How to Build and MaintainHow to Build and Maintainlively Social Networks and lively Social Networks and

Online CommunitiesOnline Communities

Munif Ahmad

Types of Social NetworksTypes of Social Networks

FamilyFamily WorkWork PlayPlay SpiritualitySpirituality PoliticsPolitics

GeographicGeographic DemographicDemographic TopicalTopical ActivityActivity

Munif Ahmad

Mazlow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMazlow’s Hierarchy of Needsadapted by Amy Jo Kimadapted by Amy Jo Kim

Take on new roles Take on new roles and new and new opportunitiesopportunities

Develop skillsDevelop skillsSelf ActualisationSelf Actualisation

Ability to contribute Ability to contribute and be recognised and be recognised for those for those contributionscontributions

Ability to earn self Ability to earn self respect, respect of respect, respect of others and ability to others and ability to contributecontribute

Self-esteemSelf-esteem

Belonging to a Belonging to a community as a community as a whole, and swarms whole, and swarms (subgroups)(subgroups)

Ability to give and Ability to give and receive love, receive love, belonging to a belonging to a groupgroup

SocialSocial

Protection from Protection from hacking and hacking and trolling, privacy, trolling, privacy, level playing fieldlevel playing field

Protection from Protection from crimes and war, crimes and war, living in a just living in a just societysociety

Security and Security and SafetySafety

System access, System access, retain management retain management of system identityof system identity

Food clothing Food clothing Shelter, health, Shelter, health,

PhysiologicalPhysiological

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The “Why” of social The “Why” of social networkingnetworking

Name – helps if it’s meaningfulName – helps if it’s meaningful Slogan – funky one linerSlogan – funky one liner Why – ‘public’ company reasonsWhy – ‘public’ company reasons Interface – colours are important Interface – colours are important

!! Human story – evil or good?Human story – evil or good? Content, tools, links – what’s Content, tools, links – what’s

inside?inside?Munif Ahmad

Name and MottoName and Motto

Fark.comFark.com Mother&BaMother&Ba

byby FacebookFacebook iYoMuiYoMu Flickr Flickr MySpaceMySpace YouTubeYouTube

……it’s Not News it’s Fark.comit’s Not News it’s Fark.com ?? ? (how many friends have you ? (how many friends have you

got)got) ……Social Networking for GrownupsSocial Networking for Grownups ……Loves YouLoves You ……a Place for Friends a Place for Friends (just not (just not

MINE)MINE) ……Broadcast YourselfBroadcast Yourself

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What to do?What to do?

Areas to meetAreas to meet Tools to communicate – blogs, Tools to communicate – blogs,

forumsforums News to readNews to read Tools to use – hosted, white Tools to use – hosted, white

label, or selflabel, or self Useability, sociability, Useability, sociability,

navigation, taxonomy, site mapsnavigation, taxonomy, site maps

Munif Ahmad

How to you like to communicate?How to you like to communicate?

Instant (synchronous), real time Instant (synchronous), real time supportsupport- instant messenger, broadcast, chat - instant messenger, broadcast, chat channels, SMS, virtual worlds, channels, SMS, virtual worlds, ventriloventrilo

Delayed (asynchronous)Delayed (asynchronous)- email, listserv, blogs, forums, wiki,- email, listserv, blogs, forums, wiki,

Either?Either?- Twitter, RSS, APIs- Twitter, RSS, APIs

Munif Ahmad

Who-to-who(m)?Who-to-who(m)?

One to One One to One - email, personal messages, chat- email, personal messages, chat

One to ManyOne to Many- blogs, - blogs,

Many to ManyMany to Many- forums- forums

Few to Few (gated)Few to Few (gated)- follow me services- follow me services

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Tools to UseTools to Use

HostedHostedFacebook, MySpace, Facebook, MySpace,

White LabelWhite LabelNing, Ning,

DIYDIYDrupal, Drupal,

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SummarySummary

Meeting places (role based) Meeting places (role based) - Newcomer- Newcomer- Off Topic- Off Topic- Elders- Elders

Meeting places (tool based)Meeting places (tool based)- forums- forums- blogs- blogs- wikis- wikis

ToolsTools NewsNews

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Who am I?Who am I?

Sign me up!Sign me up! Establish identity Establish identity Establish reputationEstablish reputation Establish trustEstablish trust Context: Context:

- system, personal, public (old)- system, personal, public (old)- as many profiles as needed - as many profiles as needed (new)(new)

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Sign Me Up!Sign Me Up!

Decide on Decide on Barrier to EntryBarrier to Entry and and stick to it!stick to it!

Sign up procedure Sign up procedure - Account, email confirmation- Account, email confirmation

Welcome emailWelcome emailUsername, passwordUsername, password

Importing friends listImporting friends list

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Establish ReputationEstablish Reputation

Who are the top contributors?Who are the top contributors? Most popular articles?Most popular articles? Newest members?Newest members? Newest comments?Newest comments? Latest uploaded media?Latest uploaded media? Featured blog, featured profileFeatured blog, featured profile Titles – guild, moderator (see Titles – guild, moderator (see

status later)status later)Munif Ahmad

Technical decisionsTechnical decisions

Images, video, mediaImages, video, media What constitutes porn, shock sitesWhat constitutes porn, shock sites CivilityCivility SpamSpam PrivacyPrivacy LiabilityLiability CensorshipCensorship Ownership of contentOwnership of content

Munif Ahmad

DocumentsDocuments

Member agreement.Member agreement. LegalLegal Community or Social GuidelinesCommunity or Social Guidelines Support IssuesSupport Issues

Help: FAQ, KnowledgebaseHelp: FAQ, Knowledgebase

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Tools for LeadersTools for Leaders

Moderators are a community Moderators are a community tootoo!! Own titles, own forums, own Own titles, own forums, own

areas/placesareas/places Evidence Locker – remove content Evidence Locker – remove content

to an evidence locker. Do not delete.to an evidence locker. Do not delete. Rap Sheet – keep a database of Rap Sheet – keep a database of

details of Watched, Warned, Banned details of Watched, Warned, Banned membersmembersIncludes, all IP addresses, signup Includes, all IP addresses, signup and all email addresses, links to and all email addresses, links to evidence locker, copy of Personal evidence locker, copy of Personal Messages.Messages. Munif Ahmad

EventsEvents

Personal CalendarPersonal Calendar Community calendarCommunity calendar ContestsContests MeetingsMeetings PerformancesPerformances Event co-ordinators (support them)Event co-ordinators (support them) Transitory forumTransitory forum Tools Tools *An important moment/highlight in the *An important moment/highlight in the

week. Even an update achieve week. Even an update achieve that… that…

Munif Ahmad

EventsEvents

Personal CalendarPersonal Calendar Community calendarCommunity calendar ContestsContests MeetingsMeetings PerformancesPerformances Event co-ordinators (support them)Event co-ordinators (support them) Transitory forumTransitory forum Tools Tools *An important moment/highlight in the *An important moment/highlight in the

week. Even an update achieve week. Even an update achieve that… that…

Munif Ahmad