Comments on: Post dammit, or else! http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/ 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/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17426 Michelle Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:10:59 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17426 Sure, would be if the time was mine to invest. But if I spent over 4 hours a day just on typing posts, I would have no computer time left for anything else, including reading the other posts on the site. ;) I've come to a point where I've decided I'm just going to do my best, plugging away at it and posting as much as I can. But I'm not going to beat myself up over it if I can't post as much as I want or dont' get the response that I want. This is a hobby, not a business, so I'm giving myself permission to not worry about it so much. :) Michelle Sure, would be if the time was mine to invest. But if I spent over 4 hours a day just on typing posts, I would have no computer time left for anything else, including reading the other posts on the site. ;)

I’ve come to a point where I’ve decided I’m just going to do my best, plugging away at it and posting as much as I can. But I’m not going to beat myself up over it if I can’t post as much as I want or dont’ get the response that I want. This is a hobby, not a business, so I’m giving myself permission to not worry about it so much. :)

Michelle

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17417 Martin Reed - Blog Author Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:04:46 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17417 <strong>Michelle</strong> - Very true. I agree that 10 minutes per post would take up a lot of your time - but don't you think it would be a worthwhile investment? Michelle – Very true. I agree that 10 minutes per post would take up a lot of your time – but don’t you think it would be a worthwhile investment?

]]> By: Arm twisting community members into posting | Content Pays, from the keyboard of an internet entrepreneur http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17399 Arm twisting community members into posting | Content Pays, from the keyboard of an internet entrepreneur Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:39:40 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17399 [...] just read a blog post on Community Spark by Martin Reed on how to get new members to post and how to welcome them into the community. This [...] [...] just read a blog post on Community Spark by Martin Reed on how to get new members to post and how to welcome them into the community. This [...]

]]> By: Michelle http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17337 Michelle Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:17:31 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17337 I guess it depends how wordy you are. I generally spend at least 10 minutes on a post so 25 would be a huge chunk of time. I've been trying, lately, to put a bit more emphasis on quantity of quality. Not so much that I'm just posting crap, but rather not shying away from the one liners so much if that one liner can keep things moving along. It does seem to be working with keeping activity going. Still very slow by most peoples' standards but there's at least one new post by someone besides me every day whereas before I could go weeks without a post. So progress. :) Michelle I guess it depends how wordy you are. I generally spend at least 10 minutes on a post so 25 would be a huge chunk of time. I’ve been trying, lately, to put a bit more emphasis on quantity of quality. Not so much that I’m just posting crap, but rather not shying away from the one liners so much if that one liner can keep things moving along. It does seem to be working with keeping activity going. Still very slow by most peoples’ standards but there’s at least one new post by someone besides me every day whereas before I could go weeks without a post. So progress. :)

Michelle

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17327 Martin Reed - Blog Author Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:16:59 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17327 <strong>Michelle</strong> - I didn't think you would copy posts word for word; I just gave the warning as a general recommendation for all readers to take note of. 25 posts per day really needn't take all that long; and you may decide to just make 10 posts per day. Either way, you should ensure that there is new content on your site every day. <strong>Armen</strong> - That can be a good strategy to have; as long as your community is extremely desirable to join. If not, you risk new members simply being lazy and going to a competitor's site where there are no fences for them to jump over in order to enjoy full access. <strong>Mike</strong> - I agree with you that members should never be 'forced' to do anything, and if you do you will more often than not see poor quality posts in return. On your second point, yes - after a time, online communities can be self sustainable in terms of content. However, it will never run entirely by itself - you still need moderators, you still need to keep the community on the right track, and you will still need to keep the peace from time to time. <strong>Smiley</strong> -Thanks for your input; I am sure that both Michelle and other readers will find your advice useful. Michelle – I didn’t think you would copy posts word for word; I just gave the warning as a general recommendation for all readers to take note of. 25 posts per day really needn’t take all that long; and you may decide to just make 10 posts per day. Either way, you should ensure that there is new content on your site every day.

Armen – That can be a good strategy to have; as long as your community is extremely desirable to join. If not, you risk new members simply being lazy and going to a competitor’s site where there are no fences for them to jump over in order to enjoy full access.

Mike – I agree with you that members should never be ‘forced’ to do anything, and if you do you will more often than not see poor quality posts in return. On your second point, yes – after a time, online communities can be self sustainable in terms of content. However, it will never run entirely by itself – you still need moderators, you still need to keep the community on the right track, and you will still need to keep the peace from time to time.

Smiley -Thanks for your input; I am sure that both Michelle and other readers will find your advice useful.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17270 Michelle Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:24:52 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17270 25 posts a day?! Yikes... I hope I can make this work with less than that because I can't devote a few hours a day to posting. :( I can't believe your regs left over a porno video?! You're not running a porn site. Sheesh! Michelle 25 posts a day?! Yikes… I hope I can make this work with less than that because I can’t devote a few hours a day to posting. :(

I can’t believe your regs left over a porno video?! You’re not running a porn site. Sheesh!

