Comments on: How Not To Use Online Communities

By: Tapping into online communities can help councils engage with citizens (social media)

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:11:58 +0000

[...] it on Twitter, Facebook or Linked In, online communities are dominating the conversation and government just needs to get out of the [...]

By: How not to use online communities « Stop, Collaborate and Listen

How not to use online communities « Stop, Collaborate and Listen — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:52:56 +0000

[...] Going back through some old stuff and came across this from reachfurther detailing Andy Roberts blog on how not to use online communities. [...]

By: How not to use online communities » Periodic Fable

How not to use online communities » Periodic Fable — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:13:21 +0000

[...] Dec 08 2008 TrackBack Address. Andy Roberts recently posted an excellent comment on his blog about how not to use online communities. It’s well worth a read. His point is that you can’t just pop into a community and [...]

By: tERRY fREEDMAN

tERRY fREEDMAN — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:03:28 +0000

Good post. I think the idea of the long-term relationship is good. It’s very important to contribute to the community. Even that announcement you mention might have been acceptable had the writer said that he would include an acknowledgement to people who responded and, even better, offered to collate their responses and post it back into the community.

By: Tom Smith

Tom Smith — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:14:41 +0000

I couldn’t agree more and by the way I have an ebook for sale on the very same subject….

I think I’ve heard it described as Forum Bungee-ing … and I like the term… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing

There, I’ve been helpful, now can plug something

By: Reach Further » How not to use online communities

Reach Further » How not to use online communities — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:16:46 +0000

[...] Roberts recently posted an excellent comment on his blog about how not to use online communities. It’s well worth a read. His point is that you can’t just pop into a community and [...]

By: Helen Whitehead

Helen Whitehead — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:23:23 +0000

Briliant posting, Andy, you’ve prompted me to write up a few dos and don’ts for online communities. I may have almost been guilty of the researcher’s error, but hpe I’ve never been crass! The people that concern me most as a community moderator are the ones that come in and post an advert for their service – when it isn’t even relevant to the community! – and those who just join in order to poach the members away to another community Good moderation policies for dealing with these are essential for any community.

By: Conrad Taylor

Conrad Taylor — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:54:40 +0000

What you have written there could almost be a draft for a “welcome” message that could be sent to people by email just at the point when they join an online community!

I have also found it helps to have some people within the community who make an effort to grease the wheels socially and guide the interactions – facilitators, if you like. It is certainly a role that I have played on a few listservers.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:09:01 +0000

This is really good Andy. I’ve seen people just jump in and not contribute anything to the conversation in the few groups I am a member off. What they forget is that there are ongoing conversations and developments before they arrived at the group and when they just advertise themselves people are not interested. This is really good advice, thanks again Andy.

Wayne