Growing a Successful Online Community
Tom KuhlmannArticulate
Rapid E-Learning Blog56,000
Background
Articulate Community
70,000
What is a community?Who’s there?What can you do?What I’ve learned.
What is a Community?
Community is the place where people share what they know and learn from each other.
What is a Community?
see
d
soilnutrients
moisture
What is a Community?
soilnutrients
moisture time
What is a Community?
what we see
What is a Community?
what we see
where growth
happens
What is a Community?
what we see
where growth happen
s
what we
focus on
What is a Community?
this is what we think we
need
What is a Community?
this is what we
really need
this is what we think we
need
What is a Community?
this is what we
really need
this is what we think we
needNurture &
grow experts
and expertise
How Does the Community Work?
“I need help!”
Someone wants to learn.Someone wants to learn.
How Does the Community Work?
“Want to know what I know?”
“Sure.”
Someone is willing to share.Someone is willing to share.
How Does the Community Work?
“Blue pants knows a lot!”
People share what they learn & where.People share what they learn & where.
How Does the Community Work?
Community shares back & forth.Community shares back & forth.
“Cool!”“I used your
tips.”
How Does the Community Work?
Community shares back & forth.Community shares back & forth.
“How did you do that?”
Share with each other
and learn
How Does the Community Work?
Drawn to community by
expertise
new learners
experts
Community is all about building expertise
How Does the Community Work?
Sharing & learning
from each other
How Does the Community Work?
95% just want quick tips and tricks
5% are conversing and active
l
l
The Truth About Online Communities
Who’s in the Community?
Want free & easy help
95%
Want to belong
5%
Who’s in the Community?
95%
5%
Community Vs Social Media
technologypeople
What Are Your Goals?
95% Communities aren’t all the
same
Who’s in the Community?
Cheap, disposable
phone
Status symbol
They do similar things but the needs they meet
are different
What Can You Do?
Structure
Community is organic
What I’ve Learned
people
tool
want to learn to
use the tool to
do something
What I’ve Learned
before
after
Forum to David to Tom to David to Forum
What is Success?
#people?
#experts?
#conversations?
#tips?
What is your fruit?
Challenges
cliques
- negative comments- erratic norms- forced community
scalability
Real World Example
95% & 5% still true
This activity engages the 5% and pulls in the
95%
Shared practice community for members to learn how to build courses with Articulate.
People willing to learn together
Scheduled:
- learning
- practice
- feedback
Place for shared
artifacts & safe space
Groups: resources, tutorials, discussions, archives
What is a Community?
Know what fruit you want
Plant the right seeds
Build a strong root system