Michelle

]]> By: Smiley http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17264 Smiley Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:52:57 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17264 I set myself a target. My target was Create 5 new threads everyday Make 20 replies every day. So all in all, just 25 posts per day. Doesn't take long, and you'd be surprised at the benefits. Say you have 4 loyal regulars. You make 5 new threads. That's 20 new posts right there from those 4 loyal regulars, 1 each on 5 threads. Then of course, they'll reply to each other. 4 posts to 5 replies. That's another 20 new posts. Then you reply to THEIR replies on your threads, say you reply to everything all 4 have said, soon enough you've got yourself over 100 new posts in just a day. Once there's a momentum going, you can start posting less and instead encourage your users to post new threads, reply to every single thread posted by every single person - it makes them feel more valued if the owner replies to their own personal thread. Soon enough you'll login to see hundreds of new posts. You just have to keep that interaction going, that's what I did, my little fingers were non-stop typing for the first 6 months I started the forum! But now I log into the forum in the morning to see 600+ new posts without fail, with barely any threads started by me. Well it's gone back down to 2-300 posts now since a few regs are in a huff (I removed a porno video one of the more popular regs posted so they're all in a bit of a huff about it :D) I set myself a target. My target was

Create 5 new threads everyday
Make 20 replies every day.

So all in all, just 25 posts per day. Doesn’t take long, and you’d be surprised at the benefits.

Say you have 4 loyal regulars. You make 5 new threads. That’s 20 new posts right there from those 4 loyal regulars, 1 each on 5 threads.

Then of course, they’ll reply to each other. 4 posts to 5 replies. That’s another 20 new posts. Then you reply to THEIR replies on your threads, say you reply to everything all 4 have said, soon enough you’ve got yourself over 100 new posts in just a day.

Once there’s a momentum going, you can start posting less and instead encourage your users to post new threads, reply to every single thread posted by every single person – it makes them feel more valued if the owner replies to their own personal thread. Soon enough you’ll login to see hundreds of new posts.

You just have to keep that interaction going, that’s what I did, my little fingers were non-stop typing for the first 6 months I started the forum! But now I log into the forum in the morning to see 600+ new posts without fail, with barely any threads started by me. Well it’s gone back down to 2-300 posts now since a few regs are in a huff (I removed a porno video one of the more popular regs posted so they’re all in a bit of a huff about it :D )

]]> By: Michelle http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17261 Michelle Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:25:34 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17261 Low?! I was offline all day (travelling) and logged on to see 6 new posts and was excited. If there were 200 I think I would faint dead away. LOL My site is a local community site, but most of the talk is in general chatter. It's more local people talking than people talking about local stuff. Thanks for the ideas offer. I'll take a look there. I've spent a bit of time on some of the bigger forums (scary places most of them) and compiled a list of thread ideas but I can always use more. I'm trying to do at least one new thread a day and only have enough for a few weeks that way. Michelle Low?! I was offline all day (travelling) and logged on to see 6 new posts and was excited. If there were 200 I think I would faint dead away. LOL

My site is a local community site, but most of the talk is in general chatter. It’s more local people talking than people talking about local stuff.

Thanks for the ideas offer. I’ll take a look there. I’ve spent a bit of time on some of the bigger forums (scary places most of them) and compiled a list of thread ideas but I can always use more. I’m trying to do at least one new thread a day and only have enough for a few weeks that way.

Michelle

]]> By: Smiley http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17253 Smiley Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:08:58 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17253 Good luck on your searches, Michelle :) what kind of forum is it? Is it a general forum? Does it have a relationships category etc? If you're weary about 'stealing' ideas from other forums, you're welcome to browse my categories I have a fair few dozen different categories (they're open to guest viewing) and take your pick at ideas. Especially the earlier posts, as most of them would have been made by me :D Getting a forum off the ground was a really hard task for me, so I put a lot of time and effort into creating threads upon threads. When you get those first few loyal regs posting, and then you login the next day to see 200 new posts.. oh what a feeling, I've never felt that feeling of self accomplishment in my life before. Then a few months afterwards when I logged into my chat room and saw 10 people in there chatting. So feel free to take any ideas you like if you think it'll help. Sounds like really silly low numbers, but when you're just starting out and didn't expect to go anywhere, oh the feeling is amazing. Good luck on your searches, Michelle :) what kind of forum is it? Is it a general forum? Does it have a relationships category etc? If you’re weary about ‘stealing’ ideas from other forums, you’re welcome to browse my categories I have a fair few dozen different categories (they’re open to guest viewing) and take your pick at ideas. Especially the earlier posts, as most of them would have been made by me :D

Getting a forum off the ground was a really hard task for me, so I put a lot of time and effort into creating threads upon threads. When you get those first few loyal regs posting, and then you login the next day to see 200 new posts.. oh what a feeling, I’ve never felt that feeling of self accomplishment in my life before. Then a few months afterwards when I logged into my chat room and saw 10 people in there chatting.

So feel free to take any ideas you like if you think it’ll help.

Sounds like really silly low numbers, but when you’re just starting out and didn’t expect to go anywhere, oh the feeling is amazing.

]]> By: Mike http://www.communityspark.com/post-dammit-or-else/#comment-17235 Mike Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:41:54 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/?p=687#comment-17235 Hi, Forcing anyone to do anything has never been a good idea and never will be. If you nevertheless "force" the members of a community to write and participate, the content will be very poor and "thin". The forum or cimmunity should very much run by it self - if it does not, it is not interesting enough! Just my five cent.... Hi,

Forcing anyone to do anything has never been a good idea and never will be. If you nevertheless “force” the members of a community to write and participate, the content will be very poor and “thin”.

The forum or cimmunity should very much run by it self – if it does not, it is not interesting enough!

Just my five cent….

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