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why_people_join_communities [2015/09/13 21:48]
hawk 		why_people_join_communities [2024/05/03 02:11] (current)
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-===== Why People Join Communities ​=====+===== How to get members to participate ​=====
  
-{{ :​model.jpg?​700 |}} 
-The secret to getting people more engaged in a community lies in engendering members with increasing levels of competence, autonomy, and relatedness (the tenets of [[http://​www.selfdeterminationtheory.org/​SDT/​documents/​2000_RyanDeci_IntExtDefs.pdf|Self-Determination Theory]]). 
  
-The more members feel they have improved their abilities since being a community member, feel increasing levels of freedom ​to act how they choose, ​and develop strong relationships through the community, the more they participate. +Members tend to join and initially participate in a community ​for one of six reasons. ​Each needs a little explaining.
- +
-WHY PEOPLE DON'T JOIN YOUR COMMUNITY +
- +
-The majority ​of your target audiences are amotivated about your community. +
- +
-They have absolutely no desire to join or participate. There four possible ​reasons ​behind this. They don't know you exist, don't care you exist, don't trust you, or have conflicts that prevent them from joining. +
-You can work to overcome each of these.  +
  
    
-1) Do the people you are trying to reach even know your community exists?+==== To tackle a problem they'​re aware of (or intuitively feel) ====
  
-The majority of struggling communities have an awareness problem. The people they’re trying to reach don’t know they exist. 
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-What percentage of your target audience will have heard of your community? If it’s less than 10%, you have a big awareness problem. 
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-You can take three paths to overcoming this. First, have a more clearly defined target audience. The more clearly defined, the quicker you will grow. You can tackle specific needs and penetrate through existing social networks. You need an audience where you can reach at least 10%. That means narrowing the focus to a group of people that meet two qualifiers e.g. accountants [qualifier 1] that live in San Francisco [qualifier 2]). 
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-If you’re just getting started, you want to begin with 50 founding members you've gotten to know through the CHIP process. Take the time to create content, host events/​activities,​ interview key people, and participate in existing communities. 
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-If you've done this and it’s still not working, you need to do more outbound promotional work. 
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-That means pitching story ideas and forging partnerships with groups outside of your network. Co-producing webinars, events, and resources are a great way to do this. They provide the audience and you provide the useful material. 
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-Until you tackle this awareness problem, nothing else you do matters. No-one can join a community if they don’t know you exist. 
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-2) Do the people you are trying to reach care that you exist? ​ 
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-If people know you exist but still don’t join, you usually have a value problem. Prospective members don't see a clear reason to join and participate. 
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-If your prospective members say they don't have the time to join or participate,​ they'​re really saying they don’t see value in the community. We make time when we see the value. This is where nailing benefits that matter to members is important. ​ 
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-Benefits come in two forms; sociable and non-social. Non-social benefits include solving big problems, offering new opportunities,​ and pursuing passions. Sociable benefits include enhanced status from being a member, not being left out, and satisfying ego needs. 
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-You can test all of these with different landing pages or split-testing e-mail messaging until you find the most effective benefit. Your audience analysis will give you possible ideas, testing will tell you which is most effective. You need to test this on a large volume of people, not 100 members. 
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-3) Do they trust that you can deliver on the value? 
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-If prospective members recognise the value of the community but don’t join, you have a trust problem. Your members don’t believe that your community is the most effective means to get the benefits they seek. 
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-Most of the communities created by brands achieve great awareness, sometimes deliver great value, but struggle to get over the natural distrust we have of organisations. 
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-You need to promote your success stories to non-members,​ create a sense of momentum, share data on current membership, undertake research (people associate research with reliability),​ and use symbols to communicate authenticity. 
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-Your community can't be a place that offers a clear benefit, it has to be the best place to get that benefit. 
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-4) They believe you but still won't join.  
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-This happens when you're competing against existing communities. Members are unlikely to leave their existing networks and friends behind to join you. Many might see you as the enemy attacking them. They might personally not want to support a new '​player'​ disrupting the scene. 
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-You can only tackle this by micro-focusing on building stronger relationships with fewer people. The more you peel away from existing groups the easier it becomes. You can work through the existing social networks of existing members. Ask existing members to recommend other people they think should join and work your way through. Once momentum is clearly on your side, members will flock to you. 
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-  
-HOW TO GET MEMBERS TO JOIN AND PARTICIPATE IN YOUR COMMUNITY 
- 
-Members tend to join and initially participate in a community for one of six reasons. Each needs a little explaining. 
- 
-  
-1) To tackle a problem they'​re aware of (or intuitively feel). 
  
