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

by Kim, Amy Jo

• ISBN13: 9780201874846
• ISBN10: 0201874849
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-04-01
• Publisher: Pearson P T R

Summary

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.)

Author Biography

Amy Jo Kim teaches online design at Stanford.

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
Purpose	1	(26)
Building a Successful Community	2	(16)
The Planning Exercise in Action	12	(6)
Articulate Your Vision	18	(9)
Places: Bringing People Together	27	(48)
People Are Talking	28	(23)
Mapping the Territory	51	(14)
Zoned for Growth	65	(10)
Profiles: Getting To Know Your Members	75	(40)
Why Profiles?	76	(10)
Your Member Database	86	(9)
Creating a Persona	95	(11)
Evolving a Social Identity	106	(9)
Roles: From Newcomer to Old-Timer	115	(40)
The Membership Life Cycle	117	(3)
Welcome Your Visitors	120	(13)
Instruct Your Novices	133	(6)
Reward Your Regulars	139	(5)
Empower Your Leaders	144	(3)
Honor Your Elders	147	(8)
Leadership: The Buck Stops Here	155	(46)
What's a Leader?	157	(11)
Unofficial Leaders	168	(9)
Official Leaders	177	(11)
Power to the People: The Slashdot Moderator System	178	(10)
Manage Your Leaders	188	(13)
Etiquette: Rules To Live By	201	(32)
Develop Your Ground Rules	202	(15)
Enforce Your Policies	217	(9)
Evolve Your Rules	226	(7)
Events: Meetings, Performances and Competitions	233	(44)
Event Planning 101	234	(8)
Meetings: Bringing Groups Together	242	(10)
Performances: Up on Stage	252	(10)
Competitions: Members in the Spotlight	262	(15)
Rituals: Handshakes, Holidays, and Rites of Passage	277	(32)
The Power of Ritual	278	(1)
Personal Acknowledgments	279	(9)
Community Holidays	288	(11)
Passages and Transitions	299	(10)
Subgroups: Clans, Clubs and Committees	309	(42)
Why Subgroups?	310	(10)
Setting the Stage	320	(10)
Developing Your Official Program	330	(21)
Epilogue	351	(2)
Index	353