Discussion

Effective strategy execution is the cornerstone of success. Whether you're running a niche forum, a social network, or an online support community, the ability to implement your strategy can make or break your community's growth and impact. Let's explore how the principles of strategy execution apply to managing and developing online communities. The Challenge of Strategy Execution Online communities, like businesses, face their unique challenges when it comes to executing their strategies. Many community managers have experienced the frustration of setting ambitious goals, only to find themselves struggling to translate them into action. Just as global CEOs wre…

The journey of launching and growing online communities and forums can be likened to the challenges faced by digital platform businesses in attracting and mobilizing users. Successful platforms, such as social media networks and collaborative forums, effectively connect a diverse array of users, facilitating interactions and information sharing. To embark on this path and achieve lasting success, community managers should ponder five fundamental questions tailored to their context: 1. Can I Attract a Diverse User Base? Building a thriving online community hinges on attracting a diverse and engaged user base. This diversity can encompass contributors, moderators,…

As the year winds down and the festive season gears up, it's fascinating to see how holiday traditions and rituals paint our communities with unique hues of celebration. From the aroma of special holiday dishes to the sparkle of festive decorations, each tradition holds a story. What unique holiday traditions or rituals do you cherish in your community? Are they long-standing customs or new practices that have blossomed over recent years? How do these traditions reflect the cultural tapestry of your community? Do they merge global influences with local flair? Have you adopted any new rituals or practices from other cultures or communities that have now…

As we navigate through 2023, it's clear that this year has thrown a unique set of challenges and problems our way. It's a mixed bag of hurdles, from global uncertainties to personal and professional growth barriers. Let's take a moment to reflect and share our experiences. What's the biggest challenge you've faced this year, either professionally or personally? Was it an anticipated hurdle, or did it catch you off guard? How are these challenges different from those you encountered in the past years? Are we seeing a pattern or a paradigm shift in the types of problems we're facing? What strategies or solutions have you found effective in addressing the…

I at the moment have two webmaster articles written up and ready to be added to a website. They are under the webmaster niche and I will have more very soon, this thread will be updated regularly with new articles along with the niche they fall under. The articles I have ready at the moment for sale are: Webmaster: Effective Website Setup Guide (1045 words) - £10 ($13 US) On-Page SEO Actionable Steps (778 words) - £7 ($9 US) Managing Multiple Websites (1072 words) - £10 ($13 US) How you can make money as a webmaster (817 words) - £8 ($10.20 US) I can show snippets of the articles I have written up if requested. All payments are to be made vi…

Use the coupon code Zayed2024 at checkout to save 20% off the purchase price of any resource at https://zayed.solutions/ The coupon will be valid from now until Dec. 31, 2023, 11:59 PM GMT

Inspired by this quote by James Clear: When I visit communities, one of the biggest problems that I see is that they try to do too much - they try to be everything to everyone, with boards for every single potential discussion. Are you a board owner where you try to offer multiple services to capture the widest audience? Or do you slim down to a few core strengths?

One of the most important things you can do as a community leader is to express vulnerability. You can share your own experiences, your challenges, your hardships, and encourage others to open up as well. But there's a difference between vulnerability and oversharing? Did you ever have a situation where a member overshared what is appropriate? I have members who reach out to me in the Contact Form about a problem, and then end up telling me their entire life story (they have cancer! their internet access is bad!). It's irrelevant to solving their problem.

In a community, you are as smart as the smartest person in the community.

Now you can buy all the products with a 50% discount from Valacoding.com. https://valacoding.com

"You say 'amateur' as if it was a dirty word. 'Amateur' comes from the Latin word 'amare', which means to love. To do things for the love of it." Source: Mozart in the Jungle

Have you used free forum hosting services like Proboards or jcink? What are the pros and cons of using free forum hosting services? Do you think upgrading to premium services on these free forum hosting platforms is a good idea? Can you move these free hosted forums to premium platforms like Xenforo or even open source like phpBB?

There are board games where everyone competes against each other to earn the most points, to race to a certain milestone, or to win at the expense of others. There are also board games where you collaborate to get the most points. If your community conversations were a board game, what would they be like? Are they collaborative in helping each other seek sucess? Or are they a race to gamification points for each individual? I'm a member of several communities where members make smart observations, they provide great insights, but there is no sense of collaboration.

You're the community admin. You get totally, completely locked out from your own community - you can't access the server, you can't acess the admin control panel, you can't access your member account. Or, to put it anothre way, what if you go on a sabbatical break for 3 months. What will happen? Do you have a trusted co-admin who is on your account and can run the community without you? Can you community survive for multiple months without your direct involvement? Inspired by Drew Pontikis of Let's Talk Communities of Practice.

