http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2008/11/03/3-lessons-in-community-5-laura-gluhanich-of-ning/ A conversation. Fri, 25 May 2012 00:29:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2008/11/03/3-lessons-in-community-5-laura-gluhanich-of-ning/#comment-7781 Angela Connor Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:59:51 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=1753#comment-7781 I think people would be surprised at home much the community managers matter to the members. I manage WRAL.com's online community, GOLO and there are hundreds of people who really feel as though they know me. You have to be a real person. I hosted a small gathering at a local starbucks on our 1-year-anniversary and people met for the first time. The hugs were non-stop and many have developed offline friendships. Despite that, I think that community managers have to be firm and cannot be afraid to be the authority figure they are menat to be. This can be hard when a top poster or community regular does something in violation of the guidelines, but this is where you have to stand firm. I think people would be surprised at home much the community managers matter to the members. I manage WRAL.com's online community, GOLO and there are hundreds of people who really feel as though they know me. You have to be a real person. I hosted a small gathering at a local starbucks on our 1-year-anniversary and people met for the first time. The hugs were non-stop and many have developed offline friendships. Despite that, I think that community managers have to be firm and cannot be afraid to be the authority figure they are menat to be. This can be hard when a top poster or community regular does something in violation of the guidelines, but this is where you have to stand firm.

]]> http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2008/11/03/3-lessons-in-community-5-laura-gluhanich-of-ning/#comment-7780 Marko Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:50:13 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=1753#comment-7780 1) ...and realize that some members will take loads of your time. They will e-mail you several times a day and call you up. 2) ...and realize that your members won't be flexible. If it says 'no advertising' then *every* link to a company or product, no matter how on-topic, will be regarded as advertising and results in private e-mails and bashing on the site. 3) ... and realize that it takes a lot of self control by times to keep showing humanity. Some members will try and fry you, some will drain all energy. That said, these guidelines are proven and good. Kind Regards, M. (editor civic journalism site) 1) …and realize that some members will take loads of your time. They will e-mail you several times a day and call you up. 2) …and realize that your members won't be flexible. If it says 'no advertising' then *every* link to a company or product, no matter how on-topic, will be regarded as advertising and results in private e-mails and bashing on the site. 3) … and realize that it takes a lot of self control by times to keep showing humanity. Some members will try and fry you, some will drain all energy. That said, these guidelines are proven and good. Kind Regards, M. (editor civic journalism site)

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