I have always been someone who liked to connect people and create communities. Even in the early days of the Internet, I created local BBS channels on CompuServe to connect. I only realized this could be something I could be paid for around 2009. I think the biggest thing I have learned is to embrace failure. Looking back at the way I failed at building communities has served me well in how to do it properly throughout my career. I learned so much from those early mistakes of what I did wrong, and I try my best not to make the same mistakes twice. I want anyone who builds communities to know failure is okay and it happens. It's what you do with that information that matters. My best piece of advice is to make sure you listen to your community rather than tell them what the community will be. However, don't just listen, but learn how to infer what they need - they may not be explicit in their needs.
Starting a community as early as possible is beneficial to any company. I would not worry too much about technology at this stage, but you need to have an eye to how you can move/upgrade as the community grows. I would make sure you have an easy way to get access to the data and can bring it to wherever you go. This is the biggest surprise I see many companies run into as they grow. The first choice they took, has now their best, most valuable information locked onto a system they cannot bring with them. They become a hostage to their technology.
Certainly, I understand a small start-up may go with a free tool or an open-source solution, but just as you upgrade your website as you become larger, companies should consider the community experience as well. Whatever you choose, never forget to consider your community data and how you have access to it.
Most of my career has been in support communities, so content is super important. As it’s been reported by TSIA (and our own research) over 90% of support journeys start at Google. I like to spend time looking at what searches people make in the community and look at where they landed to make sure we have the content they need. I have also been a big believer in creating community content on a regular interval, "moments" that people can participate in. Regularity is very important. I try to recommend community builders build out their plans a quarter at a time to consider holidays and other special guests they can invite into the community.
I think the most important thing a community person can do is to make sure they stay visible. Share stories as soon as possible about people sharing feedback or where a community is solving problems. I think a key thing for any community person to know is who are the key stakeholders in their company and what they care about and try to share insights or things that happen in the community that have an impact on this. If you show an impact on the things that matter to them, you will be amazed how they will want to support you to get more of that. I think the biggest challenge community people may have is being too shy or not wanting to shine the spotlight on their work, but it's super important to get what you need. Never assume people realize the value you are bringing.
There could be a whole book on this. I would rather mention, how if you are building from scratch, community-driven moderation takes time. It does not happen overnight. You should also not choose people based on the eagerness to help, or the number of posts. You need to select people with the right temperament and you, as the community person in charge, must be ready to manage these people to ensure they stay consistent in the moderation. You will likely have to build a moderation handbook or some sort of document to ensure this - as well as have regular meetings with them. I think the key thing to keep in mind is to move slow, take the time in selection, be very thoughtful and deliberate in how you build the team.
It would not be fair for me to do a list, as I would likely forget someone. I rather tell you about what inspires me. People who change the world for the better with their community work. I'm just endlessly inspired by people like this.