Discussion

Just how we visit our dentist, eye doctor, or primary doctor on a periodic basis, we should also conduct an annual health check on our online communities. It's important to make sure everything's running smoothly and to address any issues before they become major problems. When you do your community's digital health check, what key aspects do you focus on? Are you looking at member engagement, content quality, or technical performance? Have you identified any common issues during these check-ups? Maybe a drop in active participation or technical glitches that affect user experience? What strategies have you found effective in addressing the problems id…

Each year brings its own set of challenges and opportunities. It's a time to reflect in 2023: Did we push the boundaries by embracing new ideas and processes, or did we find ourselves sticking to the familiar paths? Did you experiment with any new strategies or tools this year to manage your community, or did you rely on tried-and-tested methods? What prompted your choice? How did exposing yourself (or not) to new ideas impact your community? Did it lead to growth, more engagement, or perhaps some unexpected outcomes? Or did you stick with your comfort zone. Looking back, what would you have done differently in managing your community? Any particular …

Running an online community is a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs. As we pause for a bit of introspective reflection, it's interesting to think about our personal journeys in this dynamic digital landscape. It's not just about the community's growth, but also our own. Looking back, what's been your biggest challenge in managing or participating in our online community? Was it engagement, content moderation, or something totally unexpected? On the flip side, what's a success you're really proud of? It could be a thriving discussion you sparked, a conflict you resolved, or any small win that meant a lot to you. How have these experiences shaped y…

Setting and achieving goals is a powerful way to boost motivation, satisfaction, and purpose in both your personal and professional life. To ensure success, follow these five key strategies: 1. Define Your Goals: Create a list of specific, relevant, attainable, and time-bound goals. These goals should align with your long-term vision and values. 2. Break Down Goals: Divide your goals into smaller, manageable tasks. This prevents burnout and allows you to make steady progress. 3. Prioritize Your Goals: Identify and focus on the most important goals that align with your vision and values. Prioritization ensures you direct your energy effectively. 4. Have…

Innovation management is the key to staying competitive in today's dynamic business landscape. It's a systematic process that enables organizations to create and implement new ideas, products, and services strategically. To excel in innovation management, consider these five impactful practices: 1. Idea Generation: Encourage stakeholders, customers, and employees to contribute ideas. Use various methods like suggestion boxes, online innovation platforms, or brainstorming sessions to gather a diverse range of ideas. Example: LEGO Ideas is an online community where fans can submit and vote on new product ideas, turning customer creativity into real products. …

Most online communities have far-flung staff that work remotely, and managing a remote team comes with unique challenges and opportunities. As a community manager, it's vital to adapt your approach to keep your team engaged and productive. Here are eight impactful strategies for effective remote team management: 1. Provide the Right Tools: Equip your remote team with the necessary hardware and software for efficient work. Invest in communication apps, project management tools, and any hardware they need to excel remotely. Example: GitHub, a platform for software development, provides remote teams with collaborative coding tools, ensuring seamless work from…

Building and maintaining high-performing online communities is essential for achieving success. Just like in traditional organizations, these communities can be more innovative, adaptable, and productive when certain strategies are in place. Let's explore the top 5 impactful principles to foster high-performance in your online community: 1. Effective Leadership: Strong leadership is the cornerstone of high-performing online communities. Leaders should guide, support, and serve as role models for community members. They must empower individuals to take ownership of their contributions and decisions within the community. Example: In a thriving gaming forum, t…

Change management is a critical skill for community administrators and forum leaders. It's about guiding your digital space from its current state to a more advanced, efficient, and engaging future state. This journey involves implementing new technologies, modifying community structures, and adapting processes. To achieve this effectively, a blend of psychology, behavioral science, and strategic planning is essential. Strategies for Effective Change Management in Online Communities Develop a Robust Communication Plan: Communication is the backbone of change management. Explain the reasons (the "why") and details (the "what") of the change. Ensure transparency a…

