Real World SharePoint:Build a SharePoint

Community

Introduction

Mark MillerFounder and Editor

EndUserSharePoint.comChief Community Officer and SharePoint Evangelist

Global 360

Mark Miller, Founder and EditorEndUserSharePoint.com

New York City

EndUserSharePoint.comCommunity of SharePoint

Authors1,600 articles

12,000 comments50,000 page views a week

13,500 newsletter subscribers

Global 360 Chief Community Officer and SharePoint Evangelist

Mark MillerCurrent Community Engagements

Agenda

Twitter Hash

#tec2010

What is Community?

The Building Blocks of Community

The Best (and Worst) Practicesfor Community Building

Best Practices

Best Practices

Q&A

What is Community?

Definition

“…. a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists”

-- Dictionary.com

“…. group sharing common characteristics or interests”

-- Dictionary.com

“…. perceived or perceiving itself as distinct”

-- Dictionary.com

Why do people join communities?

By Orion Miller, Age 7

“If you don’t know something, somebody else might.”

-- Orion Miller

“With one person, it’s hard to do a lot of things at once.”

-- Orion Miller

“The bigger the group, the better.”

-- Orion Miller

Why do people join communities?

By Mark Miller, Age <unknown>

Initial interest (Lurker)Looking for an idea.

Initial Participation (Minor Participant)Identify with a specific idea

Continued Participation (Evangelist)Recognition for their ideas and contributions

Types of Communities

External Internal

External

User GroupsSharePoint SaturdaysWeb SitesTwitterForums

Internal

User GroupsSupport GroupsPower UsersBrown Bag

Q&A

Building Blocks of a CommunityFinding and Nurturing Followers

Get Started: Participate

“Community is built through participation and contribution.”

-- Mark Miller

Participate

Leave comments in existing communities

Participate

Ask and answer questions in existing forums

Participate

Join events as a speaker

SharePoint SaturdaysLocal User Group

Get Started: Your First Followers

Dessie Lunsford

Chris Quick

External Forums

Discussion Forum

Laura Rogers

Eric Alexander

CommentsJames LoveJason MacKenziePeter AllenMichael GreeneJay SimcoxAlexander BautzJim Bob HowardSara Haase

Pat Iovanella - Ruven GotzRichard HarbridgeJohn FerringerKerri Abraham

Types of Followers

99% .9%

.1%

Lurkers

99% of your community

Minor Participants

.9% of your community

Evangelists

.1% of your community

Building Blocks of a CommunityCommunity Structure

Vehicles for Participation

Get Started: Blog

SharePointJoel.comJoel Oleson

Get Started: Wiki

SharePointDevWiki.comJeremy Thake

Get Started: Forum

SharePointOverflow.comAlex Angus (moderator)Nick Swan (instigator)Sam Dolan (branding)

How long will it take?

“If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.”

-- Anonymous

Worst PracticesWhen Building Community

3 Best Practices

Worst Practice

Build it and they will come

Provide new content…

Worst Practice

once a week

Worst Practice

Worry about ownership of content

Best PracticesWhen Building Community

4 Best Practices

Best Practice

Start with a party of one, and act as a content filter.

Best Practice

Provide fresh content… every, single day.

Best Practice

Consistently acknowledge participants, even for the smallest contribution.

Best Practice

Listen to the participants. Conversation will dictate when it’s time to expand the vision.

Conclusion

“I will never be Joel Oleson”-- Mark Miller

New Community

Business Process Management: EndUser BPM

“Thank you for coming.”

Mark MillerFounder and EditorEndUserSharePoint.com

Chief Community Officer and SharePoint EvangelistGlobal 360