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OpenAI's ChatGPT has emerged as a game-changer in the world of artificial intelligence, and its applications are poised to revolutionize online forum and community management. This versatile chatbot, originally designed for a wide array of tasks, has now evolved to cater specifically to the unique demands of online communities. What's striking is that, in many instances, ChatGPT's performance surpasses that of the average human forum manager. A Multitude of Innovative Applications Online communities, as dynamic as they are, have found novel and unconventional uses for ChatGPT. From devising creative strategies to boost user engagement to crafting engaging and in…

In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), data privacy and ethical considerations have permeated the core of our digital existence. This profound debate, which has unfolded over the past decade, is not limited to corporate boardrooms but extends to the very fabric of online communities. As AI algorithms become integral to community management and decision-making processes, the discourse is entering a new phase—one where the pursuit of ethical AI takes center stage. AI Biases and Their Implications The AI landscape has been marred by instances of algorithmic biases making headlines. Whether it's Apple's credit card algorithm, online advertising systems, or Amaz…

Community standards, also known as community guidelines or rules, are a set of established principles and expectations that govern the behavior of members within an online community. These standards outline what is acceptable and unacceptable conduct within the community, helping to create a safe, respectful, and enjoyable environment for all participants. Here's why community standards are important in an online community: Maintaining Order and Civility: Community standards set clear expectations for behavior, which helps maintain order and civility within the community. They provide a framework for what is considered respectful and appropriate conduct, reducin…

Amidst the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaders in online communities must address mental health issues, including anxiety, which affects millions of individuals. Applying insights from mental health management can enhance leadership in online communities during anxious times: 1. Understanding the Prevalence of Anxiety Recognize that anxiety is widespread, affecting both individuals and online communities. Understanding its prevalence allows community leaders to empathize with members and address their concerns. 2. Embracing "Shadow of Intelligence" Acknowledge that anxiety, when channeled thoughtfully, can motivate teams, boost resourcefulness…

In the fast-paced world of digital communication, tools like Microsoft Outlook and Gmail have introduced features that empower users to take control of their emails, fostering more effective and efficient interactions. While the original input summary focused on delaying or scheduling email messages, we'll delve into how this capability can be harnessed to enhance communication in the context of managing online communities and forums. Mastering Timely Communication in Digital Spaces Effective communication is the lifeblood of online communities and forums. Here's how the ability to delay or schedule messages can be a game-changer: 1. Harness the Delayed Sen…

In the dynamic world of online communities, making a strong introduction is a crucial element for meaningful engagement and fostering connections. Whether you're entering a discussion forum, joining a virtual community gathering, or participating in an online group, effectively introducing yourself can set a positive tone and facilitate interactions. To excel in this context, you can employ a simple yet powerful framework, often referred to as Present, Past, and Future. 1. Present: Your Current Online Identity Commence your introduction with a succinct, present-tense statement that encapsulates your online identity and your immediate focus within the community. …

The rise of "fake news" and the challenges of distinguishing fact from fiction in the digital age have become increasingly evident. This phenomenon isn't limited to politics but extends into various aspects of online communities. In this context, we explore the blurred line between reality and fantasy and how it impacts our interactions within online communities. Online communities, whether they revolve around hobbies, professional interests, or social causes, are not immune to the challenges posed by misinformation, confirmation bias, and the echo chamber effect. Just as the 2016 presidential election highlighted the power of misleading narratives, online communitie…

In the world of online communities, addressing controversial topics can be a delicate balancing act. The conventional wisdom suggests that staying neutral might be a safe approach to avoid conflict. However, recent insights reveal that a conspicuous display of neutrality may have unintended consequences within online communities. The Perils of Staying Neutral Staying neutral in online discussions, especially on controversial issues, is not always the best strategy. People tend to view neutrality with suspicion, interpreting it as an attempt to conceal one's true opinions. This perception can harm your standing within the community, even if your views align with …

Human behavior follows a set of psychological principles that are as relevant in digital spaces as they are in physical ones. Here are fundamental behavioral and psychological concepts that underpin the norms and interactions within digital communities: Social Norms and Reciprocity: The notion that your behavior online should mirror your conduct in physical public spaces aligns with the psychological concept of social norms. Social norms guide our behavior by defining what is considered acceptable within a particular context. In online communities, fostering an atmosphere of respect and reciprocity is essential. People are more likely to treat others with respe…

You're the community admin with a strong desire to be helpful, but could you actually be undermining your community's growth and performance? What are some of your best intentions that backfired? Do you seek constant agreement, or lurch from one member feedback to another? Do you overprotect your staff members, and keep them in the dark? Are you too involved in every matter as a micromanager, or are you not involved at all?

The look and style of your community, whilst it may be important, also should not be something that is overly worked on. Having a community with a basic look and feel is much of the time what most people are looking for being that they use the community for help and support a lot of the time. Do you offer a basic look for your community or are you someone who prefers to go all out when it comes to a theme?

