We all know nothing. We don’t really know what is going to happen with a social space, it’s worth just watching what your users are doing and allowing them to help you develop.
Making an ass out of you and me…an old, horrible phrase but can we not just ask rather than make assumptions? How can you know what your community wants without asking it? Your community are waiting for your to get involved and ask them what they think should happen, after all it is for them and not you. Look at the Facebook and Twitter fails of late all driven by doing something that consumers never asked for. Be transparent about what your ideas are and where you think there are issues or opportunities, let the community be your guide.
It’s easier to redecorate and empty room than to move the heavy furniture about! Be agile and evolve your platform in the early stages, making changes once people are on board is a sure fire way to alienate your users.
Start from the top. Get the boss / Senior Management Team involved in blogging and networking
Be consistent. Stay true to your principles.
Throw a damn good party. Make it fun and sociable as well as making it relevant, if a social network is not fun and engaging then people will NOT join the party.
Support the early adopters rather than chasing the sceptics, and they will become your evangelists.
Keep it random. Do not over organise, if something looks too tidy and rigid people tend not to pick it up, design to support conversation, innovation and relationship building.
Content is king. Providing great content, whether it’s resources, information, connections or conversations, means new users will find you and others will stick with you. Keep all of this free and open, if people can use it and redistribute it then the likelihood of people adopting and engaging is much higher.
Don’t confuse money with value. Look at the other assets you have in your community, like skills, volunteers and goodwill, and put them to use in sustaining it.
