As with any branding resource, there are “do’s and don’ts” that industry experts agree will help Online Communities be the most successful. Richard Millington, online community consultant and the founder of FeverBee, offers up the notion that brands need to constantly participate in the activity on their communities in order to optimize community performance.

Participation is key in the success of a community, whether it be responding to discussions about the brand, engaging in topical discussions, or offering something exclusive to the community. Millington notes that it’s important to cultivate a community “with the help of the people in it and the brand itself.”

What’s the best way to promote participation? Lead by example! As branding is one of the most important concerns when it comes to building an online community, the best way to ensure branding preservation is to be an active member of the community itself. Millington recommends being, “a person first, a company representative second.”

Your Online Community is only as strong as what you contribute to it, so whether it be participating in off-topic debates, asking for opinions about products and services, or offering exclusive information to those followers of the community, it’s always important to play an active part in the content and discussion that comprises your branding resource.
 

To discuss how to implement the methods outlined in this article on your own TMCnet Community site, please contact a member of your dedicated TMCnet team.

About TMCnet Online Communities

TMCnet Online Communities are news-generated, content-rich portals that position your company as the leading “go-to resource” for your industry group. TMC (News - Alert) has been building Online Communities for over 10 years, and continues to be the market leader at developing these successful communities for our customers.  To learn more about the TMCnet Online Community program, please contact Anna Ritchie [email protected] or call 203-852-6800 x 107. You can also visit us online at http://www.tmcnet.com/community/Default.aspx