Community as a Sales Ploy

Community on the web seems to be primarily a sales gimmick. You attract as many followers, friends, subscribers as possible to

• get ad views up, 
• drive people to buy your products
• promote your services

Little actual community building there. But, I suppose this isn't much different than groups like the Elks, Chamber of Commerce, etc. Although they are social or societal in nature, the underlying thought is to get involved to make contacts to sell yourself, your products or services. Community has probably always been about that sort of thing. Pre-technology, people would get together physically. Now, with instant communications across the world, people get together electronically to promote themselves, their products or services.