As community leaders ourselves, most of us will have already decided whether we want to be hosted by a hosting company or self-host our community. When it comes to deciding on hosted and self-hosted options, you would have to consider what is needed for the forum software you are looking into using. What do you believe are some key factors to consider when choosing between hosted and self-hosted forum solutions?

Attracting new members to any community is not easy, you have to show those who may be interested in joining your community why it may benefit them and what they will get out of joining the community. There are many strategies you can use to attract new members from valuable content to even offering services or guides that many may be looking for. When it comes to strategies to attract new members to your community, which ones do you find work well for you?

Social media is great when it comes to marketing online communities and with so many out there that are popular, most will have their benefits. If you market on social media, which platform have you found you have had the best success on when it comes to marketing? Is there any one specific platform that seems to do better than others?

Do you create video content for social media platforms? What kind of video content do you create? Do yo create long form videos or short form videos? Do you also make money from your videos? Well, I am basically not a video content creator but I have tried my hands on video content for various platforms. I mostly use short videos for marketing and advertising products and services.

Do you try to establish your presence on every platform that matters? How many do you maintain? Do you have a dedicated team doing the same?

Newsflash: Half of US adults are getting their news, at least sometimes, from social media, according to a new study of American news consumption habits from the Pew Research Center. Which social media, to be exact? According to the research, which surveyed 8,842 US adults between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1, Facebook—which has steadily deprioritized news content—is king, with three in 10 respondents saying they regularly get news from the platform. YouTube was also a major source for news, with around a quarter (26%) of respondents stating they regularly get news from the site. Instagram was next with 16%, while 14% of respondents said they regularly get news from Tik…

Elon Musk's Twitter takeover has come with a lot of changes, but his rebranding of the platform to "X" may be the final nail in the coffin of the once-beloved tech titan. Though Musk announced that Twitter would be renamed "X" on Jul. 23, it wasn't until Jul. 31 that the change to "X" went live on Apple's App Store. That change had an immediate effect on how many people download the app, according to an analysis from media strategist Eric Seufert. Seufert looked at Twitter/ X's ranking on the Apple App Store's "Top Downloaded" chart from Jul. 27 to Aug. 15 and found that the app's average ranking fell significantly after the rebranding, from 35 to 54. …

Every community leader gets discouraged. There are so many challenges that we confront, from member issues to leadership to technical problems. What do you tell yourself to keep going?

Achieving activity within a forum whilst it is possible, can also be difficult, especially if you are looking to gain consistent activity within the community you lead. Having strategies in place to help you stay consistent that will encourage activity is always great to have in place but depending on the kind of community leader you are, these kinds of strategies could vary. What strategies do you use to encourage activity within your community?

When we start to build out a community, one of the things we hope to ensure is not only the longevity but also the sustainability of our community. This is something that whilst possible, is not always easy to accomplish and can be difficult for some if not taken into account. Thinking about a community you lead now, what methods are you currently using to ensure the longevity and sustainability of that community?

Marketing means putting your products and services in front of your potential customers. However, before you start pushing your products and services to your customers, you should know where your customers are. In other words, you need to know your customers’ location. When you know your customers’ location only then you will be able to create a successful marketing campaign. It is important to know the location of your customers so that you can effectively tailor your marketing campaigns to reach your customers. Geographical segmentation means identifying the location of your customers. Here are some tips on how to perform geographical segmentation: 1. Find out wher…

A sneak peek at some features in Invision 5 that you might have a strong opinion about. What do you think about each of these? Vertical Menu The classic menu from v4 was always horizontal across the top of the screen, similar to most other websites and forums. In IPS v4, admins have the option of switching to a Vertical Menu, similar to Opera, Reddit, Edge and other popular platforms. Search Box The Search Box on desktop actually opens up a search modal popup. What do you think? Do you like the additional options before you search, or do you think this is misleading design? Card view of Forum Inde…

Hi, I am Dilip, been running forums and blogs for around 15 years now. Somewhere around 2010, I started learning graphics to meet my needs for Logos, Banners, custom emojis, node icons, simple animated videos and more. Been offering graphics services since ~ 2015 I do a decent 2D and some 3D as well. You can check the Showcase thread on my forum for some recent works I made this video to promote my services this Holiday season Feel free to ping me if you have any graphics needs. Will do my best to give you the best possible image / video.

I recently came across a new forum, where the forum admin wanted to focus on health because of a personal interest in entering healthcare. She created over 50 boards in 7 categories for all things related to health: everything from medical equipment and hospital administration to fitness and exercise, mental health, community and public health, pharmaceuticals, alternative medicine, occupational health, and women's and men's and geriatric and pediatric health. It was everything! There was very little expertise or mastery shown in any of the boards, much less activity. Even if the forum admin personally pursued a career in healthcare, nobody would ever h…