Seven steps to building electronic communities

Step 1: Develop a networking plan

• Define your community.
• Identify the needs electronic networking might address.
• Survey your potential users
• Determine what human, hardware and software resources you will need

Step 2: Select a networking "platform"

• Either go-it-alone - set up your own BBS
• Or select an existing "host" network
• Either way get your core group online and planning as quickly as possible

Step 3: Market to your users

• Define the unique selling points of the network to your community
• Concentrate on getting the high profile users online first
• Where possible, market to the decision-makers within an organisation
• Use network demonstrations with overhead projectors.
• Plan to participate in major conferences attended by your target audience.
• Try to get on the formal agenda

Step 4: Training and technical support

• People suffer from Computerphobia, and manuals are often poorly written
• Internet tools, while improving, are still extremely complex
• Users need both basic training and tips to use software more efficiently, so...
• Develop a training plan with formal training and also a "buddy system" to pair experienced networkers with novices
• If you provide technical support directly, set your limits.

Step 5: Set up and manage a public online information forum

• A public information area supplements e-mail communication and creates an online "home"
• It provides an organizational memory for new generations of users, gives your issues greater visibility, and is a possible recruiting tool
• Have a paid facilitator if at all possible. Facilitation needs tend to grow; not diminish

Step 6: Using networks for collaboration and problem solving

• Networks can promote collaboration and expand the pool of practitioners available to respond to inquiries
• They can reinforces existing relationships within your community and creates new ones. For success online ...
• Create enough value on the network that it becomes indispensable for the work of the community
• Seek out opportunities for occasional face-to-face meetings to reinforce online activities
• Practice what you preach. Use the net wherever possible for your own planning and administrative activities

Step 7: Creating the spirit of community

• An informal style of communication helps build a sense of community
• Networking is an exercise in electronic democracy. Facilitators should try to empower as many users as possible to actively contribute
• Be inclusive and remember that many users will "read only" at first and need to be coaxed to participate
• Expect to handhold, encourage, and cheerlead. Positive strokes only!!!

Cyberspeaker homepage - Philippa Gamse http://www.cyberspeaker.com/