The document provides guidance on setting goals and planning for online communities. It recommends starting small, focusing on simplicity and key problems, prioritizing features through research, emphasizing relationships, appointing community managers, and sustaining energy over the long term to ensure community success. Regular communication, activity rewards, and using the right tools are also advised. The overall message is that building a thriving community requires ongoing care, listening to members, and continuous effort.

1. @SociousSuccess
@DelCorTech
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2. Goal Setting
How to set goals for your online community
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3. Create the ‘burning
imperative’
This will define how you treat,
incentivize, and reward members.
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4. Bring Value
If you are struggling with why members should come to your site, chances
are they will struggle, too.
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5. Little Victories
Small goals that people can reach that keep them motivated in the
community. Game dynamics can play a role here.
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6. Staff & Member Research
Tips for conducting staff & member research to create a
community that your members will use
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7. Areas to Research
Who to research & how to gather information
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8. Staff Research
0 Perceived value
0 Member problems
0 Staff problems
0 Tech savvy
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9. Member Research
0 Problems
0 Access
0 Content
0 Communication
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10. How to Gather Information
1. Interviews
0 Small sample
0 Open ended
0 Notes
0 Listen, listen listen
0 Don’t defend or solve
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11. How to Gather Information
2. Surveys
0 Validate interview data
0 Survey larger sample
0 Short and sweet
0 Gratitude
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12. Prioritize Characteristics of
Your Community with Kano
0 Mandatory Features
0 Must be in your community
0 Linear Features
0 The more the better
0 Exciters and Delighters
0 Didn’t know they wanted, but they do
0 Reverse Qualities
0 Better not be included
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13. How to Prioritize Characteristics
of Your Community
0 Create question pairs
1. How would you feel if XYZ’s online community had separate chapter
discussion/groups?
2. How would you feel if XYZ’s online community did not have separate chapter
discussions/groups?
0 Answers
 I like it that way
 It expect it that way
 I am neutral
 I can live with it that way
 I dislike it that way
0 Survey sample & analyze data
Check blog.socious.com for a full explanation of how to do a Kano analysis!
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14. Community Features
How to translate your strategy & research into online community
features
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15. Connection Between
Research/Strategy & Features
Research & Strategy Community Features
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16. Start With Association Goals
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17. Understand Your Platform
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18. Use Top Problems
Staff Member
0 Members don’t know 0 Want to advance in
about programs careers
0 Need to reduce
educational costs 0 Stay on top of
0 Generate more industry changes
revenue 0 Get help with day-
0 Improve member-to- to-day challenges
member
collaboration
0 Find credible info
and education
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19. Brainstorm Solutions
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20. Focus The List
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21. Lessons to Launch
Lessons to successfully launch an online community
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22. Start Small
This is a bit controversial.
Develop a community gradually, rather than doing the traditional BIG LAUNCH.
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23. Simplicity
Make it as simple and easy to get started and participate as possible.
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24. Learn, Listen, and Respond
Clear Guidelines Communication Flow
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25. Long-Term Success for
Community
How to set up your community for long-term success
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26. Relationships Win
If you're working on a long-term perspective (more than a year), you know
that building relationships is key.
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27. Work At It Every Day
Growing relationships takes a lot of care and feeding.
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28. Community Manager
Ownership and responsibility over
regular communication and
relationship growth.
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29. Reward Activity, Remind
Don’t let member activity happen in a vacuum.
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30. Use The Right Tools for the Job
Don’t bring out all the bells and whistles at once. Focus on a few key
features and make them phenomenal.
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31. Keep The Energy Up
No one said it would be easy to create a community. It takes time and a lot
of continuous energy to grow a community out of the ether.
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32. More Information
on Planning Online
Communities for
Associations
http://info.socious.com/association-management-resources/
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