I know this sounds like a strange question, but you sometimes get a member who cares too much! Is that a bad problem? Usually these members are very involved, very active, post great suggestions and feedback. That can be great for your site's engagement. But can it be too much? On the other hand, these members can start acting like they co-run the community or that they know more about running the site. They publicly challenge your leadership or competency. Do you have members who care too much?

Leading an online community is a multifaceted challenge, especially when it comes to keeping your team motivated. Traditional motivational strategies might fall short in a digital environment where physical presence and face-to-face interactions are absent. However, by delving into the realm of psychology, online community leaders can unlock advanced methods to inspire and energize their teams. Here are some psychologically-grounded tactics that can significantly uplift your team's motivation levels. 1. Understanding Individual Motivators: The Self-Determination Theory According to the Self-Determination Theory, people are motivated by intrinsic factors (like pe…

Community Hive is the latest free-to-use service by IPS that consolidates and shares the activity of communities that opt in. https://invisioncommunity.com/news/invision-community/introducing-community-hive-r1285/ On its own merits and for its stated purposes, the Hive is an exciting project. It should allow community owners to broaden their reach, allow their content to go viral in a new channel, and bring in more registered users. Whether you're a Xenforo client or a self hosted IPS client, there's no reason not to use the Hive. The Hive should genuinely add value to your community. But that's not why I'm really excited. To me, the true power of the…

An important aspect of leadership is inspiring your team to increase their chances of promotion. A team that is engaged and motivated is more likely to perform its best and achieve the results that will make them a strong candidate for future promotions. Below we give you some strategies to inspire your team to increase promotion chances: Promote a Positive Work Environment: An inclusive and positive work culture should be fostered to enable your team members to feel valued and empowered. Encourage open communication and collaboration. Empower Decision-Making: Team members should be allowed to make decisions and take ownership of their work wit…

online communities have become powerful platforms for collective action, learning, and support. However, leading these communities to achieve specific group goals requires more than just good intentions. Here are foundational principles that can guide your online community toward success. 1. Establish Clear, Shared Goals The first step in guiding your community is to define clear, achievable goals. What does the community aim to accomplish? Whether it's raising awareness about a cause, providing mutual support, or creating a knowledge-sharing platform, having a shared goal gives direction and purpose. Encourage open discussions about these goals and ensure that …

Below we give you a scenario regarding creating change through leadership You are the leader of a mid-sized community, company or organization which has been facing several challenges. The market is evolving quite rapidly and your competitors are consistently ahead. You find that your team and employees are becoming disengaged and you have noticed a lack of alignment within your teams. Due to this, you have decided that it is time for drastic change to reinvigorate your community, company or organization and position it as a leader in your industry once again. Below are ways in which you can approach this scenario to create change through leadership:…

Leaders who are in leadership positions can often find guidance and inspiration from a wide range of leadership quotes. You will be surprised at how much you can learn and how inspired you can be just by reading quotes from others who have been in leadership positions in the past or are still in those positions. Below we give you some timeless quotes that as a leader, you should consider living by: "Leadership is not about being the best. It is about making everyone else better." - Bill Gates "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." - Ronald Reagan …

As a leader, when you develop an effective leadership strategy, you need to be doing it with a structured and thoughtful approach. Below we give you a step-by-step foundational guide to help you develop and create a strategy that will work for your organization, company, community or team. Analyze the Current Situation: A thorough analysis of your company, community or organization should be conducted to establish its current state. This will involve understanding the weaknesses, strengths, threats (SWOT Analysis) and opportunities. Having a clear grasp as a starting point is crucial. Understand Your Purpose and Vision: You should start b…

As a leader of any community, company or organization you will want to ensure that your employees or team members are not only motivated but that you are able to uplift them as well. We know that having team members or employees who are motivated can help in achieving the goals and visions we have but uplifting our team members and employees can help so much more. Below we give you some quotes from famous people and leaders that you can use to inspire your employees or team members: "Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life." – Steve Jobs "In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." – Albert Einstein "Leaders…

You are a new leader and you have recently taken on a new leadership role within an online community. The community specializes in offering a platform that is safe and welcoming for those on the internet to be able to meet new people and share opinions and tips. As the new leader of the online community, you now face several challenges as you take a step into this role. Your Challenges: Understanding the Community Culture: The first challenge you have as a new leader is to assess and understand the existing community culture. You will need to communicate with team members of the community, both formally and informally to determine their concerns ideas…

Leading an online community comes with unique challenges, particularly when it comes to motivating your team. As a Community Leader, your goal is to create an environment that not only drives the team towards achieving community goals but also keeps members engaged and invested in their roles. Here are some effective strategies to motivate your team as an online community leader. 1. Establish Clear Goals and Vision Start by setting clear, achievable goals for your community. This gives your team a concrete objective to work towards and a clear understanding of what success looks like. It's crucial to communicate your community's vision and how each team mem…