Discussion

One of the things that I'm looking at is IPBoard (I guess they're called Invision community now?) is their feature of non-forum pages. I am familiar with CMS builders from vBulletin It looks like you can write Articles, FAQ, and Reviews. How many of you have non-forum pages, in addition to the forum?

Some of us may be in the beginning stages of our communities and others may be in the later stages of their communities, whether your community is brand new or a few years old, we all have a vision of where we would like to see our communities in say the next five years. Taking a look at your community as it is now and looking to the future, where do you see your community within the next five years? Do you hope to have achieved anything in particular?

Owning your community and leading that community gives a great feeling but it can be so easy to forget the important things such as finding ways or even having methods to help foster a sense of belonging so that your community members feel welcomed and like they are appreciated and wanted around your community. When it comes to fostering a sense of belonging within your community, what methods do you as a leader use?

Expertise is the level of knowledge and skill in a particular area. It's usually conveyed by an independent assessment of you skills, such as designations, certifications, or outside commendations. 1. How do you demonstrate or show either your expertise or your community's expertise? 2. How do you show experts within the community? Do you rely on badges or icons, or do you use more dynamic signals like # of solved questions This topic is targeted to the communities of solopreneurs where you're building your own brand or audience, but it's applicable to any community of success.

What is Interaction to Next Paint (INP)? Google uses INP to assess your site’s overall responsiveness. If you click on a drop-down menu and there’s a delay with its opening, this latency shows poor responsiveness and relates to INP. If there are issues with INP, user experience suffers because the user may continue clicking on your site’s menu, waiting for a response. INP is the time it takes from the initial user interaction and when the next frame on the site is painted. https://searchengineland.com/optimizing-inp-interaction-to-next-paint-440017

In my opinion, the primary aim of a community is to provide a space for meaningful discussion. Communities are also the platform to ask questions and answer questions. Community's goal is the foster communication. If you lose this motto and focus only on traffic, users and activities, you are are not in the right track. When you started your community, what was your primary goal? Have you been able to get there?

When I set out to build Invisioneer.org, I knew one of its unstated critiques would be: Is this yet another forum administration / forum webmaster / forum promotion site? How will Invisioneer be any different? There is a small cottage industry of forum users who enjoy popping up and installing forum administration sites, year after year. I think that's great! There is enough room on the Internet for all of us to co-exist. Part of those other sites may overlap with part of the value of Invisioneer, but you'll find a sharply-defined vision of Invisioneer that will separate us over time. What you will find on Invisioneer You will find a relentless focus…

Bringing on volunteer staff for your forum community can be a valuable step in growing and maintaining a vibrant online community. However, it's important to consider several factors to ensure a successful and positive experience for both the volunteers and the community as a whole: Clearly Defined Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each volunteer position (e.g., moderators, administrators, content creators). Ensure that volunteers understand their specific duties, including moderating content, enforcing community guidelines, and assisting members. Selection Process: Develop a fair and transparent …

Introduction In today's digital age, online communities and forums have become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Just like in a professional setting or an orchestra, leadership plays a pivotal role in the success and health of these communities. Understanding Digital Inhabitants Each member of an online community has their unique personality, interests, and experiences. A leader must take the time to get to know these members, just as they would in an offline setting. This understanding creates a foundation of trust, and it helps guide the direction of the community in a way that everyone feels heard and valued. Creating a Safe Environment Online co…

Congratulations! You've successfully launched your online community, and it's buzzing with activity. However, the journey has just begun. To ensure long-term success and impact, you need a strategic plan for what comes next. Here's a roadmap for post-launch steps to grow, monetize, and navigate the legal aspects of your community: 1. Member Acquisition and Engagement: Content Strategy: Keep producing valuable, relevant, and engaging content. Regularly update your community with fresh, informative, and entertaining material to retain existing members and attract new ones. Referral Programs: Leverage your current community members as brand ambassadors. Enco…

Launching an online community, forum, or group can be a daunting task. You have a vision, you've identified a niche, and you're eager to connect with like-minded individuals. Yet, the fear of the unknown, the overwhelming choices, and the uncertainties often lead to launch paralysis. Explore strategies for overcoming this launch conundrum to turn your ideas into action. Understanding Launch Paralysis Launch paralysis is the state of being frozen by the myriad of decisions and uncertainties surrounding the launch of an online community. It often stems from the fear of failure, the complexity of technology choices, and the overwhelming task of building a vibrant c…

