The Lifespan of a Social Community


TOPIC QUESTIONS
Q1) How do you plan resources for the lifespan of a social media engagement?
Q2) Do the communities you create need a community manager or can they be self-sustaining?
Q3) What do you do with a community when the budget is exhausted or resources are no longer available?
   Event Details
Event Date:
     2010-08-10
Event Time:
     12PM - 1 PM EST
Participants:
     90
Tweets:
     483


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  Embed:
Moderator
connie-bensen.jpg
Connie Bensen
twitter:
web: http://www.alterian.com/
BIO: Connie’s passion is community building and the related facets of social networking and branding. The goal of this site is to provide resources, mentorship & leadership for those building vibrant communities. As the community manager role becomes more prevalent she contributes to best practices. The precepts of community building apply to businesses no matter their size or type making this area critical to the integration of social media tools. It ...more
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  • Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:32:01 AM
  • RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72 #cmgr
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:34:02 AM
  • RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:35:03 AM
  • RT : RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72 #cmgr
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:37:01 AM
  • RT : RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72 #cmgr
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:37:01 AM
  • RT : RT : RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon ET today #sm72 #cmgr #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:49:01 AM
  • RT Join me today at noon to talk about the lifespan of an online community. I'm hosting #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:49:02 AM
  • RT : RT : RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon ET today #sm72 #cmgr #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:50:04 AM
  • I'll be joining a discussion on the sustainability of online communities in just a few minutes. Follow the conversation at #sm72.
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:53:01 AM
  • Less than 10 minutes till we chat with about Community Sustainability-follow the convo at #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:54:03 AM
  • RT : Less than 10 minutes till we chat with about Community Sustainability-follow the convo at #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:55:06 AM
  • getting ready to jump into a #socialmedia tweetchat about sustaining communities, the host is should be a good one #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:58:01 AM
  • RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:59:04 AM
  • RT : Less than 10 minutes till we chat with about Community Sustainability-follow the convo at #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 11:59:04 AM
  • Before we get started, I just want to say, the timing of this topic for me is big. Really looking forward to #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:01:01 PM
  • RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:01:51 PM
  • Thanks for inviting me to host, Marc. Community sustainability is key. Anyone can build one, but ... #SM72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:01:51 PM
  • #sm72 Quick question: Will there be any distinctions raised in today's chat about internal vs. external online communities?
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:04:01 PM
  • I'll be lurking quietly today trying to learn something new about Communities during #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:05:03 PM
  • RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:05:03 PM
  • RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:05:03 PM
  • Quest 1 - How do you plan resources for the lifespan of a social media engagement? Or do you plan for campaigns? #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:06:03 PM
  • The topic today is Community Sustainability - we'll be doing 4 questions each spanning 15 min's #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:06:03 PM
  • : #sm72 we can talk about both internal and external - don't you think that both have sustainability challenges?
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:07:04 PM
  • Hey , good one for U RT : topic today is Community Sustainability - well be doing 4 questions each spanning 15 mins #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:07:04 PM
  • #SM72 I think it's important to plan for both. You should have an ongoing resource plan, but also a plan for how to ramp up for campaigns.
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:08:03 PM
  • we're happy to have you here, but we'd love to hear your thoughts too! #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:08:03 PM
  • You can't use internal resources if they don't know what they are doing #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:08:03 PM
  • Absolutely. I know they each have differing risks & rewards, too, so I'm glad both are up for discussion. #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:09:04 PM
  • don't all campaigns require internal resources? so it would seem to me that u have to be ready internally first... #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:09:04 PM
  • RT : Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:11:01 PM
  • agreed that before you can request internal resources, you need a plan with objectives for your comm #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:11:01 PM
  • Me 2, they r the lifebread of social RT : Lurking quietly 2day trying to learn something new re Communities during #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:11:01 PM
  • before we talk about resources, maybe we should step back - the big question is 'Is there a strategy?' #sm72 thoughts on that?