 There are two parts of this. First, you need to tackle a problem that requires them to frequently participate. Single-topic problems don’t work well. Tackle a bigger life issues. That problem has to be part of a bigger puzzle. There are two parts of this. First, you need to tackle a problem that requires them to frequently participate. Single-topic problems don’t work well. Tackle a bigger life issues. That problem has to be part of a bigger puzzle.
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-2) Take advantage of an opportunity they believe exists.+==== Take advantage of an opportunity they believe exists. ​====
  
-A growing number of communities are catered to helping members take advantage of an opportunity that may now exist. BackpackingLight is an example of this. +A growing number of communities are catered to helping members take advantage of an opportunity that may now exist. ​[[http://​www.backpackinglight.com/​|BackpackingLight]] is an example of this. 
  
 Every backpacker knows there is new technology out there to lighten their backpacks, they just need a place to go for it. Every backpacker knows there is new technology out there to lighten their backpacks, they just need a place to go for it.
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 Many members of our CommunityGeek join because they know they could be doing more to use psychology and data to grow communities. Many members of our CommunityGeek join because they know they could be doing more to use psychology and data to grow communities.
  
-Opportunities usually come from changes in the political, economical, social, or technological sectors (PEST Analysis).+Opportunities usually come from changes in the political, economical, social, or technological sectors ([[http://​www.businessballs.com/​freepdfmaterials/​pest-analysis-free-template.pdf|PEST Analysis]]).
  
-These create new opportunities people need to make sense of. They usually are places where you want to do something quicker, cheaper, faster, or better. But members have to be aware of the opportunity first. You can’t create the opportunity,​ but you can use Google Trends to identify rising opportunities and encapsulate them as the basis for your community.+These create new opportunities people need to make sense of. They usually are places where you want to do something quicker, cheaper, faster, or better. But members have to be aware of the opportunity first. You can’t create the opportunity,​ but you can use [[https://​www.google.com/​trends/​|Google Trends]]to identify rising opportunities and encapsulate them as the basis for your community.
  
    
-3) Pursue an existing interest.+==== Pursue an existing interest. ​====
  
 People join communities if they want to learn more about a topic they’re fascinated by. Most hobbyist/​enthusiast communities fall within this category. Many brands try to create communities in this field but soon realise their brand isn’t nearly as fascinating as they might expect. ​ People join communities if they want to learn more about a topic they’re fascinated by. Most hobbyist/​enthusiast communities fall within this category. Many brands try to create communities in this field but soon realise their brand isn’t nearly as fascinating as they might expect. ​
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-4) Be a part of a known exclusive group within the field. ​+==== Be a part of a known exclusive group within the field. ​==== 
  
 We seem to be very much wired to join exclusive groups within our field. If there'​s an exclusive group, especially an exclusive group that most people in the sector know exists, we're very keen to join it. We seem to be very much wired to join exclusive groups within our field. If there'​s an exclusive group, especially an exclusive group that most people in the sector know exists, we're very keen to join it.
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-5) Group norms – and fear of missing out. +==== Group norms – and fear of missing out. ==== 
  
 Once a community has achieved critical mass and beyond, an increasing number of people join not to be left behind. This happens in communities such as Reddit and ProductHunt that achieve super high levels of growth and participation. Soon everyone wants to join to ensure they’re not missing out. Once a community has achieved critical mass and beyond, an increasing number of people join not to be left behind. This happens in communities such as Reddit and ProductHunt that achieve super high levels of growth and participation. Soon everyone wants to join to ensure they’re not missing out.
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-6) To satisfy personal ego needs.+==== To satisfy personal ego needs. ​====
  
 A lot of people join a community to satisfy an immediate ego need for validation or efficacy. They join to write a provocative remark. They aim to see an impact and know they have efficacy within the community and agency over their actions. Others join to share a useful piece of advice. They want to be congratulated and feel validated that they have expertise in the topic. A lot of people join a community to satisfy an immediate ego need for validation or efficacy. They join to write a provocative remark. They aim to see an impact and know they have efficacy within the community and agency over their actions. Others join to share a useful piece of advice. They want to be congratulated and feel validated that they have expertise in the topic.
    
 These are usually the least healthy communities. YouTube comments might be the most obvious example here. These are specifically the kind of members and activity you don’t want in a community. These are usually the least healthy communities. YouTube comments might be the most obvious example here. These are specifically the kind of members and activity you don’t want in a community.
-  ​ + 
-  +---- 
-SUSTAINING HEALTHY LEVELS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION+ 
 + 
 +===== Sustaining healthy levels of participation ===== 
  
 At the very top are healthy levels of participation. This is where members participate for intrinsic reasons. The quantity and quality of posts will be higher from members that participate for intrinsic reasons. These members will also participate for a longer period of time. At the very top are healthy levels of participation. This is where members participate for intrinsic reasons. The quantity and quality of posts will be higher from members that participate for intrinsic reasons. These members will also participate for a longer period of time.
  
