Comments on: Why Social Communities Will Fail http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/ Fascinating, Inspiring, Rewarding and Engaging kinded spirits. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:22:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Shaun Dakin http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-178787 Shaun Dakin Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:16:03 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-178787 Great post. I'm in the advocacy space where so many people are so excited about sending emails and faxes to their elected representatives. "We sent 100k emails to members of congress!" So what? What was the outcome. Bottom line? Unless you get off your bottom and get up to Capital Hill (or your State Cap) and actually meet reps and their staff, not a single email, phone call, or fax will really do much of anything. It is all about relationships and trust. It is very hard to do that online. Shaun Dakin CEO and Founder http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org Great post.

I’m in the advocacy space where so many people are so excited about sending emails and faxes to their elected representatives.

“We sent 100k emails to members of congress!”

So what?

What was the outcome.

Bottom line? Unless you get off your bottom and get up to Capital Hill (or your State Cap) and actually meet reps and their staff, not a single email, phone call, or fax will really do much of anything.

It is all about relationships and trust.

It is very hard to do that online.

Shaun Dakin
CEO and Founder
http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org

]]> By: Spike http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-160245 Spike Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:02:44 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-160245 Thanks for adding to the conversation, Adam. You make some great points, and I agree. As the last lines of the post says, "Yes, the title of this post is wrong. Social media will not fail. But joining forces with offline opportunities to get flesh and blood together to celebrate one another (no, not celebrate your brand) will amplify – and trump – anything you could ever do online." Thanks for adding to the conversation, Adam. You make some great points, and I agree. As the last lines of the post says, “Yes, the title of this post is wrong. Social media will not fail. But joining forces with offline opportunities to get flesh and blood together to celebrate one another (no, not celebrate your brand) will amplify – and trump – anything you could ever do online.”

]]> By: Adam Wright http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-160243 Adam Wright Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:55:30 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-160243 Hey Spike, you prove an interesting point about that the whole offline vs. online community theory, suggesting that ‘community’ is surely based on physical interactivity between individuals. I do agree that the whole face-to-face and shaking hands concept has much more of a social feeling rather than communicating to people behind a computer screen. Offline communities are more traditional and are definitely more active (due to physical interactivity). However, why is it that people will continue to actively engage in connecting in the online community? The answer is simple Spike, humans can overcome physical challenges in the online world. The online community does not have any physical challenges, people can actively engage with one-another despite the long range of distance or the significant difference in demographics. For example, people can easily discuss reviews of movies in the comfort zone of their own chair, rather than having to deal with driving to a certain place, interacting with people that may find them social unacceptable and having to deal with basic human needs (e.g. food). And what does this mean in the long run? More users of who participate in online communities will surely increase the accumulated knowledge of certain topics thanks to more shared understandings. Hey Spike, you prove an interesting point about that the whole offline vs. online community theory, suggesting that ‘community’ is surely based on physical interactivity between individuals. I do agree that the whole face-to-face and shaking hands concept has much more of a social feeling rather than communicating to people behind a computer screen. Offline communities are more traditional and are definitely more active (due to physical interactivity). However, why is it that people will continue to actively engage in connecting in the online community? The answer is simple Spike, humans can overcome physical challenges in the online world. The online community does not have any physical challenges, people can actively engage with one-another despite the long range of distance or the significant difference in demographics. For example, people can easily discuss reviews of movies in the comfort zone of their own chair, rather than having to deal with driving to a certain place, interacting with people that may find them social unacceptable and having to deal with basic human needs (e.g. food). And what does this mean in the long run? More users of who participate in online communities will surely increase the accumulated knowledge of certain topics thanks to more shared understandings.

]]> By: Jak http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159559 Jak Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:22:21 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159559 I think the premise behind your post here assumes that online social networking aims to replace face to face networking. Thats always going to be part of it for some but for me (and many other savvy interweb surfers)the evolution of social networking is fast approaching one that enhances or even begins offline relationships. And I am not just talking about those roaming the internet for dating. Bloggers/tweeters get together for unconferences, events get posted via facebook/evite that I never would know about otherwise, entire organizations and even companies are being formed online and then progress offline. I agree that the potential exist to be lazy and to fall into using online social networking as a social crutch, but it can also serve as a launching pad, extending your reach, broadening your perspective, increasing awareness. The important step, I think all would agree, is to consciously push these tools to serve what are more positive purposes. I think the premise behind your post here assumes that online social networking aims to replace face to face networking. Thats always going to be part of it for some but for me (and many other savvy interweb surfers)the evolution of social networking is fast approaching one that enhances or even begins offline relationships. And I am not just talking about those roaming the internet for dating. Bloggers/tweeters get together for unconferences, events get posted via facebook/evite that I never would know about otherwise, entire organizations and even companies are being formed online and then progress offline.

