Discord Community Playbook for Viral Labs
TikTok sparks discovery, but Discord keeps superfans close. Here is how we design channels, moderation, and event loops, then tie everything back to lab traffic.
1. Carve channels by ritual
A good lab server mirrors the experience of running tests with friends. Our core channels:
- #card-drops: Auto-posts the latest screenshots from Friend Chaos, Villain Story, and Bad Habit Detector.
- #prompt-lab: Members submit prompts for upcoming labs. Winning prompts earn bonus credits.
- #duo-queue: People looking for Couple Toxic or other duo labs meet here.
- #creator-lounge: Influencers share their clips and we feature them on the blog.
Structuring channels around rituals gives members a reason to visit daily.
2. Automate onboarding
Use a bot like MEE6 or Statbot to send a welcome DM with three steps: pick a role (Creator, Chaos Fan, Couple Tester), run your first lab via link, and introduce yourself in #general. This shortens the time between joining and generating a card.
3. Make credits tangible
We maintain a Read-only channel called #credit-feed. Every time someone redeems share credits or purchases a pack, the bot announces it (anonymously). Seeing the feed scroll proves the economy is alive and motivates lurkers to test their luck.
4. Schedule recurring events
Weekly power hours keep the community moving. Our favorite lineup:
- Monday Chaos Draft: Mods spin a wheel to pick a random prompt, then everyone submits their card from Friend Chaos.
- Wednesday Duo Night: We pair strangers for Situationship Analyzer and share results via Stage channels.
- Friday Creator Demo: A featured creator shows how they edit TikTok clips using our ShareCopy.
Events run for 30 minutes so they feel attainable. Attendance links to a Google Form where fans drop their `client_id`, letting us gift extra credits.
5. Empower moderators
Mods get their own channel with a living checklist:
- Did we pin the latest blog post?
- Did we refresh prompts?
- Did we log standout cards in Notion?
We rotate mods every quarter to prevent burnout and give superfans a chance to lead. Mods also get early access to experimental labs so they can hype upcoming releases.
6. Connect Discord to the product
We track the `utm_medium=discord` parameter across the site to measure how many sessions originate from the server. When we add a new lab, the bot posts a rich embed with the slug, prompt, and CTA. The embed includes buttons Run Lab" and Share Result" that open the page directly.
7. Keep culture weird
AI labs thrive on inside jokes. Encourage members to invent lore around labs. One fan decided Villain Story outputs a secret agency file; now the entire #lore channel role-plays as field agents. This organic storytelling drives retention better than formal announcements.
8. Make moderation measurable
Set clear KPIs such as daily active members, number of prompts submitted, and average response time in help channels. We log these in a shared spreadsheet so mods can see how their shifts influence activity. When numbers dip we adjust programming rather than blaming individuals.
9. Showcase community wins
Each month we publish a Discord highlight reel inside the blog and email newsletter. It includes screenshots of the wildest cards, creator collabs born in the server, and community-built prompt packs. Giving public credit makes members feel like co-builders.
10. Close the loop with product
Community feedback feeds directly into our backlog. Every Friday we export the top suggestions from #prompt-lab, tag them with vote counts, and discuss them in a product review. The fastest-shipping ideas usually come from Discord because members have already tested them informally with friends. Treat the server as a continuous focus group and the content engine never runs dry.
Further reading