The 50% milestone for Community Engagement

How do you know when an Online Community is working? One How do you know when an Online Community is working? One key indicator is when the community, as opposed to the key indicator is when the community, as opposed to the

Community Manager, Community Manager, stimulates 50% of discussionsstimulates 50% of discussions. How do . How do you reach that milestone?you reach that milestone?

Reaching the Reaching the 50% 50% MilestoneMilestone

When you are starting your community recruit a good When you are starting your community recruit a good set of Founder Members. Look for people who are not set of Founder Members. Look for people who are not

only knowledgeable and well-respected in the broader only knowledgeable and well-respected in the broader topic area, but also topic area, but also active and willing to lead active and willing to lead

discussions with othersdiscussions with others..

Founder MembersFounder Members

Have a plan for how you will reach new members outside the Have a plan for how you will reach new members outside the community. It may be asking existing new members to invite community. It may be asking existing new members to invite

others, a direct reach out online, or part of your sales others, a direct reach out online, or part of your sales process. New community members creates the process. New community members creates the opportunity opportunity

for new discussionsfor new discussions..

Growth StrategyGrowth Strategy

The role of the Community Manager is to The role of the Community Manager is to get people get people talkingtalking. Ask open, thought-provoking, and even personal . Ask open, thought-provoking, and even personal

questions. Post activities. Create events. Share a little questions. Post activities. Create events. Share a little bit of your own life.bit of your own life.

Initiate DiscussionsInitiate Discussions

DonDon’’t just wait for peoplet just wait for people’’s replies. Let them know that s replies. Let them know that ““an interesting discussion has startedan interesting discussion has started”” . You can use . You can use

automated notifications and emails, but donautomated notifications and emails, but don’’t be afraid t be afraid to reach out personally to members and ask for their to reach out personally to members and ask for their

contribution.contribution.

Invite RepliesInvite Replies

Create Create something special for your communitysomething special for your community. It could . It could be a video, an article, an infographic. Better still - invite be a video, an article, an infographic. Better still - invite your community members to your community members to co-createco-create something with something with

you. you.

Create ContentCreate Content

Make members feel Make members feel appreciated and valuedappreciated and valued. It might be . It might be something small like saying Happy Birthday or something small like saying Happy Birthday or

recognising an especially good post. Or it might be recognising an especially good post. Or it might be featuring their content or contribution in newsletters, featuring their content or contribution in newsletters,

sticky posts and feature areas.sticky posts and feature areas.

Spotlight MembersSpotlight Members

Identify Identify Founder MembersFounder Members who will happily lead who will happily lead discussiondiscussion

In Summary:In Summary:

Have a Have a Growth Strategy Growth Strategy to bring in new membersto bring in new members

Initiate discussionsInitiate discussions using questions, activities and using questions, activities and eventsevents

Invite repliesInvite replies directly and indirectly directly and indirectly

Create Create great contentgreat content

SpotlightSpotlight Member contributions Member contributions

Want More?Want More?

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