Comments on: Community: The Secret Sauce of a Successful Internet Startup http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/ Rose City + Silicon Forest Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:37:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Eric http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-5019 Eric Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:25:27 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-5019 I just stumbled into this, and its exactly the advice I've been looking for. Excellent article, very well thought out. Thank you for putting this together. I just stumbled into this, and its exactly the advice I’ve been looking for. Excellent article, very well thought out. Thank you for putting this together.

]]> By: Internet Astronauts launches » Silicon Florist http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-4354 Internet Astronauts launches » Silicon Florist Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:58:26 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-4354 [...] had the chance to read the guest posts that Darius has written for Silicon Florist—”Community: The Secret Sauce of a Successful Internet Startup” and “Here’s the Deadliest Catch: Hiring an Agency to Build Your [...] […] had the chance to read the guest posts that Darius has written for Silicon Florist—”Community: The Secret Sauce of a Successful Internet Startup” and “Here’s the Deadliest Catch: Hiring an Agency to Build Your […]

]]> By: uttefratt http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3805 uttefratt Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:15:01 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3805 Thank you Thank you

]]> By: Fountain Pens and Handmade Paper » Blog Archive » Links for July 22nd, 2008 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3662 Fountain Pens and Handmade Paper » Blog Archive » Links for July 22nd, 2008 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:16:34 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3662 [...] Community: The Secret Sauce of a Successful Internet Startup (tags: community howto management mlf) [...] […] Community: The Secret Sauce of a Successful Internet Startup (tags: community howto management mlf) […]

]]> By: Vanessa http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3575 Vanessa Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:18:04 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3575 My travel website www.morethanoxfordstreet.com is newish at just over 10 weeks and in need of great advice such as the one in this article - thnx! Building a community takes time doesn't it, and I particularly like your point about enjoying and learning from the journey. And about being accessible, although as a woman, I do feel that I'm perhaps more aware of security/keeping safe issues...I'm hoping to apply my communication skills within the field of international development, so your website HODR is of timely interest. And I've just signed up to the Colours site. My travel website http://www.morethanoxfordstreet.com
is newish at just over 10 weeks and in need of great advice such as the one in this article - thnx! Building a community takes time doesn’t it, and I particularly like your point about enjoying and learning from the journey. And about being accessible, although as a woman, I do feel that I’m perhaps more aware of security/keeping safe issues…I’m hoping to apply my communication skills within the field of international development, so your website HODR is of timely interest. And I’ve just signed up to the Colours site.

]]> By: Recent Links on Ma.gnolia at Fast Wonder Blog http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3568 Recent Links on Ma.gnolia at Fast Wonder Blog Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:02:35 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3568 [...] Community: The Secret Sauce of a Successful Internet Startup » Silicon Florist [...] […] Community: The Secret Sauce of a Successful Internet Startup » Silicon Florist […]

]]> By: » Why the Web Will Always Belong to Dictators :: Positive Space :: The Graphic Design Blog http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3528 » Why the Web Will Always Belong to Dictators :: Positive Space :: The Graphic Design Blog Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:07:18 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3528 [...] if given there own way would probably sabotage the site. A great example of this can be found in this article by the founder of colourLovers who learned this lesson both in volunteer run organizations and on [...] […] if given there own way would probably sabotage the site. A great example of this can be found in this article by the founder of colourLovers who learned this lesson both in volunteer run organizations and on […]

]]> By: Flowersbyfarha http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3517 Flowersbyfarha Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:34:24 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3517 To a well of boundless depths, I return to drink anew and share with friends. Perfect sized sections to come back for bits of wisdom and reminders as needed. Thanks, again. To a well of boundless depths, I return to drink anew and share with friends. Perfect sized sections to come back for bits of wisdom and reminders as needed.

Thanks, again.

]]> By: Rick Turoczy http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3516 Rick Turoczy Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:35:47 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3516 @Ben I used to have subscribe to comments running but there was a conflict within the current theme and OpenID and something else. I really appreciate the feedback. And I totally agree that there are some major housekeeping/improvements that would help keep the conversation going around here. I'll keep working to make that happen. @Ben I used to have subscribe to comments running but there was a conflict within the current theme and OpenID and something else.

I really appreciate the feedback. And I totally agree that there are some major housekeeping/improvements that would help keep the conversation going around here.

I’ll keep working to make that happen.

]]> By: Ben Parzybok http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3514 Ben Parzybok Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:24:35 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/07/08/community-the-secret-sauce-of-a-successful-internet-startup/#comment-3514 What a great article and very well written. I've learned a lot of these tricks (some the hard way, some by stumbling) via the community at Walker Tracker, but it was great to hear them affirmed. I don't think enough could be said about needing to be invested and involved in your own community. We've tried a couple of automated things as well to improve the community - one was to have a 'comrade' befriend everyone automatically upon signing up - like the myspace guy. That was disorienting and a little creepy for our users and we stopped doing it. Instead, I have an automated private message with a warm welcome sent to each new member from my account (not a robot or system user). I reply back immediately to any replies I get from this. This way they also know that I am "accessible to every member of [my] community." Being accessible to every member of your community doesn't scale very well sometimes. I try my best - but another thing I've found useful, which you've talked about here too, Darius, is trying to identify community leaders as they surface. I send messages to these, ie: "Hey, I noticed you started a new group. Let me know how things are working for you or if I can give you a hand in any way." And some of these members I give pro accounts, largely because I'm grateful for the work they do in the community. Thanks again for the article. And Rick, speaking of community building - you should consider installing the Subscribe to Comments wordpress plugin so that you can be notified if someone has replied to your comment. Comment RSS will do, but it clutters up a reader. What a great article and very well written.
I’ve learned a lot of these tricks (some the hard way, some by stumbling) via the community at Walker Tracker, but it was great to hear them affirmed. I don’t think enough could be said about needing to be invested and involved in your own community.

We’ve tried a couple of automated things as well to improve the community - one was to have a ‘comrade’ befriend everyone automatically upon signing up - like the myspace guy. That was disorienting and a little creepy for our users and we stopped doing it. Instead, I have an automated private message with a warm welcome sent to each new member from my account (not a robot or system user). I reply back immediately to any replies I get from this. This way they also know that I am “accessible to every member of [my] community.” Being accessible to every member of your community doesn’t scale very well sometimes. I try my best - but another thing I’ve found useful, which you’ve talked about here too, Darius, is trying to identify community leaders as they surface. I send messages to these, ie: “Hey, I noticed you started a new group. Let me know how things are working for you or if I can give you a hand in any way.” And some of these members I give pro accounts, largely because I’m grateful for the work they do in the community.

Thanks again for the article.
And Rick, speaking of community building - you should consider installing the Subscribe to Comments wordpress plugin so that you can be notified if someone has replied to your comment. Comment RSS will do, but it clutters up a reader.

]]>