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The Power Of Online Communities

I'm giving a conference talk on Wednesday this week on 'Harnessing The Power Of Online Communities'. One of the things I will be saying is that I believe that almost all of the important learnings I have gained about how online communities work have come through being a part of one. In order to illustrate how productive the community can be I thought it might be fun to crowdsource some opinion, which I will feature in my talk. In return, I thought I'd share a few of the major points that I'll be making:

  • Understand that it's not about the technology. It's about the people.
  • Don't think about how you can create an online community. Communities already exist. So think about how you can help that community do what it wants to do.
  • And give them something useful
  • Engage, participate, listen
  • Above all, know your audience

So, I'd love to know in one sentence – what is your maxim for how best to engage and facilitate an online community? Or, if you prefer, how not to…

40 responses to “The Power Of Online Communities”

  1. Simon Avatar
    Simon

    Do – make their participation worthwhile (whether interaction, feedback, utility, reward, connections)
    Don’t – prevent them doing what they want to do (see this as an example – http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2008/09/15/facebook_and_te.html)

    Reply
  2. Simon Avatar
    Simon

    Do – make their participation worthwhile (whether interaction, feedback, utility, reward, connections)
    Don’t – prevent them doing what they want to do (see this as an example – http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2008/09/15/facebook_and_te.html)

    Reply
  3. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Thanks Simon. Good stuff.

    Reply
  4. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Thanks Simon. Good stuff.

    Reply
  5. Tom of the Rovers Avatar
    Tom of the Rovers

    Go to where your communities are – don’t expect them to come to you (simple)

    Reply
  6. Tom of the Rovers Avatar
    Tom of the Rovers

    Go to where your communities are – don’t expect them to come to you (simple)

    Reply
  7. Tom of the Rovers Avatar
    Tom of the Rovers

    Understand and respect the values and protocols of the community – be sensitive.

    Reply
  8. Tom of the Rovers Avatar
    Tom of the Rovers

    Understand and respect the values and protocols of the community – be sensitive.

    Reply
  9. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Cheers Tom. Also good stuff.

    Reply
  10. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Cheers Tom. Also good stuff.

    Reply
  11. Amelia Avatar
    Amelia

    Let me know if this helps, was talking at AdTech last week about much the same and these were my thoughts coming out of the Masterclass and the discussion.
    http://ameliatorode.typepad.com/life_moves_pretty_fast/2008/09/brands-bloggers-word-of-mouse.html

    Reply
  12. Amelia Avatar
    Amelia

    Let me know if this helps, was talking at AdTech last week about much the same and these were my thoughts coming out of the Masterclass and the discussion.
    http://ameliatorode.typepad.com/life_moves_pretty_fast/2008/09/brands-bloggers-word-of-mouse.html

    Reply
  13. Gavin Heaton Avatar
    Gavin Heaton

    Take a look at Michael Wesch’s Library of Congress speech. He explains the importance and power of participatory exploration.

    Reply
  14. Gavin Heaton Avatar
    Gavin Heaton

    Take a look at Michael Wesch’s Library of Congress speech. He explains the importance and power of participatory exploration.

    Reply
  15. Asi Avatar
    Asi

    Don’t ask them too much, even if you do indeed provide value.
    The larger and inclusive you aim the lower barrier of participation you set.

    Reply
  16. Asi Avatar
    Asi

    Don’t ask them too much, even if you do indeed provide value.
    The larger and inclusive you aim the lower barrier of participation you set.

    Reply
  17. Willem Avatar
    Willem

    Sounds like an interesting talk! Definitely agree with the main points you mention. How I see it, the main maxim I pretty much live my life by applies here: What goes around, comes around.
    In other words there’s no getting anything from an online community if you’re bringing anything on the table.
    Cheers

    Reply
  18. Willem Avatar
    Willem

    Sounds like an interesting talk! Definitely agree with the main points you mention. How I see it, the main maxim I pretty much live my life by applies here: What goes around, comes around.
    In other words there’s no getting anything from an online community if you’re bringing anything on the table.
    Cheers

    Reply
  19. James Cherkoff Avatar
    James Cherkoff

    Get Stuck In! 😉

    Reply
  20. James Cherkoff Avatar
    James Cherkoff

    Get Stuck In! 😉

    Reply
  21. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Great stuff guys. Appreciate the input.

    Reply
  22. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Great stuff guys. Appreciate the input.

    Reply
  23. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    Serve their agenda, not yours.

    Reply
  24. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    Serve their agenda, not yours.

    Reply
  25. Will Avatar
    Will

    Be like Zorro – quick interventions and thoughts, then step back.

    Reply
  26. Will Avatar
    Will

    Be like Zorro – quick interventions and thoughts, then step back.

    Reply
  27. Dan Thornton Avatar
    Dan Thornton

    Be a utility provider. You provide the location, the tools and the encouragement/reward for being involved, but once the users turn up, what they do with it is all theirs, and the most you can do to shape it is to inspire and aid them.

    Reply
  28. Dan Thornton Avatar
    Dan Thornton

    Be a utility provider. You provide the location, the tools and the encouragement/reward for being involved, but once the users turn up, what they do with it is all theirs, and the most you can do to shape it is to inspire and aid them.

    Reply
  29. David Cushman Avatar
    David Cushman

    Communities first (ie serve their interests above your own)

    Reply
  30. David Cushman Avatar
    David Cushman

    Communities first (ie serve their interests above your own)

    Reply
  31. Richard M Marshall Avatar
    Richard M Marshall

    Use existing communities (FB, Flickr, etc) where possible, don’t try and make your own.

    Reply
  32. Richard M Marshall Avatar
    Richard M Marshall

    Use existing communities (FB, Flickr, etc) where possible, don’t try and make your own.

    Reply
  33. Jamie Avatar
    Jamie

    Do put the topic of a talk you’re giving on The Power of Online Communities to your community and then watch them demonstrate The Power of Online Communities for you 😉

    Reply
  34. Jamie Avatar
    Jamie

    Do put the topic of a talk you’re giving on The Power of Online Communities to your community and then watch them demonstrate The Power of Online Communities for you 😉

    Reply
  35. facu Avatar
    facu

    know your audience would be número uno. then be real. and interesting.

    Reply
  36. facu Avatar
    facu

    know your audience would be número uno. then be real. and interesting.

    Reply
  37. Dino Avatar
    Dino

    Discover your social currency. What cultural behaviours or dynamics are relevant, or would make anyone care about you?
    Or,think really long and hard about what value you provide for people in a social context.

    Reply
  38. Dino Avatar
    Dino

    Discover your social currency. What cultural behaviours or dynamics are relevant, or would make anyone care about you?
    Or,think really long and hard about what value you provide for people in a social context.

    Reply
  39. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Brilliant feedback all. Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  40. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Brilliant feedback all. Thanks 🙂

    Reply

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