Discussion

https://preview.invisionalpha5.com/topic/202-alpha-16-released-beta-next-week/ Four months of alphas and 16 releases. IPS considers their beta release to be more like an early release candidate with the amount of work they've put in to alpha.

Hello Everyone, I am currently setting up my forum and looking for some well built IPS4 deployments that could serve as design and implementation inspiration. If you could kindly point me to some well done IPS4 communities, I would appreciate it a lot.

Want to encourage positive behavior in your online community? Great incentives can boost engagement, but it's easy for reward systems to go off track. The key is to keep things simple and think ahead. Economist Steven Levitt suggests creating straightforward incentives that are tough to game. Before launching a reward, try to imagine how someone might exploit it—then tweak your plan to avoid those traps. One fun approach is to include real-life “easter eggs” in your community interactions—little surprises or rewards for those who go above and beyond or find clever ways around challenges. This not only keeps things engaging but adds personality to your community. How …

Ever tried to fix a problem, only to realize your solution made things worse? That’s the Cobra Effect in action. The term comes from a story in colonial India, where a bounty for dead cobras led to people farming cobras instead. When the bounty was canceled, they released the snakes, and the problem got even worse. The Cobra Effect is all about how rewards or incentives can backfire. For online communities, it’s easy to see how this can happen. Think about offering incentives for user engagement—like rewards for posting frequently. Suddenly, you might find users spamming the forums with low-quality posts just to earn those points. Or, what if a new rule to reduce neg…

In 2018, KFC’s UK stores ran out of chicken—yeah, you read that right. Instead of ignoring the blunder, they issued a bold, funny apology by rearranging their logo to spell exactly what you’d say when you run out of chicken. It was a great example of the Pratfall Effect, where admitting a mistake makes a brand more likable if they already have a good reputation. This move turned a potential PR disaster into a story people loved. For online communities, mistakes are inevitable. Maybe a glitch messes with user posts, or an update doesn’t go as planned. How can community managers apply the Pratfall Effect to earn forgiveness and even strengthen their community bond? Sho…

Netflix has made some big changes recently, like cracking down on password sharing and offering an ad-supported plan. But these changes have tested their customers’ loyalty. It turns out that when users feel they’re losing something—like the ability to share accounts or the ad-free experience—they react strongly. This ties into a psychological concept called Loss Aversion, where the pain of losing something feels twice as strong as the joy of gaining something new. Even when Netflix's cheaper plan came along, many users resisted. Why? Because giving up ad-free streaming felt like a step back, even if it saved a few dollars. Online communities face similar challenges.…

What can online communities learn from Netflix’s success? It turns out, a lot. Netflix didn't just rise to the top by offering endless content; they leaned into psychology to keep people coming back for more. Here are three key takeaways: Personalization as a Competitive Edge: Netflix’s success is built on creating a unique experience for every user. Using a concept called the Cocktail Party Effect, they make each member feel like the platform is made just for them. Online communities can do the same—tailor the experience, understand what topics or content your users are drawn to, and make them feel seen. How can we better personalize our interactions with com…

As more organizations begin to experiment with Generative AI (GenAI), community managers and professionals find themselves in a unique position. While many have used AI personally, integrating it into the daily workflow of community management is still far from mainstream. What’s holding us back? Our current situation is one of trial and error, with most professionals experimenting with GenAI but not fully embracing it yet. The key hurdles? A lack of expertise Challenges in integrating GenAI with existing technologies Ongoing legal concerns. But as major enterprise platform vendors prepare to unveil their GenAI features, the question remains…

Building a transactional community—where members come to solve a problem and leave—can feel like the simplest option for online community managers. These communities address an immediate need, like answering product-related questions, which makes them easier to launch and grow. But does every brand community need to follow this model? Transactional communities thrive because they cater to users seeking quick, no-nonsense solutions. However, building a community around interests, goals, or identity requires more time, effort, and persuasion. These types of communities don't just solve problems; they build lasting connections, foster engagement, and align with users’ l…

Not all online communities are meant for deep engagement or long-lasting relationships. Many, like Microsoft Answers, exist solely to solve a specific problem quickly and efficiently. If you're building or managing a transactional community, where the goal is to answer questions and move on, it's essential to embrace this model fully. In these spaces, people are not looking for friendships or ongoing discussions; they just need a solution to a problem, such as fixing an issue in Excel. A well-organized transactional community aligns everything toward one goal: helping members find answers fast. For instance, a community’s name, tagline, and calls to action should mak…

The traditional approach to building online communities—one that assumes nothing existed before—has long been outdated. In a digital landscape where ecosystems are thriving with existing communities, organizations launching new forums often overlook one key fact: their potential audience already has options. When this traditional model was developed, there wasn’t much competition, and brand-led communities dominated the space, offering better functionality than their amateur counterparts. However, today’s reality is different. In a world where anyone can quickly build an engaging community experience, how can organizations compete with existing, user-preferred platfo…

As online communities continue to grow, many organizations still follow an outdated playbook focused on control rather than connection. Too often, organizations prioritize their own needs—such as clear goals, measurable metrics, and controllable platforms—over the desires of their community members. But is this really the best approach? What if we shifted to a member-centric model? This would involve putting the needs and experiences of community members first, even if it means less control for the organization. After all, whether members are engaging on hosted forums or independent platforms like Reddit, the results—whether it's increased loyalty, shared best practi…

When we think about growing our online community, it’s easy to focus on individual contributions—like posts, likes, and badges. But what if we shifted our focus to building collective social memory instead? Collective social memory is the idea that a community's identity and strength come from shared experiences and knowledge, not just individual achievements. This means that instead of everyone seeking personal recognition, we create a space where the community remembers and grows together. Think of it like a group story, where everyone adds a chapter, and those chapters form the identity of the whole community. By focusing on collective memory, we can build a …

IPS 5.0 comes packed with so many changes, from the new editor, dark mode theme, page builder, to Helpful. What one feature are you looking to use right away?

