A community needs to feel it has a unique identity.
In the rush to design, develop and launch a community, don’t forget that your community needs a name.
The BHF launched a nameless community last week. It lacks a unique identity.
The name is a symbol that represents something exclusively to that community.
A name may sound like an optional abstract construct from the bowels of academia, but it’s actually the single most important symbol that your members rally behind. When members talk about the community, how will they call it? The {organization} community?
Would Mumsnet be as successful if it was the Proctor and Gamble parenting community? Would Element14 (a great name) work as well if it was Caterpilla’s Online Community? Or how about the Lady Gaga community instead of Little Monsters?
People don’t want to feel they are members of an organization’s community. They want to feel they are joining something special. People want to take on the group’s identity. They can’t do that if you don’t give your community an identity.
Make sure you name your community.
Also read Blaise’s post on nicknames.
