Welcome to Farcaster 101, a 12 part educational series designed to introduce marketing professionals to the fundamentals of Farcaster. Presented by GM Farcaster in partnership with Snickerdoodle, this series will help you understand what makes Farcaster unique and how to grow your brand presence on the platform. Each webinar is accompanied by a blog post summarizing key insights and additional resources. Plus, we offer weekly office hours for personalized support.

In Module 6 of our Farcaster 101 series, we’re going deeper into the culture and vibes on Farcaster, focusing on the people and communities that contribute to the ecosystem. This session provides specific examples and case studies of successful cultural initiatives, explores the importance of community and IRL connection, and concludes with specific guidance and advice for how to interact on Farcaster.

As we discussed in Module 5, culture is essentially the unwritten set of values, beliefs, and behaviors that define a community. On Farcaster, it influences everything from how users interact to the openness of discussions and the friendliness found in community projects. Farcaster's early community of builders set a tone that emphasizes experimentation, openness, and collaboration, which has continued to attract builders and early adopters.

Farcaster is home to several impactful builders who have contributed significantly to the platform’s culture and functionality. Users like Linda, known for her work on bountycaster, embody the “build in public” ethos by sharing her process and engaging directly with users. Bountycaster, a marketplace similar to Craigslist, is a perfect example of how Farcaster's decentralized structure empowers creators to develop projects within a supportive environment.

Similarly, Jonny Mack’s work on HyperSub has demonstrated how creators can use crypto-native tools to support their projects. HyperSub, a blockchain-based subscription service akin to Patreon, offers users different levels of engagement, showing how decentralized tech can redefine traditional models.

A question founders often ask is whether they should use a brand account or their personal account to share company and product updates.

Founders on Farcaster frequently use their personal accounts to share company and product updates, leaning into the build in public ethos we talked about in Module 5. This direct interaction builds trust and allows users to connect with the real people behind projects, promoting open exchanges and a sense of community that's central to Farcaster's culture.

But brand accounts can also be successful on Farcaster. The best brand accounts on Farcaster use the “brand intern” approach to make their account feel informal, fun, and authentic. Whether or not the person behind the brand is an actual intern or not doesn't matter. What's important is the brand account acts no different than a personal account, replying to people's casts, getting involved in conversations, and leaning into humor and memes. Brand accounts that do the "intern" style well include Polymarket, Magic Eden and Shibuya.

Note: Farcaster accounts are secured using cryptography, meaning users fully own their identities. As discussed in Module 1, ownership has many benefits. However, for brands, this also means if an employee or intern creates a brand account and later moves on, there’s no automated way to transfer control of that account. Ensure that whoever creates your brand account is a trusted individual. For questions on account ownership and security, join us during office hours.

One of Farcaster's unique cultural elements is its push for real-world connections. Farcon, an "unconference" of Farcaster users, epitomized the transition from URL to IRL (in real life). This event brought together community members who had primarily interacted online, turning those digital interactions into tangible relationships.

Following the success of Farcon, Farcaster Fridays emerged as a way for local communities to connect on the first Friday of each month. These meetups underscore the importance of relationships, further distinguishing Farcaster as a true social network rather than a social media platform.

As new users join Farcaster, understanding and contributing to the platform's culture is key. Here are a few best practices for those looking to get the most out of their experience:

1. Think of Farcaster as a Party: Imagine Farcaster as a lively social gathering. Start by observing and joining conversations rather than broadcasting your own messages.

2. Give Before You Get: Farcaster is a place to contribute, whether by offering product feedback or sharing insights. Engaging authentically helps build connections.

3. Expect Change and Experimentation: Farcaster is still evolving, so embracing its experimental nature is essential. Things are always improving, and users are invited to be part of that journey.

4. Focus on Community Building: Farcaster is about meaningful interactions rather than broadcasting. Engage in conversations, build relationships, and prioritize authenticity.

The Farcaster community thrives on its openness and willingness to experiment. This module showcased how builders, founders, and everyday users contribute to Farcaster’s distinctive culture, turning a digital platform into a supportive, vibrant network of creators and collaborators.

Don’t forget to join us for office hours if you have any questions, and stay tuned for Module 7 where we explore cryptocurrencies in Farcaster.

• Founders channel on Farcaster

• Farcaster Memes channel

• Read more about Farcaster as a Scenius

• The Farcaster Lexicon project

• Playlist with all Modules of Farcaster 101 that have been released to date