higher logic learning series - learn how to build bigger, better and more active online communities...
DESCRIPTION
Higher Logic, the leading social enterprise platform, hosted the 2014 Higher Logic Learning Series session called: How To Build Bigger, Better, and More Active Online Communities on Thursday, April 24 at 2:00PM Eastern. Do you want to learn how to increase activity in your online community? In this fast-paced webinar, Richard Millington, Founder & Managing Director of FeverBee, will explain how you can apply basic social sciences to significantly increase the level of engagement in your online community. He'll cover tips to apply a community management framework and initiate the right types of activities that encourage people to not only join, but also to participate. THOUGHT LEADER: Richard Millington, Founder & Managing Director, FeverBee Learn more about this interactive webinar series: www.higherlogic.com/resources/learning-series.TRANSCRIPT
NEW! ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY
Five lucky attendees will receive an autographed copy of Millington’s book: Buzzing Communities.
1.Tweet using our hashtag #HLlearn.
2.Email your tip to [email protected].
How To Build Bigger, Better, And More Active Communities
Richard Millingtonwww.feverbee.com
[email protected]@RichMillington
Higher Logic Webinar
What are most community professionals doing wrong?
http://course.feverbee.com/CommunityManagementFramework.pdf
There are three ways to stimulate activity in an online community
1) Discussions
2) Events & Activities
3) Content
Avoid this >
and this >
and this >
and this >
How do real people talk to one another?
How do real people talk to one another?
How do real people talk to one another?
Basic Rhetoric Strategies of Initiating A Discussion
5 elements of solicitinguseful 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
If you want an answer, ask a question(Mix open/closed questions)
ScienceForums.net
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....?”)
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
There are three types of discussions
1) Conveying Information
2) Bonding
3) Status-Jockeying
Bonding Status Jockeying
Conveying Information
Initiate, encourage, and highlight discussions which facilitate self-disclosure
Steal popular discussions
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 .... ?
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?)
• 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 info
# of replies: sustaining discussions
Menu of discussions
Action Points1) 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.
Initiate regular events & activities for your community
Regular Irregular
Online
WebinarsThemed DiscussionsWeekly interviewCompetition / ChallengesNewcomer orientationPromotional daysChristmas, easter, national holidaysAwardsNamed days
Elections
MilestonesFundraising daysMember achievementsBroader victories/celebrationsProduct launchesMember achievementsHall of fame introduction
Guest speakers/VIP chats
Offline
Weekly/Monthly meet-upsDecentralized gatheringsAnnual gatherings
Christmas/New Year
ExhibitionsProduct-launchesConferencesTrade showsThemed partiesEntertainment showsUnconferences
Spontaneous meets
Create content about the community
Types of content
• Announcements
• News
• Latest events
• New members
• Latest/Most popular discussions
• Member contributions
• News about members
• Updates on a relevant issue
• Feature articles
• Interviews
• Analysis
• Stories/Articles
• Surveys
• Previews/Reviews
• Opinion/Guest Columns
• Thoughts
• Predictions
• Experiences
Types of content
Types of content
• Classifieds
• Jobs
• Buying/Selling
• Promotions & Advertisements
• Statements from the community
• Misc (video, audio, links etc...)
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
Managing activity means understanding social density
ScienceForums.net
Give priority to activity, not content
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 content)
www.feverbee.com/higherlogic.html
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