[drupal-docs] Fwd: 10 STEPS TO AN ONLINE COMMUNITY [ was Re: Dailykos debating CivicSpace ]

[Laura Scott]

Maybe there are two (or more) approaches to this list:

(1) How do build a community with a website. (There is no existing 
community, just a potential membership. You're creating it with the site.)

(2) How to build a website that serves an existing community. (There is 
an existing community. It needs tools to maximize its potential, but 
doesn't know how to evaluate the tools or their own online needs.)

I think Liza's question might be directed towards #2. Yet approach #1 
would be important for other people. Of course there's some overlap, but 
I see two distinct directions here. What a community or political 
organization needs to consider in a CMS, for example, is very different 
than what John Smith needs to consider in creating a website for 
collectors of Beanie Babies. Both are community website efforts. Both 
might use the same features. But they're asking different questions.

Laura


Andre Molnar wrote:

><snip>
>In no particular order (besides number 1).
>
>1) Be sure that the community is worth building.  Could you build a 
>southern atheist mullet appreciation and prayer group community?  Sure, 
>but is it worth the trouble if your community will consist of only 1 
>confused individual?
>
>2) Shop around for your software/hardware platform.  Pick one.  Learn it 
>and learn it well.  Know the tools of your trade.
>3) Start developing content (posts)... and don't stop writing.
>4) Engage the community. Make people feel like they belong.  Get people 
>to participate.
>5) Build a network and tap into an existing community.  Build personal 
>relationships with other people building similar communities.
>6) Be inclusive, but don't try to be everything to everyone.
>
>andre
>
>
>  
>
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