-Event Follow-Up Plan
✔ Send a Post-Event Recap – Share key takeaways and the event recording in the Skool feed.
✔ Encourage Engagement in the Comments – Ask what the biggest insight was from the event.
✔ Extend a Special Offer or Next Step – Offer a limited-time coaching session, membership upgrade, or downloadable resource.
✔ Invite Attendees to a Related Event or Discussion – Keep the momentum going by leading them into your next live session.
📌 Example CTA Post:
"🔥 That session with [Guest Name] was incredible! What was your biggest takeaway? Drop it below! If you want to go deeper, join our *next live workshop on [related topic].”
Pro Tip: 50%+ of new event attendees engage with the community more when there’s a clear follow-up CTA.
Join a Community That’s Built on Smart Collaborations
If you’re serious about growing your Skool community through powerful partnerships, networking with top experts, and learning how to run high-converting live events, join Ryan’s free Skool community and start connecting today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I find the best guest speakers for my Skool community?
Look for experts in complementary niches, active Twitter & LinkedIn voices, and engaged members inside Skool communities who have real experience.
2. What’s the best type of live event for engagement?
Live Q&A sessions and deep-dive workshops tend to get the most participation because members can interact in real time.
3. How do I get the guest to promote the event?
Offer them exposure to your audience, permission to promote their product, or a revenue split if the event includes a paid upsell.
4. Should I charge for live community events?
If the event delivers premium content, a small fee or VIP access can be a great way to monetize.