What Challenges Are You Facing on Your Online Community?

Hi,

I would be interested if you could post some words of wisdom/ do’s and dont’s for search marketers and SEO experts who are approaching online forums for advertising, linkbacks etc.

For example, we’re seeing a lot of these emails and we have a rule against advertising and linkbacks on our forum so they’re wasting their time and ours in the process. But there are others out there who’d love to be approached I guess.

Thanks so much for the suggestion, annie. That’s a great idea. Here is some writing that I’ve done on this topic:

https://www.managingcommunities.com/2011/01/13/quick-and-easy-guide-to-company-and-brand-engagement-on-communities-you-dont-own/
http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/how-to-engage-in-online-forums-for-your-brand/
http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2009/04/27/4-simple-rules-for-generating-traffic-from-forums/

If you feel that there is an element of this that I could cover in a different, I’d love to hear any suggestions.

Thanks,

Patrick

Hi Patrick

Thanks find writing such a helpful blog. I’ve been reading for a while and find it useful.
I’ve just started a paid community with a handful of members. I will providing a lot of member generated content (over time) by, for example, interviewing members.
I’m keen to encourage participation, especially to ensure people feel they are getting value but I don’t want to push people when they have busy lives and become a ‘nag’. Do you have any suggestions on how I manage this balance?

Thanks

Alex

Thanks for the comment and kind words, Alex. Glad it has been helpful to you.

Usually when people join a premium member community, they want value they don’t create, value that comes to them with them not doing anything. So, they want value without participating. Are you finding that your community is more accepting of a different strategy?

Regarding your question, it sounds like you are looking for suggestions on how to encourage people to participate in a community without annoying them. Is that accurate?

I appreciate your time.

Thanks,

Patrick

Hey Patrick.

OK here’s one problem I’m having, and I’m finding it’s gradually getting worse as my community grows.

A few months back it was tolerable, minimal complaints, but now the community is growing and we have a whole bunch of new regulars.. who now for the first time outnumber the “core old regulars” who started the community off and got it going there seem to be some ‘cultural clashes’ going on, and with the new regulars actually outnumbering the core regulars I’m a little bit stuck in the middle pondering over which side I should lean towards.

Here’s the problem, the core regulars love JFC for its jovial, light-hearted banter. The tongue-in-cheek jabs at each other, the laughs, the harmless little wind ups that go on, the crazy characters. These people migrated to JFC from my former community, so already had a rapport with me, already knew me, trusted me etc.

The new regulars that have now “taken over” (for lack of a better phrase) love JFC for its strict no-perv policies, approachable and well organized staff, they feel important and part of the computer, their suggestions and thoughts are praised and listened to, they can chat and make friends safe in the knowledge that pervs and trolls are actively seeked out and subsequently kept out…

But the majority of them are either quite new to chatting, or are a little thin skinned still and generally don’t get along with the core regulars where water bounces off a duck’s back so to speak.

So this is where the arguments and the clashes start, the core, old regulars try to be welcoming and integrate them.. they joke with them, where the newer regulars take it quite the wrong way and a fight ensues, people get upset, ask why such and such hasn’t been banned for his comments despise the comments being obviously and deliberately overtly tongue-in-cheek.

So there’s a huge cultural clash there, it’s gotten to the point where the newer regs think the old regs are nothing but a nuisance, and the old regs think the new regs are all “cry babies” in the words of one of the old regs.

How would one approach this to get this lot together in some sort of middle ground understanding and get them to bond?

I was thinking of opening up a second chat room on the site now we’re growing to this point.. but I’m not a great fan of segregating a community where we’ll end up in a position where sub-Community A hates sub-Community B and sub-Community B won’t talk to anyone who goes into sub-Community A kind of situation.

But this maybe the only viable option, and has been requested to me by a few of the members.

I’d be interested to see if you had any bonding methods or ideas I could try before I go for full-blown segregation.

Thanks Tommy. I appreciate you sharing that with me. I will give this some thought.

Patrick

It’s a little more complicated. There is value provided by me. For example, hosting discussions on subject of interest to a professional community that are then stored on the site Fir current and future members. I also offer free membership to those who have experience and offer coaching and advice to other community members.

Your interpretation is correct. When people join, I interview each each one to find out their goal on joining. I advise on how to use the community to achieve their goals.

I’d appreciate any advice

Alex

Thanks for the reply, Alex. I’ll give it some thought.

Patrick

Thanks Patrick.
Btw, I’ve ordered your book. I’m looking forward to reading it.

Thanks so much, Alex. I really appreciate you picking up the book.

Patrick

You won’t regret it, Alex :) I’ve read it twice front to back now.

Thanks Tommy! :)