There is an intricate relationship between online safety, human behavior, and effective community management. Online safety laws, while essential, represent just one layer of the multifaceted challenges community owners face in today's digital landscape. To comprehend these issues fully, we must explore fundamental psychological concepts that underpin both user behavior and the strategies employed by community administrators. Age Restrictions and Cognitive Development: The age restrictions imposed by online safety laws are informed by the psychological concept of cognitive development. Research in developmental psychology, particularly Jean Piaget's stages of co…

For solopreneurs embarking on the journey of building both a business and an online community, the initial stages can be daunting. The absence of a team means that the responsibility of cultivating an audience and nurturing a community rests squarely on your shoulders. Here are effective strategies for solopreneurs to build a thriving community and audience: Guest Blogging: While guest blogging may not be as trendy as it once was, it remains a potent tool for reaching a wider audience and establishing your reputation. As a solopreneur, you have the flexibility to engage in guest blogging, sharing your expertise and insights on platforms relevant to your niche. T…

Are you one of those super organized people with color coordinated closets? Or is your house in happy chaos? What kind of organization do you bring to your online community, especially in its management? There are different kinds of organization when it comes to your online community. For myself, personally, I think about organization along two major vectors: Administration of my site - This usually means record keeping of any systems updates, storage of any unique designs or icons, and periodic screenshots so I can capture what the site looks like. Ideation of content - This usually means a journal of ideas, how to efficiently craft and publish …

Some community owners are more laid back and will participate here and there, but otherwise let the community talk about what it wants. Other community owners are more proactive in directing the types of discussions. What are you?

What are your thoughts on reviving old topics? I have been on a few online communities where admin and staff were not very happy when users replied to old topics, topics that had not been replied for over over a year. Likewise, I have also been on communities where the admin and staff did not mind replying to old topics but they had this notification "you are attempting to reply to a topic that has not been replied for over a year" placed on the bottom of the page.

What kind of policy do you have in your community regarding the use of Generative AI for post creation? Do you allow users to use Generative AI to create posts, or are you strictly against the use of Generative AI in your community? Well, I do not allow users to use AI for content creation. If a user repeatedly uses AI, I might even ban him form my community.

Have you tried selling merch through your online communities? I have seen some online communities selling merch, I have seen staff these communities posting photo with the merch item, however, I do not know whether these communities are making profits or not. I am yet to try this method.

Looking to get into YouTube Shorts and build a Shorts presence for yourself or your brand? You should probably consider it. Shorts is the fastest-growing content type on YouTube, and is now driving over 50 billion daily views in the app. Built in the mold of TikTok, Shorts leans into the growing trend towards more succinct, attention-grabbing clips, and it could be a valuable pathway towards increased brand awareness and perception. If you can create good Shorts content. This will help. Today, YouTube has published a new interview with Shorts Product Lead Todd Sherman, in which Sherman answers some of the most common questions about Shorts, including how th…

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into online forums and communities has not yet swept across our digital landscape. It's transforming the way we interact, manage, and evolve in many other spaces. But, as with any revolution, it brings its mix of excitement and apprehension. How has AI impacted your experience in online communities? Are you noticing more efficient moderation, personalized content, or perhaps something else? AI can automate and enhance, but it also raises concerns about authenticity and privacy. What are your thoughts on striking the right balance between AI's efficiency and maintaining the human touch in our interactions? …

Gamification features are popular in today's online world when it comes to online communities. They are often used to encourage community members to engage and participate in the community in return for rewards and other gamification options that may be available. Have you implemented gamification features in your community? How are they working out for you?

Does music have the power to change your mood? How does music affect you?

You have a member who contributes a significant amount of activity to the site, but he soon starts to lash out against you and the other moderators, pretends he knows how to run the community better than you, and starts to criticize how you run the community. He is also a superuser and a huge poster of content, so a lot of other members trust what he says. But he hasn't actually broken any clear terms (nothing illegal, just inflammatory). What do you do?

Are you driven by numbers and charts? Do views, impressions and clicks mean everything to you? I have seen webmasters too much into analytics data. They always think of ways to improve it and work on the same. Are you one of them? Does it actually give results?