Building an online communityfrom scratch

Why, Where, How?

Who is Martin Reed?

• JustChat.co.uk - Founded in 2000.– Up to 600 simultaneous chat room users– Over 400,000 forum posts since December ‘04– Over 250,000 messages sent since May ‘06

• SoapForum.co.uk

• FemaleForum.com

I build online communities.

Why an online community?

Knowledge

Relationship

Loyalty

Reduce costs

Reputation

Benefit your members!

Brand

Where do we build the community?Who are your potential members?Where are your potential members?

or…

Build it yourself?

One place, one opportunity.

Building a community from scratch

Vital Requirements:

• Members before day one

• Activity before day one

• Buzz before day one

• FUN before day one

Inactivity breeds inactivity.

Step One - Start the Search

• Who are potential members?

• Where are they likely to be?

When you find them, stop.

Step Two - Admire from a Distance

• You are in their environment

• You are a stranger

• You are commercial(probably)

• Learn and understand

A lot is at stake.

Step Three - Build a Relationship

• Get involved

• Add real value

• Be genuine

• Be honest

• LEARN

Do not initiate private communication...

…yet!

Step Four - Reach Out

This is a critical stage butnow you are:

• Known

• Respected (hopefully)

Who are you?Why are you contacting them?How do they fit in with your plans?Ego stroke but be genuine.

Step Five - Recruit• Why them? Not everyone getsinvited.

• What are the benefits forthem?

• What are you asking for?

• Be personal and specific.

• Some will be easier thanothers.

• Just the beginning.

Step Six - Develop

The community needs to be tailored to its members, NOT your business.

Name Design

Purpose

Functionality Personality

Member Benefits

Step Seven - Retain• Keep these members

• Existing relationship

• Knowledge

• Activity

• Loyalty

• Buzz

You need these members up to launch day and beyond.

Step Eight - Repeat

• Continue reaching out

• Continuous process

• New relationships

• New members

• New ideas

But don’t forget about your existing members!

Embrace Unknowns• Community building is an artnot a science

• There are no right or wronganswers or strategies (kind of)

• People not numbers

• Experiment

• Take risks

•MANAGEMENT BUY-IN

martin@communityspark.com

Resources and discussion: http://www.communityspark.com/inforte