Comments on: How to build an online community? http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-community/ Conning people into thinking I'm intelligent. Since 1982. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:24:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Swaroop http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-community/comment-page-1/#comment-128237 Swaroop Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:56:00 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1880#comment-128237 <p>@Vic I agree with "content and persistence", but find it unsettling that it is too generic an answer, but perhaps that's all there is to it :)</p> <p>I do agree with StartupBuzz being popular, but to be honest, I think it lacks a community, because I find very few comments on the articles, and that's the part that actually makes Hacker News worth visiting.</p> @Vic I agree with “content and persistence”, but find it unsettling that it is too generic an answer, but perhaps that’s all there is to it :)

I do agree with StartupBuzz being popular, but to be honest, I think it lacks a community, because I find very few comments on the articles, and that’s the part that actually makes Hacker News worth visiting.

]]> By: Vic@StartupBuzz http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-community/comment-page-1/#comment-128229 Vic@StartupBuzz Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:47:18 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1880#comment-128229 <p>Hi Swaroop,</p> <p>Good analysis on building communities.</p> <p>This post from Seth gives a good perspective on building communities or in Seth's term Tribes. http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/06/guy-3.html</p> <p>In my view the most important factor in building communities is content and persistence.</p> <p>It doesn't happen over-night but if things are being done diligently it will happen sooner or later. What is needed is critical mass, once thats achieved chain reaction will start.</p> <p>All other factors you mentioned does help, if the person has authority on the subject then it will be a matter of bringing the off-line community into online world.</p> <p>From perspective of StartupBuzz.org, I started it with the view of sharing interesting news and articles on Indian Startups with others.</p> <p>Its my small step to spread information on buzzing Indian Startup scene. Its a not-for-profit venture and all the proceed from google ads on the site will be donated to charity, in a way it will serve 2 good causes.</p> <p>Though its just a beginning but people do seem to have started liking it, if we go by followers on twitter which is over 1000.</p> <p>And yes, if you find anything interesting please do share it at StartupBuzz.org.</p> <p>Thanks, Vic @startupbuzz</p> Hi Swaroop,

Good analysis on building communities.

This post from Seth gives a good perspective on building communities or in Seth’s term Tribes.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/06/guy-3.html

In my view the most important factor in building communities is content and persistence.

It doesn’t happen over-night but if things are being done diligently it will happen sooner or later. What is needed is critical mass, once thats achieved chain reaction will start.

All other factors you mentioned does help, if the person has authority on the subject then it will be a matter of bringing the off-line community into online world.

From perspective of StartupBuzz.org, I started it with the view of sharing interesting news and articles on Indian Startups with others.

Its my small step to spread information on buzzing Indian Startup scene. Its a not-for-profit venture and all the proceed from google ads on the site will be donated to charity, in a way it will serve 2 good causes.

Though its just a beginning but people do seem to have started liking it, if we go by followers on twitter which is over 1000.

And yes, if you find anything interesting please do share it at StartupBuzz.org.

Thanks,
Vic
@startupbuzz

]]> By: Swaroop http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-community/comment-page-1/#comment-127483 Swaroop Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:39:00 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1880#comment-127483 <p>@Prakash Well, I agree that it should attempt to solve a problem, but even if it does, growing a community is still difficult. Thanks for the thoughts.</p> <p>@Manu Valid points :) ... I guess there are not many people and startups who are interested in community building.</p> <p>@Thejesh Great to hear from someone who's actually tried this before. I guess the consensus is that a core set of users is a major factor for the long-term viability of a community.</p> @Prakash Well, I agree that it should attempt to solve a problem, but even if it does, growing a community is still difficult. Thanks for the thoughts.

@Manu Valid points :) … I guess there are not many people and startups who are interested in community building.

@Thejesh Great to hear from someone who’s actually tried this before. I guess the consensus is that a core set of users is a major factor for the long-term viability of a community.

]]> By: Thejesh GN http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-community/comment-page-1/#comment-127407 Thejesh GN Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:59:15 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1880#comment-127407 <p>I have tried building a small community at EventsBangalore. Its a chicken and egg problem to build a community driven site. Start with friends and depend on word of mouth. I think that is the best way to start.</p> I have tried building a small community at EventsBangalore. Its a chicken and egg problem to build a community driven site. Start with friends and depend on word of mouth. I think that is the best way to start.

]]> By: Manu http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-community/comment-page-1/#comment-127228 Manu Fri, 29 May 2009 08:00:48 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1880#comment-127228 <p>In response to your twitter status (but too long for twitter so posting here)</p> <p>Not a boring topic, but I can probably think of a few reasons.</p> <ol> <li><p>Most of us can only speculate about the "why" part of it. In the case of some companies there may have been probably some defining moments but in most cases i think it was word of mouth lack of competition (in quality). Pagalguy and indiamike succeeded because of that IMO.</p></li> <li><p>Most of us are lazy, would happily consume and probably think about this, if YOU did an analysis on each of these companies supporting some points. But for anyone who is not interested/thinking about building a community this topic is not interesting enough to spend time on analysis.</p></li> </ol> <p>When you solve a problem, you can get passionate users and community. Look at the no of comments for your trackeverycoin post :)</p> In response to your twitter status (but too long for twitter so posting here)

Not a boring topic, but I can probably think of a few reasons.

  1. Most of us can only speculate about the “why” part of it. In the case of some companies there may have been probably some defining moments but in most cases i think it was word of mouth lack of competition (in quality). Pagalguy and indiamike succeeded because of that IMO.

  2. Most of us are lazy, would happily consume and probably think about this, if YOU did an analysis on each of these companies supporting some points. But for anyone who is not interested/thinking about building a community this topic is not interesting enough to spend time on analysis.

When you solve a problem, you can get passionate users and community. Look at the no of comments for your trackeverycoin post :)

]]> By: Prakash http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-community/comment-page-1/#comment-127017 Prakash Tue, 26 May 2009 15:59:13 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1880#comment-127017 <p>Its nice post and the replies can be really interesting. Here is mine one: The points you put here are really interesting and also the examples. As per my understanding we need at least one out of these to make it successful[Actually didn't miss any!]. If I am to prioritize these pillars/fundas of the success I must count the "being the first-to-market" in your particular domain or you may be a replica of something in different geographical region [this is what many Indian Startups do, nothing much wrong ]. Then if you are not First to market you must go for the referral or kind of promotional event or conduct your own and displaying your "credibility icon" here can make your image as that of the leaders. Blogs and news for communities otherwise what is that people will discuss! The offline presence may help but not needed always. Another thing that I will like to put is - it must solve the well known problems in the particular domain, when people really need it they have to use it and I don't think we have solved all the problems in the world! And on top of that we are yet to find what actually are the problems? Thanks for such nice post!</p> Its nice post and the replies can be really interesting. Here is mine one:
The points you put here are really interesting and also the examples. As per my understanding we need at least one out of these to make it successful[Actually didn't miss any!]. If I am to prioritize these pillars/fundas of the success I must count the “being the first-to-market” in your particular domain or you may be a replica of something in different geographical region [this is what many Indian Startups do, nothing much wrong ]. Then if you are not First to market you must go for the referral or kind of promotional event or conduct your own and displaying your “credibility icon” here can make your image as that of the leaders. Blogs and news for communities otherwise what is that people will discuss! The offline presence may help but not needed always. Another thing that I will like to put is – it must solve the well known problems in the particular domain, when people really need it they have to use it and I don’t think we have solved all the problems in the world! And on top of that we are yet to find what actually are the problems?
Thanks for such nice post!

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