Online Community As Party

Your Web Site Is a Party Waiting to Happen Lee LeFever Principal, Common Craft

Community Opportunity

Changing Perceptions Improved Tools New Opportunities

Communities and Parties Are Similar

Your Party Needs A Reason To Be

Purpose is Absolutely Necessary Serve a Need, Address a Problem Set Goals and Share Progress Identify What’s Related

Your Party Needs Planning

Planning: Preparation for Scale Simple and Flexible Personas: Specific Types of People Prepare for Evolution

Your Party Needs a Place

No One Wants a Ghost Town

Match Environment to Community Cozy is Good - Start Small and Build to Needs Match Purpose to Environment Keep it Clean – No Broken Windows

Your Party Needs a Host

Have a Host or Community Manager Accountability and Direction “ Middleman” Between Community and Business Works with Designers and Developers

Your Party Needs Rules

Your Community Needs Guidelines Terms of Service – Needed, But Different Helps with Enforcement Provides Common Foundation Must Be Clear (fun helps too!)

Your Party Needs A Bouncer

Beware the Trolls - They Are Toxic

Bounce Trolls and Spammers with Care Best Policy For Trolls: Ignore Them Direct Contact Can Help Resolution Enable Your Community to Help Consider a Forum For Selling or Flaming

Your Party Needs An Invitation

Members Invite Members Let Them Take Community With Them Be Explicit About Inviting Friends Consider APIs for New Directions

Your Party Needs Introductions

Member Profiles are Key Learn from Social Networking Member Matching (tags?) Enable Customization

Your Party Needs Time To Develop

Communities Take Time Focus on Who IS There Make Decisions Based on Feedback

Your Party Needs An Event

Bring People Together For a Bit Think Offline Too Invite a Special Guest Contests, Giveaways

Your Party Needs People To Pitch-In

Mobilize Your Community Share Your Needs, Problems, Thoughts Make Helping Easy and Fun They Want to Help!

Your Party Needs Multiple Ways to Participate

Move Beyond Discussion Offer a “Gateway Drug” Blog? Wiki? Ratings, Votes, Survey, Poll Social Networking – Friends and Groups

Your Party Needs Variety

People are Different – Express It Give Charter Members Special Badges Give New Members a Special Place Match up New and Old

Most Important Ingredient: You

Toby M : http://www.flickr.com/photos/48089670@N00/344310907/ Zach Klein: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zachklein/37391709/ SPR Bert: http://www.flickr.com/photos/superbert/111793054/ Tracy Hunter: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracyhunter/140042679/ VanessaPR: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilcrabbygal/347532016/ Cozy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cozy/318236097/ Basheem: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bastian/235701826/ Powerbooktrance: http://www.flickr.com/photos/powerbooktrance/235607744/ Russelljsmith: http://www.flickr.com/photos/russelljsmith/9486459/ Glasgows: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glasgows/342067353/ Psychedelys: http://www.flickr.com/photos/psychedelys/129472964/ Dervish: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirvish/6937128/ Glynnis: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glynnis/135603867/ Mdumloa98: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdumlao98/121045851/ Caitlinburke: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caitlinburke/101973007/ Franky Baby: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frankybaby/391024654/ Molly Cakes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mollycakes/222385914/ Thanks!