The slides from my webinar on using online communities which I did for Nomad Parents

1. Online Communities
Presented by
Molly Quell
For NomadParents.com

2. Online Communities
• Forums
• Groups
• Blogs
• Twitter
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3. Forums
An online discussion site where
people use posted messages to
engage in discussions.
Pros: Moderated, Wide
Audience
Cons: Not Verified Identities,
Slow Response, Public
How To Find: Search for
“parenting forums,” many are
attached to parenting websites.
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4. Groups and Pages
Groups
Networking generate discussion around a certain
topic.
Public / private / invitation
LinkedIn and Facebook
Pages
Profile for a product, company, or website to promote
to the public.
Pros: Verified Identities, Rapid Response, Targeted
Interest
Cons: Limited Access, Not Designed To Be A Forum
How To Find: Search for “parents” or “parenting” in
Facebook or Linkedin, Ask parents in your area or
group.
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5. Blogs
Short for “web log”, a blog is a website based around generating information and
discussion.
Pros: Wide Audience, Smaller Audience, Targeted Interest
Cons: Not Designed To Be A Forum, Unverified Identities, Slow Response, Public
How To Find: Search for “parenting blogs” or your specific parenting interest (such as
“expat parent blogs”), several websites put together lists of the best parenting blogs
(such as Babble), check the links of any parenting blogs you currently read, search
popular blogging websites (such as Blogger or Wordpress)
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6. Get started with some blogs
• Adventures in Integration (Expatica NL expat
blog of the year)
• Expatica NL 2012 blogging competition
nominees
• The European Mama blog
• Drie Culturen (third culture kids)
• Other experts in the Nomad Parents webinar
series
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www.mollyquell.com www.nomadparents.com

7. Twitter
A microblogging service which How To Find: Look at Trending
allows users to post short Topics on Twitter, look at
messages. websites for hashtags they use
(Edudemic has compiled a list),
Hashtags search for generic terms on
Twitter.
Feature which allows you to
easily search for terms on
Twitter
Pros: Wide Audience, Instant
Responses
Cons: Unverified Identities,
Public
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8. Conclusion
• Transferable
Communities
• Varied
Opinions
• Unverified
Idenities
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