Do you agree with this definition by Higher Logic of different types of technology solutions for groups? Inspired by Higher Logic: https://www.higherlogic.com/blog/online-communities-vs-forums-vs-portals-vs-knowledge-bases-whats-the-difference/

I was reading about community goals for 2024 on another forum administration site, and one post in particular hit home: Invariably, the goals of this group all centered around: more activity, more members, more activity (notice a theme??). What their goals didn't focus on were the tactics behind those goals. Everyone wants the results of a large and successful and thriving forum, but nobody wants to put in the work to achieve the results. They just want a big forum! If you state goals every year and never do anything about it, maybe it's the goalposts that need to be moved to something realistic, something achievable, and something that you can control.…

Delegation empowers you as a community manager to nurture your team, enhance productivity, and allocate more time to higher-level tasks. Let's delve into the key principles and steps of effective delegation, incorporating concepts from business school, behavioral psychology, and organizational management. 1. Choosing the Right Person: In the world of online communities, matching tasks to the interests, skills, and capacities of your team members is paramount. Consider their experience and their potential to shoulder the responsibility effectively. 2. Selecting the Right Task: Not all tasks are suitable for delegation. Start by identifying tasks that ca…

As an online community manager, fostering staff motivation and engagement is paramount to creating a positive and productive virtual environment. When community members are motivated and engaged, they not only become more satisfied and committed but also perform at their best. In this article, we will explore key principles and strategies, drawing from business school concepts, behavioral psychology, and organizational management, to help you enhance motivation and engagement within your online community. 1. Leadership Management: Effective leadership is the cornerstone of staff motivation and engagement. Managers should exemplify approachability, provide unwave…

Transformational management emerges as a powerful approach to inspire and motivate community members to reach their full potential. Rooted in the transformational leadership theory pioneered by James MacGregor Burns in 1978, this management style revolves around fostering commitment, dedication, and a positive work environment. In this article, we delve into the key characteristics of transformational management, offering insights on how community managers can apply this approach effectively. 1. The Power of Charisma: Transformational managers possess charisma that enables them to connect with and influence their community members. Leveraging their interpersonal…

One of the IPS management team members leaked out a part of their future V5 roadmap by saying one of their most popular apps is getting a huge update: The fact that they already know Pages is getting a major update means they already have a strong idea about how they want to further develop the app. One of the changes we already know is that IPS previously announced incorporating Blogs into Pages, but this seems to be much more. Pages is already a very robust and mature app, with plenty of options to create custom databases - in fact, it's one of my most favorite apps out of the IPS ecosystem. Not many other legacy forum developers offers anything close to th…

If you run an online community, you may be looking for ways you can decorate your online community for the holidays to give your community that festive feel. Below we give you some creative ways in which you can decorate your online community for the holidays to create an engaging and festive atmosphere: Customize the Logo: Consider modifying your community logo to include some festive holiday elements. This can help to bring a festive holiday twist to your community to reflect the festive season. Festive Themed Banners and Graphics: Your community will more than likely have banners and graphics for promotional and marketing purposes. Modifying t…

It's December and the holiday season is in full swing! If you are a leader of an online community, you may be looking for ways to bring holiday fun to your community. Below we give you some ideas that are not only fun but will also encourage engagement for your online community: A Virtual Holiday Party: You could consider hosting a virtual holiday party for your community that involves music, virtual gift exchanges or party games. You can utilize platforms such as Discord or Zoom to create a festive holiday party atmosphere. Festive Themed Challenges: Holiday-themed challenges which your community members can participate in can be created by you…

Have you ever joined an online group or forum? If you have, then you've probably seen the work of online community managers. They're a bit like the behind-the-scenes heroes of the online world. Think of them like the managers in a store. Just as a store manager makes sure things run smoothly, an online community manager does the same for digital groups. The Different Jobs a Community Manager Does Doer: They make things happen! If there's a plan or idea, they'll work to make it real. Problem Solver: When there's a big change or issue in the group, they help sort it out. Helper: Sometimes, new group leaders need a bit of guidance. Community managers…

