Comments on: Launching a new online community http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/ Community Building Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:04:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Michelle http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-23794 Michelle Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:49:38 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-23794 @Christina: What makes you think he's not passionate about women? ;) Michelle @Christina: What makes you think he’s not passionate about women? ;)

Michelle

]]> By: Christina http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-23791 Christina Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:56:47 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-23791 Martin, You state that you are a strong advocate of only developing a community based around a subject you are passionate about. I am surprised to see that you decided to launch a site about women, although I understand why you made the decision. I am currently struggling with the same exact thing and haven't decided if I should create a community that I am not passionate about. Martin,
You state that you are a strong advocate of only developing a community based around a subject you are passionate about. I am surprised to see that you decided to launch a site about women, although I understand why you made the decision. I am currently struggling with the same exact thing and haven’t decided if I should create a community that I am not passionate about.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Community Manager http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-22844 Martin Reed - Community Manager Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:33:01 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-22844 <strong>Scared</strong> - Does your existing site contain any user generated content? If you already have people commenting on your content, then you can approach a small number of those commenters to be the first members of the new community. Keep it closed at first, and exclusive. Use your facebook group to invite a small number of people to join the new community. Only invite the right people - those you know and have a relationship with. Tell them what you're building, why you're building it and how it will benefit them. People don't mind emptiness when they're expecting it. If they know they're the first members and that they're part of an exclusive gang, they'll be more motivated to contribute and make a success of the forum. Good luck. Scared – Does your existing site contain any user generated content? If you already have people commenting on your content, then you can approach a small number of those commenters to be the first members of the new community.

Keep it closed at first, and exclusive. Use your facebook group to invite a small number of people to join the new community. Only invite the right people – those you know and have a relationship with.

Tell them what you’re building, why you’re building it and how it will benefit them.

People don’t mind emptiness when they’re expecting it. If they know they’re the first members and that they’re part of an exclusive gang, they’ll be more motivated to contribute and make a success of the forum.

Good luck.

]]> By: Scared to Launch http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-22833 Scared to Launch Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:08:57 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-22833 Thanks for all the great articles, Martin, I have learned a ton from them. I run a site that generates decent traffic, and that is (in my opinion) the perfect niche for a support-oriented forum. I have the forum built, a couple of great moderators ready to go, but I'm terrified to launch it. Because of the 'helping' nature of the niche, I don't want to create users myself to generate content, because trust will be huge. But how else do I get things going? I have a facebook group of around 600 members...would opening it to them first be OK in order to start generating some action, or are they also unlikely to participate in an empty forum (as I'm quite sure my search engine traffic visitors would be)? I'm just so scared of starting it, because nothing drives away traffic on a site like a ghost town forum! Thanks for all the great articles, Martin, I have learned a ton from them.

I run a site that generates decent traffic, and that is (in my opinion) the perfect niche for a support-oriented forum. I have the forum built, a couple of great moderators ready to go, but I’m terrified to launch it.

Because of the ‘helping’ nature of the niche, I don’t want to create users myself to generate content, because trust will be huge. But how else do I get things going?

I have a facebook group of around 600 members…would opening it to them first be OK in order to start generating some action, or are they also unlikely to participate in an empty forum (as I’m quite sure my search engine traffic visitors would be)?

I’m just so scared of starting it, because nothing drives away traffic on a site like a ghost town forum!

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-17731 Martin Reed - Blog Author Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:24:16 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-17731 <strong>Nicu</strong> - My members create the majority of content in the forums. Of the users you mention, I used to post under the username 'Sally' but haven't done so since 3rd December. Nicu – My members create the majority of content in the forums. Of the users you mention, I used to post under the username ‘Sally’ but haven’t done so since 3rd December.

]]> By: Nicu http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-17708 Nicu Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:16:16 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-17708 Hey Martin, Great job with the new forum. I am also planning on launching a similar community but in a slightly different niche. And here comes the question: how much of your forum's content is created by you and how much by your members? Souxi, Squeezy, Crazycat and Sally are the users that participate the most. Is this you posting under different accounts, are they real users or are they your friends? Sorry if I am indiscreet. I just want to get a feeling of how much work is required on my part when launching a new community. Hey Martin,

Great job with the new forum. I am also planning on launching a similar community but in a slightly different niche.

And here comes the question: how much of your forum’s content is created by you and how much by your members? Souxi, Squeezy, Crazycat and Sally are the users that participate the most. Is this you posting under different accounts, are they real users or are they your friends? Sorry if I am indiscreet. I just want to get a feeling of how much work is required on my part when launching a new community.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-17423 Martin Reed - Blog Author Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:25:58 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-17423 <strong>Kalin</strong> - At the moment Female Forum is not monetised. There are a lot of ways to <a href="http://www.communityspark.com/10-ways-to-make-money-from-online-communities/">make money from online communities</a>, though. Kalin – At the moment Female Forum is not monetised. There are a lot of ways to make money from online communities, though.

]]> By: kalin http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-17370 kalin Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:41:12 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-17370 you are right- url is memorable, design rocks, content-excellent. The time it took you was definitely time well spend. How do you monetize your site? I have been thinking about that for a few months already. I have about 600 people on my list and want to build a community where people can get to know each other. Look forward to hearing from You you are right- url is memorable, design rocks, content-excellent. The time it took you was definitely time well spend. How do you monetize your site? I have been thinking about that for a few months already. I have about 600 people on my list and want to build a community where people can get to know each other.
Look forward to hearing from You

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-17167 Martin Reed - Blog Author Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:08:46 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-17167 <strong>Paul</strong> - Have you ever used the <a href="https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal" target="_blank">Google Adwords Keyword Tool</a>? It's a fantastic tool that helps you research keywords and gauge the interest people have for certain subjects. Paul – Have you ever used the Google Adwords Keyword Tool? It’s a fantastic tool that helps you research keywords and gauge the interest people have for certain subjects.

]]> By: Paul http://www.communityspark.com/launching-a-new-online-community/#comment-17156 Paul Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:14:23 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=647#comment-17156 What kind of research do you do before you decide what niche to after next? What type of forecasting do you do? What kind of research do you do before you decide what niche to after next? What type of forecasting do you do?

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