The LV= community has over 7,500 members but less than 5 posts in the past week, 3 of which were from the community manager. It’s a failing online community.
If you have lots of members, you’re asking good questions but you’re not getting a response you have a problem. Few people are returning to your community.
Resist the temptation to reach out to more people. The numbers game (more members = more potential posts) isn’t the solution. You don’t want potential members seeing a dying community.
Instead go micro. Start a thread everyone can participate in. Ask for opinions or recommendations. Individually message more active members of the community asking for their expertise on the matter. Then as you get a few responses message, reach out to more people. Summarise the post and thank those that participated.
Now repeat this again. Start another thread, write a personal note to members and include a few extra ones that didn’t participate last time. You want their expertise/opinions. Always use personalized messages, resist the urge to mass-mail.
Soon members will return out of habit. They will post and respond to each other’s comments. Now you can message others who have gone missing. Ask them what would be the perfect community for them.
It will take more time and effort, but gradually you will bring back a core group of regular members.
Thanks Rich. This is valuable info.
I think a few of us have figured this out, but haven't had to use it too much.
Have you seen the case where too much activity causes inactivity?
"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too popular."
Posted by: Rex Williams | Thursday, 25 November 2010 at 07:44
V interesting piece, especially when Fresh Networks tweeted this this week:
'Great to see our client LV on the CIM award shortlist thanks to the success of their community LV= http://bit.ly/e3CDjJ'
So what's going on? Are the CIM so wrong with what defines a successful community?
Posted by: Kaeli | Thursday, 25 November 2010 at 12:57