Your community needs regulars, stars and celebrities. But you need to treat them differently.
Don’t confuse them or how they help your community.
- Regulars are people that visit your community often. They keep the activity going. They’re the key members. They're the most active. They stimulate and sustain activity. You need to spend most of your time interacting with these people. Your community is for your regulars.
- Stars are the people that do amazing things in your community. They’re the people that figures out how to complete a take a photograph in an entirely new way, They give you great content and things to write about. Stars are the people your regulars admire and aspire towards. You need to interview these members and promote what they do. Give them opinion and advice columns. Promote their successes externally. Make their successes, community successes. It bonds members and increases participation.
- Celebrities are the unreachable members of your community. They’re usually too important and busy for your community. World famous photographers probably don't participate in photography communities. Celebrities are good for content, gossip and potential VIP visits. They're people you want to endorse your community.
There is always the risk to spend your time fighting the flamers and attracting newcomers. I bet, however, if you look after these 3 groups well you will never be short of members, activity, successes or promotional material.
