This document provides tips on how to build active online communities. It discusses initiating discussions through open and closed questions on specific topics to encourage participation. The document recommends regular events and activities both online and offline to engage members as well as creating different types of content about the community and its members. It stresses the importance of understanding social dynamics and giving priority to stimulating activity over static content.

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6. How To Build Bigger, Better,
And More Active Communities
Richard Millington
www.feverbee.com
richard@feverbee.com
@RichMillington
Higher Logic Webinar

7. What are most community
professionals doing wrong?

9. http://course.feverbee.com/CommunityManagementFram
ework.pdf

10. There are three ways to stimulate activity
in an online community
1) Discussions
2) Events & Activities
3) Content

11. Avoid this >

12. and this >

13. and this >
and this >

14. How do real people talk to one another?

15. How do real people talk to one another?

16. How do real people talk to one another?

17. Basic Rhetoric Strategies of
Initiating A Discussion

18. 5 elements of soliciting
useful knowledge exchange
1) Who asks the question?
2) What is the subject line?
3) The type of discussion
4) The content of the message
5) Number of replies
6) Frequency of posts

19. If you want an answer, ask a question
(Mix open/closed questions)

21. ScienceForums.net

22. Types of questions
• Open questions (“What do you think about.....?”)
• Closed questions (“Do you think that {x} is {y}?”)
• Specific questions (“How much did you spend
on....?”)
• Hypothetical questions (“What would you do if....?”)

23. Benefits of specific/closed questions
• Easier to answer
• Less social risk of wrong answer format
• Everyone can answer
• Leads to participation in more difficult questions

24. There are three types of discussions
1) Conveying Information
2) Bonding
3) Status-Jockeying

25. Bonding
Status Jockeying
Conveying Information

26. Initiate, encourage, and highlight discussions which
facilitate self-disclosure

28. Steal popular discussions

31. Simple Bonding/Status Questions
• How did you become interested in...?
• What was your biggest achievement...?
• What is your average day like?
• What would you change if .... ?

32. Content of the message
1) Immediate to the point
2) Short, simple, words and sentences
3) Call to action (ask who/why)
4) Length of post (100 to 250 words)
5) Include your own testimonial (why you, why now?)

33. • Respond within 24 hours
• Acknowledge unique/useful material, but...
• Avoid generic terms “thank you for the question”
• Ask a clarifying question (or two)
• Add your own thoughts/opinions
• Mention other members by name who might have an
opinion
• Nudge members to participate
• Turn the discussions into resources/columns/documented
# of replies: sustaining discussions

36. Menu of discussions

37. Action Points
1) Plan out what discussions you will initiate over the next
month (at least 1 every 2 days).
2) Turn popular self-disclosure discussions into sticky
threads.
3) Review popular communities and steal their best
discussions.

38. Initiate regular events & activities
for your community

39. Regular Irregular
Online
Webinars
Themed Discussions
Weekly interview
Competition / Challenges
Newcomer orientation
Promotional days
Christmas, easter, national holidays
Awards
Named days
Elections
Milestones
Fundraising days
Member achievements
Broader victories/celebrations
Product launches
Member achievements
Hall of fame introduction
Guest speakers/VIP chats
Offline
Weekly/Monthly meet-ups
Decentralized gatherings
Annual gatherings
Christmas/New Year
Exhibitions
Product-launches
Conferences
Trade shows
Themed parties
Entertainment shows
Unconferences
Spontaneous meets

43. Create content about the community

44. Types of content
• Announcements
• News
• Latest events
• New members
• Latest/Most popular discussions
• Member contributions
• News about members
• Updates on a relevant issu

45. • Feature articles
• Interviews
• Analysis
• Stories/Articles
• Surveys
• Previews/Reviews
• Opinion/Guest Columns
• Thoughts
• Predictions
• Experiences
Types of content

46. Types of content
• Classifieds
• Jobs
• Buying/Selling
• Promotions & Advertisements
• Statements from the community
• Misc (video, audio, links etc...)

47. Day Activity
Monday Opinion Feature
Tuesday Guest column
Wednesday Live-chat promo
Thursday Feature Interview
Friday Job/Event of the week
Saturday Welcome newcomers
Sunday Summary of the week

51. Managing activity means
understanding social density

55. ScienceForums.net

58. Give priority to activity,
not content

62. Action Points
• Remove/combine quiet/inactive categories, groups
and features
• Dissipate activity when it becomes too
concentrated
• Identify and encourage friendship groups
• Identify popular topics and build a group/place
for that
• Promote these groups (and have people
responsible for them)
• Position activity as the focal point of your page (not

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