It’s your weekly management meeting. You’re an important community manager, so you’re invited.
The team takes turns giving updates of their work. The sales team gives the sales projections. The web team updates the progress on the new site. The PR team explain their upcoming campaign. Now it’s your turn:
“Well we’re planning to turn Saturday into a day where members share funny pictures of their cats”
You’re going to look like an idiot. But there is a deep scientific basis for what your proposing. Sharing cat pictures is an easy way to encourage self-disclosure from members with reciprocation. It’s likely to increase community spirit and draw out some lurkers who have cats.
Even better; Caturday, as you’ve probably heard, was a hugely successful internet meme. As a tactic, it’s supported by a proven track record of success in many popular communities. You might be negligent not to use it.
Angela Connor explains you’re not really a community manager until you’ve dealt with trolls threatening to bomb your car. I want to add: you’re not really a community manager until you’ve proposed Caturday to your boss. That takes some real guts.
Haha, I was recently discussing with someone a tough conversation I have to have with a client regarding their use of online media as blast marketing (I'm advocating against the blast, FYI.)
The tough conversations and ideas definitely ARE the make or break moments in building your respect and "cred" within a work environment. I'll have to keep Caturday as an ace up my sleeve when the next tough conversation comes around!
Posted by: Elisa | Monday, 26 October 2009 at 11:18
Oh, I love the Caturday idea. Mind if I steal that? :)
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle | Tuesday, 27 October 2009 at 17:41