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, online community managers play an essential role. Just as great general managers focus on pivotal tasks, online community managers have their set of responsibilities tailored to the digital realm. Here's how they work: Crafting a Welcoming Online Environment: The "feel" and culture of an online community is what sets it apart. Performance standards, community guidelines, and user behaviors dictate the community's atmosphere. High standards ensure that the community thrives, with respect, collaboration, and creativity at its core. Setting goals, like user engagement targets or content posting frequencies, push the communit…

The rise of online communities and forums has revolutionized the way we interact, share information, and build relationships. Just as in traditional team settings, establishing ground rules is pivotal for fostering effective communication and collaboration within these online platforms. Types of Ground Rules in Online Communities Procedural Rules: These are akin to the rules of engagement. In the context of online forums, they might refer to guidelines like posting frequency, the timing of responses, or ensuring that every member's voice gets heard in a crowded discussion thread. Abstract Rules: These are broader and pertain to the community's mission o…

In the ever-evolving landscape of online communities, the ability to navigate uncertainty and leverage opportunities is crucial for community managers and forum administrators. Based on consulting work with 20,000 executives and research from the Wharton School, this article delves into six essential skills for strategic leadership in the digital realm, especially in unpredictable environments. The Six Pillars of Strategic Leadership in Online Communities Anticipating Trends and Changes Strategic leaders in online communities are adept at foreseeing shifts and trends. Like the CEO who diversified his product portfolio in response to market changes, a communit…

The role of a community manager is multifaceted, with decision-making being a critical skill. Effective judgment – the ability to make sound decisions in the absence of clear data or an obvious path – is essential. This article, tailored for online community managers and forum administrators, explores how to enhance this vital skill. Understanding Good Judgment in Online Communities Good judgment in online communities involves more than just responding to data or trends. It's about understanding the unique dynamics of your community, empathizing with its members, and making decisions that resonate with the community's ethos. For instance, when Reddit administrators m…

The role of community administrators and moderators goes beyond just maintaining decorum. At the heart of it all, they're expected to be exceptional listeners. By doing so, they not only foster a positive user experience but also reduce the chances of conflicts that could lead to user turnover. Why Active Listening Matters in Online Spaces Active listening in online forums isn't about merely reading user posts. It requires comprehending the underlying messages, sentiments, and emotions. In a platform where non-verbal cues are absent, every word can carry weight. This form of listening involves both cognitive and emotional intelligence. For community manager…

In the ever-evolving landscape of online communities, the role of a community manager as a leader is increasingly pivotal. Drawing from the article "Managers and Leaders: Are They Different?" by Professor of Leadership Emeritus at Harvard Business School Abraham Zaleznik, this article offer insights into developing effective leadership in online communities, a realm where traditional managerial approaches meet the dynamic needs of digital interaction. The Transformation from Manager to Leader Leadership transcends conventional management. It's not just about maintaining order or ensuring smooth operations; it's about inspiring change, fostering engagement, and buildi…

In online communities where engagement and influence are paramount, mastering the art of persuasion is crucial. This is especially true for community managers, who need to inspire action, foster participation, and build a vibrant community. Drawing from insights shared by Robert McKee, a renowned screenwriting lecturer, we explore how the power of storytelling can be a game-changer in the art of persuasion for online community managers. The Power of Storytelling in Online Communities Traditionally, business communication has leaned heavily on data-driven rhetoric, often relying on tools like PowerPoint presentations and formal reports. However, this approach can…

Community leadership plays a paramount role in online communities. Just as in the physical organizations, the digital world thrives on the power of human collaboration. It's not about gaining popularity, having the most members, or showcasing the shiniest platform; it's about accomplishing shared goals through collective effort. Understanding Members' Goals: For an online community administrator, understanding the goals of individual members and the collective objectives of the group is fundamental. By recognizing these aspirations, leaders can ensure the community thrives in harmony. Motivating Members Effectively: Simply offering virtual badges or ranking poin…