Community Building on the Web : Secret Strategies for Successful Online Communities

by Amy Jo Kim

What makes a Web site a Web community? How have sites like Yahoo, iVillage, eBay, and AncientSites managed to attract and maintain a loyal following? How can Web developers create growing, thriving sites that serve an important function in people's lives? Community Building on the Web introduces and examines nine essential design strategies for putting together vibrant, welcoming online communities. Amy Jo Kim, a leading expert in Web community design, has helped AOL, Yahoo, Oracle, MTV, and others start online worlds that have become flourishing gathering places that people come back to again and again. The book is full of informative examples, case studies, and tactics for every facet of Web communities, from welcoming visitors to training community leaders. (Previously announced on the Winter 98 list.)

Genres: Cultural, Business, Nonfiction, Design, Social Media, Education, Computers

380 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Vladimir Kramskoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book lists and explains all the basic principles of community building. Though many approaches are now becoming outdated, the reasoning behind them is still relevant.

Unfortunately, though the book contains a huge number of references and examples to support its statements, lots of them are either obsolete or have become such a common practice that their consideration is no longer necessary.

Still, reading this book is helpful to anyone willing to understand the process of online community building.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would have been great to read in 2001. Although the principles are sound, the images and examples are too outdated to be applicable.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

the rules and guidelines of forming the community are pretty much the same, but the examples seem hillarious 18 years later

[Lino Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Community Building: A Review

While doing some research for a client, I once again turned to Community Building on the Web by Amy Jo Kim

While The subtitle read “Secret Strategies for Successful Online Communities.” I am not sure that there is anything secret about these strategies. Smart yes, secret, I do not think so. Remember that this book was first published over 20 years ago. It was a gift, so I have flipped to it more that a few times over the years. This time I decided to read it all.
Much as changed on the Web. Social Media has come to dominate much of our lives; Google has become a way of life; Amazon just keeps getting bigger and that is not taking account real world companies that have migrated or are in the process of migrating to the Web – think Netflix, Disney and Wal-Mart to name but three.
It is true that some of the examples that the author uses, are not longer with us. And as far as we can tell the author’s website is no longer there. Do you remember America Online and GeoCities? If you, do you are showing your age. Having said that do you want to turn your customers into loyal followers and repeat buyers? Can your Web page designers and developers create sites that are active and rewarding? Do you remember the expression: “Sticky Eyeballs? We think that Amy Jo Kim, author of Community Building on the Web does.
The book is full of good ideas for community building on and off the web. Perhaps it is not an ecommerce classic, but an update would keep it very, very relevant.
For instance, the book is organized around nine timeless design strategies that characterize successful, sustainable communities with social scaffolding:
1. Define and articulate your purpose.
2. Build flexible, extensible gathering places.
3. Create meaningful and evolving member profiles.
4. Design a range of roles.
5. Develop a strong leadership program.
6. Encourage appropriate etiquette.
7. Promote cyclic events.
8. Integrate the rituals of community life.
9. Facilitate member-run subgroups.
And for you, current fans of Facebook Groups, listen to what the author says about Groups. “Groups are Communities, too” and what makes them successful? Here is Amy Jo thinks:
1. Groups are successful when they serve a clear purpose.
2. Groups need gathering places to congregate and communicate.
3. Group affiliation should be part of member profiles.
4. Groups should accommodate and support a range of roles.
5. Groups benefit from strong leadership.
6. Groups develop their own etiquette.
7. Groups get stronger when they hold cyclic events.
8. Groups are strengthened by the rituals of community life.
9. As they grow, groups may need to form internal subgroups.
So while this book may not ensure that you have a successful Web based community, it can help you build the systems and methods to help get you there. Let me know if you want me to join.

Lino Matteo ©™
Twitter @Lino_Matteo

https://linomatteo.wordpress.com/2021...

[bookslayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, but almost completely obsolete already.

[Tamara Suttle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good resource for building community in virtual spaces

This wasn't exactly focused on building a community on a blog but it had lots of great ideas and examples for anyone working on creating a virtual community.