Many fledgling online community owners and managers are asking “How do I engage members and encourage user participation in my community?” “What is the role of the community manager?” “How do I manage inappropriate behavior in my community?” And always, “How do I get more members?”
To respond, I’ve rounded up 5 good sites and blogs on managing online communities with answers to these questions and much more.
CommunitySpark, Building Online Communities
CommunitySpark is “a blog dedicated to helping you achieve community building success.” In it, Martin Reed shares “community building tips and advice based on what I have learned during my nine years of being a community builder.” His site has categories of articles on new communities, developing communities, and community management.
Recent sample posts:
A New Community Manager in an Existing Online Community
Build a Stronger Online Community By Empowering Your Members
How To Reduce Failed Threads and Encourage Community Discussion
Online Community Report
Online Community Report blog is Bill Johnston’s “site for online community professionals” and part of Forum One Communications.
Recent sample posts:
Valuing Participation in Online Communities
Online Community Expert Interview: Dawn Lacallade, SolarWinds
Community Influencer Programs
The organization also has a research arm, the Online Community Research Network. It is “a collaborative effort of online community professionals to better understand the principal challenges of building and managing online communities.”
Recent research reports, which cost several hundred dollars each:
Online Community Compensation 2008
Online Communities Marketing, Engagement & Growth
Online Communities: Platform and Services Satisfaction Report
Online Community Metrics
Online Community Culture: Establishing, Maintaining and Changing
Online Communities: Surviving & Thriving in the Downturn
Online Community: Identity, Reputation and Ranking
Online Community ROI: Models and Reports
Online Community Strategist
Angela Connor’s blog on “Growing Successful Online Communities.” She’s the author of 18 Rules of Community Engagement: A Guide for Building Relationships and Connecting With Customers Online, which I have not read.
Recent Sample Posts:
Community Enthusiasts Talk Openly and Honestly about Engaging Communities
Public Humiliation is No Way to Build Community
Use Current Events to Engage Communities
Community Strategist
Connie Bensen’s site provides “resources, mentorship & leadership for those building vibrant communities. As the community manager role becomes more prevalent, I am striving to contribute to best practices.”
Recent sample posts:
Jason Kintzler’s Keynote at event in MPLS
PR 2.0: The New Tools of the Trade
Redefine Customer Communication
Communities Handbook
Communities Handbook is a website about online communication, communities, and globalization. Topic categories include: best practices, marketing, member motivation, member recruitment, news, quotes and statistics, and social networks. Nancy Strauss is the author of Online Community Handbook: Building Your Business and Your Brand on the Web, which I have not read.
Recent sample posts:
Online Community for Contemporary Art Collectors
Interview with CIAO.com
Turning Community Content into a Book
If you are running an online community or social networking website, I suggest you check into the free resources on these five websites. Maybe even subscribe to their posts?
Have I missed a good website on managing online communities?
Please leave me a comment and let me know about it.
Related Posts On Managing and Marketing Online Communities and Social Networks
Other posts on this blog about Online Community Management and Marketing Online Communities
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Thank you for sharing content from my blog. I also see others on this list who I actively read and learn from. I am quite passionate about online communities and what it takes to make them successful. I’m glad to see another site devoted to the craft.
Angela Connor