This document discusses how organizations can build successful web communities. It suggests that communities are more likely to succeed if they have clear goals and purpose, commit resources like a dedicated community manager, focus on engaging users with high-quality content relevant to their interests, and recognize that building a community is an ongoing process that requires long-term commitment of time and effort. Metrics like member participation levels and quality of discussions are better measures of success than simple numbers of users or posts.

1. Building Better Web Communities Can organizations build web communities with predictable success? David Terrar – D²C and WordFrame with contributions from: Dennis Howlett – AccMan & ZDNet Philip Woodgate – Goodman Jones

4. Why build communities? New Product Development Customer service Idea generation Market research Developer relations Amplifying Word of Mouth Employee communications General Marketing Reputation management Product testing Public relations LONG TAIL SALES PROJECT COLLABORATION Co-innovation Member networking

7. Participation Inequality Jakob Nielsen’s 1-9-90 rule Diagram courtesy of http://www.useit.com/alertbox/participation_inequality.html

8. What is ICAEW doing with ion?

9. What is ICAEW doing with ion?

11. Some other examples SocialMediaToday.com

12. What experiences have you got with blog, wiki and social media tools? Discuss…..

13. How well did it work? You tell me…

15. How do you get good quality content? What do you think?…..

16. How do you encourage conversations? So…….

18. What do you measure? Google analytics, or focus on what?....

19. How do you know if it's been a success? What’s good?....

20. Not in support of any goal…

22. Life cycle of a successful community

25. Community best practices BEST Clear goals + purpose Right talent Commitment + time Topic engenders passion Social + communal WORST Start with technology Marketing “campaign” Mixing business/consumer motives No facilitation Metrics vs. business measures

26. Conclusions The Technology Infrastructure of the community is important The Social Infrastructure of the community is MORE important

28. Key take away from Enterprise 2.0 Conference 2008 Boston

29. Recommended reading Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing out of Sync? – Seth Godin

31. Contact details David Terrar CEO - D²C Limited and Executive Director - ITBrix / WordFrame p: +44 (0)1727 838285 (direct) m: +44 (0)7715 159423 e: [email_address] and [email_address] w: www.d2c.org.uk and www.wordframe.com skype: david_terrar twitter: DT blog: http://biztwozero.com