How to build an online community?

Submitted by darek on June 28, 2008 - 9:35pm.

Dear all,

What are the leadership skills, practices and examples in building online communities, like the one we are part of?

I was extremely happy to find this site, as its idea corresponds to the research topics that I publish in my external blog. I try to discover the rules of leadership in the era of ubiquitous internet, social networking and remote collaboration. I would be grateful for your advice on these topics!

Thanks, Darek

The Hub Tag Cloud: leadership, social networking, community

darek's blog
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Communities

By David Straker on June 28, 2008 - 9:55pm

Making an online (or any) community work is tricky. It generally takes a core of dedicated talkers/activitists and a wider group of mostly listeners/attendees. It has to have purpose and create value, although this may evolve. People come and go, but movement of the core is likely to be slower.

What else?

Communities

By Colin Scowen on June 29, 2008 - 7:38pm

I came across the hub, and a couple of other sites that I use when I was looking for some tools to help me to understand and improve my leadership. I think that the most important thing that you can do to get a community going, is to satisfy the needs of those that you want to join the community. The hub satisfies some of those needs, so I stay around, read and contribute.

Colin.

Communities

By Darek Kleczek on July 1, 2008 - 2:46am

David, Colin - thanks for your insights!

How about tangible "best practices", such as:

Providing incentives - like the dollars for posting items on the leadership hub?

Role-modeling - for example by community managers being the first active users in the community?

Any other examples?

Thanks, Darek

on line communities

By Jan Hirsch on July 1, 2008 - 7:42am

I think the best practices are to create an online enviroment where the participants feel comfortable.

For example, I am a bedie normal job an admin and moderator in an online forum / community that has some rules on posting but depends more on the maturity of the posters, just because of the admins and moderators showing that they try and live by the guidelines. Just lead by example.

Also you need to show that the online community is useful for people coming to gain information or advice. This can also be done only when one gets reasonable and timely replies or can find the info one is looking for. And- as a leader or community manager when you see no one from the community staff answering, try yourself to show some directions to what is required even if not perfect.

People always appreciate when they see leaders work hard or try at least.

Regards

Jan

It must be its own reward

By David Straker on July 1, 2008 - 9:01pm

I'd counsel strongly against extrinsic rewards. Some people would do things just to get the reward whilst others would go elsewhere in disgust. It would be your community, not theirs.

The community must be run by the people for the people and with little other motivation. All you can do is provide the climate and tools. After that, if nobody wants a community then it won't happen.

Communities can be very delicate. If people fear being criticised in any way, they are unlikely to join in. Look to your culture: is there any reason there why people might be a bit shy? If so, then the organisation just isn't ready. Otherwise, you can only be a gardener, planting seeds and watering the plot. But the flowers have to do the growing by themselves.

Best wishes

Dave