A story Have you ever noticed how sometimes less is more when it comes to communication? Edward Everett, once the greatest orator of his time, delivered a two-hour speech at Gettysburg in 1863. But it's Abraham Lincoln’s two-minute, 272-word Gettysburg Address that we all remember. This story highlights a key lesson: brevity matters. In building an online community, it's easy to think that more words or longer posts will make a greater impact. But in reality, carefully chosen, concise messages often resonate more deeply. How can we apply the lesson of brevity to our own forum and communications? Are there areas where we might be overwhelming our…

Hello, When user x follows user y, user x gets notifications on all user y new topics and replies. And it's annoying users. Because of the structure of my forum content, all they care about is the opening a new topic. I want the following member will choose which item he wants to follow and get a notification on. (replies/new topic/both) Does costume app can solve it?

Google's recent announcement to maintain third-party cookies in Chrome has left many marketers and community managers re-evaluating their strategies. While some see this as a win for the status quo, it's crucial to recognize that the digital landscape is still shifting towards a more privacy-conscious future. For online communities, this means that relying solely on third-party data for targeting and personalization will become increasingly unsustainable. Community managers need to leverage this period as an opportunity to strengthen first-party data strategies. Focus on building trust and fostering deeper connections with your community members to encourage them to …

https://futuresocial.beehiiv.com/p/inside-white-house-creator-economy-conference The White House Creator Economy Conference (WHCEC) was the first-ever event hosted by the White House's Office of Digital Strategy that convened a group of digital creators and industry professionals. Imagine creators and government officials discussing everything from mental health to AI and fair pay—all in the White House. One interesting point that came up was how the conference flipped the usual script. Instead of just listening to experts talk, the government was there to hear from creators directly. They wanted to understand our struggles, needs, and how they can support the…

Have you heard of the concept of a "nudge plus"? It's an interesting twist on the idea of a behavioral nudge—those subtle pushes we get towards making certain choices. But a "nudge plus" takes it a step further by not only steering us towards a particular behavior but also encouraging us to reflect on whether this behavior truly aligns with our personal values and goals. For example, In IPS, you can send out an Alert and require a response. A "nudge plus" design would ask the borrower if the alert gave them enough information, guidance, or instructions on the next time the user encountered the same scenario. In IPS, users earn badges, earn Helpful po…

Are independent forums - out of all options on the modern web - are appropriate or even good for users new to community building or who don't have a group yet? I'm starting to think that forums are no longer starter projects, but fairly advanced in the group-building cycle once you have an established (or can tap in to an established) audience. You probably want to start with a blog or a resource site, and then add on forums once you've built up enough followers or users.

This is fascinating: Our research shows that while people fast-forward or skip videos to avoid boredom, this behavior actually increases boredom,” Tam explained to CNN. A fear of missing out or looking for the next best thing is keeping us in unhealthy cycles. “Boredom is closely linked to our attention,” she continued. “We feel bored when there’s a gap between how engaged we are and how engaged we want to be. When people keep switching through videos, they’re not fully engaging with any one video, and are instead searching for something more interesting. https://www.fastcompany.com/91176971/tiktok-youtube-instagram-switching-boredom-worse-psychology-study

In today's fast-paced business environment, multi-project management has become an essential skill for professionals across various industries. As organizations strive to achieve more with limited resources, the ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously has become a critical factor in driving success and maintaining a competitive edge. Multi-project management, also known as project portfolio management, is the practice of overseeing and coordinating multiple projects concurrently. This approach allows businesses to optimize resource allocation, streamline workflows, and achieve strategic objectives more efficiently. However, managing multiple projects…

Imagine the following scenario: your child breaks her arm (ouch!), and a whole chain of events is set in motion. The parents need to immediately cancel their existing plans. The child must see a doctor. The doctor can do some important tests and prescriptions to remedy her. But there's a lot that the doctor cannot do. The only person who sees the whole job to be done - from beginning to end - is the parent. As community managers, we face similar challenges with our users. Our communities are set up to handle specific touchpoints with our members or customers, but we may not always see—or be able to influence—the entire journey they’re on. Here’s where the i…

How Front Porch Forum works? It’s easy to dismiss social platforms you haven’t heard of, or that function differently from the more well-known apps and sites. Front Porch Forum may be small by Silicon Valley standards, but it is widely used in Vermont: in a state with just 270,000 households, FPF has 235,000 active members. FPF is made up of about 200 forums throughout Vermont and in a couple border communities in New York and Massachusetts, most of them specific to individual small towns. Members sign up by location and can read and post to their local forum, as well as read some nearby ones. New posts and replies are packaged in “issues,” typically publis…