 When intrinsically motivated, members participate for genuine interest, enjoyment, or satisfaction of helping others. When intrinsically motivated, members participate for genuine interest, enjoyment, or satisfaction of helping others.
-Genuine interest. Members participate because they have a genuine interest in the topic and want to explore it as much as possible with other members.  + 
-Enjoyment. Members participate because they genuinely enjoy the act of interacting with one another. You might meet up with friends at a bar because you enjoy their company. The same is true with communities. +  - **Genuine interest.** Members participate because they have a genuine interest in the topic and want to explore it as much as possible with other members.  
-Genuine Satisfaction. You might participate because you enjoy helping other members. You’re not participating to increase your own reputation or esteem, but because you truly enjoy the satisfaction you get from helping other members.  ​+  - **Enjoyment. Members participate because they genuinely enjoy the act of interacting with one another.** You might meet up with friends at a bar because you enjoy their company. The same is true with communities. 
 +  - **Genuine Satisfaction.** You might participate because you enjoy helping other members. You’re not participating to increase your own reputation or esteem, but because you truly enjoy the satisfaction you get from helping other members. 
 + 
 + 
 +---- 
 +  
    
-3 MEANS TO INCREASE HEALTHY PARTICIPATION+===== 3 means to increase healthy participation ===== 
  
-Motivation theory has shifted a LONG way since Maslow looked at a group of rhesus monkeys and predicted (but never studied) what would motivate us. It’s shifted towards a field known as Self-Determination Theory; our level of competence, autonomy, and social relatedness affects our motivation.+Motivation theory has shifted a LONG way since Maslow looked at a group of rhesus monkeys and [[https://​en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs#​Research|predicted (but never studied) what would motivate us]]. It’s shifted towards a field known as Self-Determination Theory; our level of competence, autonomy, and social relatedness affects our motivation.
  
 If you want to move members from short-term extrinsic motivation to healthy long-term participation,​ you need to increase their sense of growing skill, autonomy, and relatedness. A big part of this is changing the messages you send to non-members/​newcomers from those you send to existing, participating,​ members. If you want to move members from short-term extrinsic motivation to healthy long-term participation,​ you need to increase their sense of growing skill, autonomy, and relatedness. A big part of this is changing the messages you send to non-members/​newcomers from those you send to existing, participating,​ members.
    
-1) Skill.+==== Skill ==== 
  
 As someone participates in the community, they get better at the topic. As they get better they get at the topic, the more they enjoy it. The more they enjoy the topic, the more they participate in the community. As someone participates in the community, they get better at the topic. As they get better they get at the topic, the more they enjoy it. The more they enjoy the topic, the more they participate in the community.
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 As members become more advanced, you can guide them to places that are more technical/​specific. You can also set up an online resource that documents the best knowledge and ensures members that share great information can see it documented in an online wiki. As members become more advanced, you can guide them to places that are more technical/​specific. You can also set up an online resource that documents the best knowledge and ensures members that share great information can see it documented in an online wiki.
    
-2) Autonomy.+==== Autonomy ​==== 
  
 Autonomy is the freedom to act in line with one's true beliefs. Autonomy is the freedom to act in line with one's true beliefs.
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 This also means showing support for the actions members have taken. Unexpected praise also works very well here. This also means showing support for the actions members have taken. Unexpected praise also works very well here.
   ​   ​
-3) Relatedness.+==== Relatedness ​==== 
  
 Relatedness is the number of high-quality relationships we develop within a community. The more people we not only recognise, get to know, but feel genuinely close to influences our level of participation and satisfaction within the community. Relatedness is the number of high-quality relationships we develop within a community. The more people we not only recognise, get to know, but feel genuinely close to influences our level of participation and satisfaction within the community.
  
-This is also where the ‘sense of community’ comes into play. The greater the sense of community, the more members participate. As members join and participate,​ you need to ensure they get to know other members of the community.+This is also where the ‘sense of community’ comes into play. The greater the sense of community, the more members participate. As members join and participate,​ you [[https://​www.feverbee.com/​senseofcommunity/​|need to ensure they get to know other members of the community]].
  
 There’s plenty you can do to increase the sense of community. One useful option is to have a growing system for members to get to know one another. Having members meet in person is a useful idea, as is finding ways to encourage higher levels of self-disclosure from members. It’s good to have a place for members to share their biggest achievement,​ biggest challenge, and other problems. ​   There’s plenty you can do to increase the sense of community. One useful option is to have a growing system for members to get to know one another. Having members meet in person is a useful idea, as is finding ways to encourage higher levels of self-disclosure from members. It’s good to have a place for members to share their biggest achievement,​ biggest challenge, and other problems. ​  
 +
 +----
    
-Designing systems.+===== Designing systems ​===== 
  
 If you’re managing a sub-1000 MAM (monthly active members) community, you can do much of this manually. You can adjust the appeal and concept, individually contact members to make more skill-based contributions,​ offer more autonomy, and introduce them to other members. If you’re managing a sub-1000 MAM (monthly active members) community, you can do much of this manually. You can adjust the appeal and concept, individually contact members to make more skill-based contributions,​ offer more autonomy, and introduce them to other members.
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 But it’s also the key to ensuring that every possible members becomes as active as they can be. But it’s also the key to ensuring that every possible members becomes as active as they can be.
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