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:11:01 PM
  • Thanks...looking forward to learning, will participate if I have something to offer :) #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:11:01 PM
  • you mean the, "Why are we creating a community in the first place?" #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:12:07 PM
  • Social media activity should have a long term foundation of resource and commitment Campaigns will need their own resource on top #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:12:07 PM
  • sorry I'm late, Q1 is How do you plan resources for the lifespan of a social media engagement? right? #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:12:07 PM
  • maybe you would share how you have done both re: integrating long term comm building and campaigns - getting resources #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:13:03 PM
  • I'm in the planning stages for a campaign right now. External needs internal. Not always the other way around. But that's changing. #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:13:04 PM
  • of course. Like all mktg campaigns should support a longer term strategy. Many companies forget this with SM though #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:14:04 PM
  • Social media 'strategy' should start with ongoing. You should be willing to manage that before you jump into campaigns. #SM72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:14:04 PM
  • maybe you would share how you have done both re: integrating long term comm building and campaigns - getting resources #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:14:04 PM
  • Interesting u word q1 as "a" SM engagement. I view SM as ongoing function: Listen, Speak, Care, Share, Building Relationships #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:15:05 PM
  • RT : SM act should have a long term foundation of resource and commitment Campaigns will need their own resource on top #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:15:05 PM
  • Great question about strategy- you can't "just" create it out of a vacuum because you think it would be cool to do. #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:15:05 PM
  • yes, they start with the tactical first. (Campaigns first). That's when the resource issue rears it's head #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:16:04 PM
  • Real communities don't build a post office and hope someone moves near it. The community needs to be there first, IMHO. #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:17:02 PM
  • I agree. Many of my clients think short-term. And, that's my challenge. #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:17:02 PM
  • Exactly. Platform before strategy is cart before horse. #sm72
    Posted by: - 08/10/2010 12:17:02 PM
    • Load 20 More
Moderator
Community managers, come talk about Community Sustainability at noon est today #socialmedia tweetchat #sm72
Thanks for inviting me to host, Marc. Community sustainability is key. Anyone can build one, but ... #SM72
Quest 1 - How do you plan resources for the lifespan of a social media engagement? Or do you plan for campaigns? #sm72
The topic today is Community Sustainability - we'll be doing 4 questions each spanning 15 min's #sm72
: #sm72 we can talk about both internal and external - don't you think that both have sustainability challenges?
we're happy to have you here, but we'd love to hear your thoughts too! #sm72
agreed that before you can request internal resources, you need a plan with objectives for your comm #sm72
before we talk about resources, maybe we should step back - the big question is 'Is there a strategy?' #sm72 thoughts on that?
maybe you would share how you have done both re: integrating long term comm building and campaigns - getting resources #sm72
maybe you would share how you have done both re: integrating long term comm building and campaigns - getting resources #sm72
RT : SM act should have a long term foundation of resource and commitment Campaigns will need their own resource on top #sm72
yes, they start with the tactical first. (Campaigns first). That's when the resource issue rears it's head #sm72
I agree & my philosophy now is find them & go to your community. #sm72
a startup has the amazing opportunity to find new markets (their comm's r out there too) #sm72
Quest 2 What do we do with communities we have created? Do they need a community manager or can they be self-sustaining? #sm72
exactly - everyone jumps into the 'what' before they ask/solve the 'why' #sm72 (resources will be given to a good 'why')
I always view it as an opportunity. (rather than talk about problems :) ) but yes! great idea #sm72
agreed - the community role definitely needs to be empowered. If it's pushed into a silo it will fail. #sm72
asked does every brand need a community? #sm72 > What's a brand w/out brand visibility?
RT : I personally try to let the community I "manage" do their own thing, but I interact and share new info with them #sm72
RT : I speak from experience that in community manager, it is better to be seen than heard #sm72
RT : If there isn't a community manager, it seems that the members disengage and that the content becomes stale. #sm72
RT : I speak from experience that in community manager, it is better to be seen than heard #sm72
RT : If there isn't a community manager, it seems that the members disengage and that the content becomes stale. #sm72
I just realized that my defn of 'Community' is very broad. I consider staff the most important community. #sm72
and my present company doesn't have a branded community - but I consider all our stakeholders online as 'my community' #sm72
I just realized that my defn of 'Community' is very broad. I consider staff the most important community. #sm72
RT : Yes! RT 3 types: Influencers, Participants & Listeners. Comm's often nd a push 2 kp topics lively #sm72
RT : Yes! RT 3 types: Influencers, Participants & Listeners. Comm's often nd a push 2 kp topics lively #sm72
great question - the big quest is - are the skills more important or the passion for the product? #sm72
great conversations happening here! thanks to everyone :) on to the next question #sm72
great conversations happening here! thanks to everyone :) on to the next question #sm72
My favorite ones are the ones that I can go to when I need help & a passionate community offers assistance #sm72
I think that a person must have the nurturing skills to feel successful as a community manager #sm72
I found it interesting that people don't understand the definition of 'community' offline #sm72
I agree. It's such an important position. I am training someone who has no product knowl. I lean towards the nurturing #sm72
I see communities being shut down - Ning communities being moved to Facebook #sm72
Last Quest - What are your tips for sustaining the momentum of a community #sm72?
RT : Find a way, MAKE a way, for everyone to stay involved and take ownership. #sm72
RT : make it your primary one-stop-shop of your web presence #sm72
RT Keep members notified of new/updated content, reg (but not too frequent) engagement, encourage them to talk there #sm72
RT Stay involved, Stay current, Empower your members, Empower your staff, have the right metrics in place. #sm72
RT You have to observe and watch for community needs. Don't force tools/concepts on it. Let it evolve and then help it. #sm72
Thanks again to for inviting me to host #sm72. And thanks to all of you for joining us! Some great points
this quest just in #sm72 RT : how to overcome negativity in the community, any ideas you can share?
thanks for joining us and offering your experience & ideas! #sm72
: you're quite welcome! :) #sm72