Comments on: what does it take to build a successful community?

By: deb

deb — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:50:11 +0000

i would think that the hardest part in building a community is the starting stages. How do you get people to join a new/blank community? people always have this herd mentality that they’ll only join a community that everybody joins. (eg: who would wanna post threads in an empty forum?) How do i penetrate that mentality and convince ppl to join when the website is first starting out??

By: Pijoo

Pijoo — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:43:09 +0000

Geniunely enjoyed reading that. I also agree that anyone who thinks you can build communities in 7 steps is over simplifying it.

The last point in the linked article is by far the most important (imo) – “Creating a spirit of community” – which is a whole article in itself, which you could break down into 7 more steps… (engagement, trust etc..)

But.. if you’re strategising, you’re not communicating naturally, which is pretty important too.

By: Rebecca Saylor

Rebecca Saylor — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:28:18 +0000

Mel – I love this post, especially comm mgr to comm mgr, I’m glad you didn’t say “open a myspace account” – LOL Community is all about having a passion for the product and talking about it in real terms with the community members. Community is so much more than the technology. Well, sorry for the rambling. What I mean is…

well said!

XXXOOO
Rebecca

By: Mel Kirk

Mel Kirk — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:53:17 +0000

Eddie, Rob and Mark, thanks for your lovely comments. i haven’t forgotten the fact that i’ve promised specifics, watch this space, they’re on their way!

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:39:36 +0000

The first person (Luc) was wrong. You used “communities” seven times, not including the tag or the word “community” in the headline. Fortunately we can now just hit Ctrl-F and do a Find for any word in a Firefox browser so that was easy! I was impressed by your passionate writing here, Mel. Just a Twitter newcomer and fellow distance runner in NYC. Take care.

Mark (@marathoner)

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:36:45 +0000

Hi Mel,

An excellent quick read – picked this up off your Tweet – sweet!

So you mentioned “if people are interested, i can of course write a more detailed post about exact steps that i think are worth taking” – are you serious!? I reckon that would go down a storm!

Rob. (@jonesr)

By: Eddie Bovak

Eddie Bovak — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:39:53 +0000

Good post Mel!

I was especially intrigued by the fact that the original page you spoke of that had the 7-step plan was published in December 1999 and was focused on how to build a community using dial-up modem bulletin-board technology.

It is amazing to me that we end up struggling with the same issues every time a new technology is used to connect people.

By: Mel Kirk

Mel Kirk — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:07:03 +0000

@Matt Brian – Thanks for the tip, I’ll be sure to check that out.

@Luc – Okay, I’ll have a think about your prize

@Tara Hunt – Thanks for the lovely comment. Hopefully one day I’ll be asked to speak…

@J – Aw, you’re sweet. I spent years without the fire, it comes eventually – don’t fear. I’ve come to the conclusion that life’s too short to do something that you don’t truly love, you only get one chance at life. For me now, it’s not about a specific industry that I’m passionate about – but using the principles that I’m passionate about and proving they can be transferred no matter what industry you’re in (although web apps still make me tick, lol).

What is it that you do?

@Justin Thorpe – I’ll write another post

By: Justin Thorp

Justin Thorp — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:24:12 +0000

“if people are interested, i can of course write a more detailed post about exact steps that i think are worth taking…”

I’d be interested in reading the steps you’d take.

By: J

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:39:11 +0000

Just sometimes (well, more than just sometimes really!), I’d love to be in your shoes, or at least have that feeling you seem to get out of your job. You’ve got more passion than a passion fruit and more fire than a…an open log fire in a country pub!

Brilliant post, Mel!

I want a fire in my belly, please. Maybe amazon.co.uk will start selling them when the nights start turning in again!