I agree that the potential exist to be lazy and to fall into using online social networking as a social crutch, but it can also serve as a launching pad, extending your reach, broadening your perspective, increasing awareness. The important step, I think all would agree, is to consciously push these tools to serve what are more positive purposes.

]]> By: Trevor Lee http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159465 Trevor Lee Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:41:57 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159465 Spot on man. You articulate the problem well. Spot on man. You articulate the problem well.

]]> By: Spike http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159431 Spike Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:18:59 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159431 David, Dick, John, et al - thanks for the comments. I think it's about bridging the gap between online and off. Online is a great way to connect people and let them decide if they want to share with each other, but after those seeds are planted, bringing them together in person throws fuel on the fire. But I think companies who bring their fans together face-to-face has to be careful. They need to be facilitators and hosts. In other words, just the very fact that they are giving people a reason to come together can be enough. It shouldn't be a sales event or all about the brand. That'll just turn people off. It has to be a celebration of the people. David, Dick, John, et al - thanks for the comments. I think it’s about bridging the gap between online and off. Online is a great way to connect people and let them decide if they want to share with each other, but after those seeds are planted, bringing them together in person throws fuel on the fire. But I think companies who bring their fans together face-to-face has to be careful. They need to be facilitators and hosts. In other words, just the very fact that they are giving people a reason to come together can be enough. It shouldn’t be a sales event or all about the brand. That’ll just turn people off. It has to be a celebration of the people.

]]> By: BIG Kahuna http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159423 BIG Kahuna Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:21:05 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159423 Spike, tell me something new. That's why I like to read your stuff. Telling me that face to face is the best or getting people together is like saying "always make a great first impression". Yea, no kidding Sherlock. Everyone knows that forming relationships with clients/people (meeting them), brands, groups etc. is the way to keeping them or having them become ambassadors. It's sales 101. Why not think of a way for Facebook to do that and then post on it. Tie the Social aspect to the handshake or get together. Why doesn't Facebook sponsor events? Start off by having them on the East Coast, West Coast, South and Central. Bring Facebookers together. Myspace isn't doing it (I don't think many of them have their drivers license yet). Then Facebook could bring in all the geeks (and I mean that with love) that create all these wonderful toys (applications) that waste hours of my day. They could do roundtables have speakers, you know the whole enchilada. Now that's a post that has meat in it! Just my humble opinion as a branding guy. Spike, tell me something new. That’s why I like to read your stuff. Telling me that face to face is the best or getting people together is like saying “always make a great first impression”. Yea, no kidding Sherlock.

Everyone knows that forming relationships with clients/people (meeting them), brands, groups etc. is the way to keeping them or having them become ambassadors. It’s sales 101.

Why not think of a way for Facebook to do that and then post on it. Tie the Social aspect to the handshake or get together.

Why doesn’t Facebook sponsor events? Start off by having them on the East Coast, West Coast, South and Central. Bring Facebookers together. Myspace isn’t doing it (I don’t think many of them have their drivers license yet).

Then Facebook could bring in all the geeks (and I mean that with love) that create all these wonderful toys (applications) that waste hours of my day. They could do roundtables have speakers, you know the whole enchilada.

Now that’s a post that has meat in it!

Just my humble opinion as a branding guy.

]]> By: Ryan Moede http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159344 Ryan Moede Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:03:16 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159344 Well said, Spike. I continue to be amazed by new relationships that begin online and then flourish in person. Social media will continue to grow and challenge our understanding of how we relate and connect in community, and will augment our relationships in exciting ways, but it simply won't replace the value of real community in person. Well said, Spike. I continue to be amazed by new relationships that begin online and then flourish in person. Social media will continue to grow and challenge our understanding of how we relate and connect in community, and will augment our relationships in exciting ways, but it simply won’t replace the value of real community in person.

]]> By: John Warner http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159326 John Warner Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:39:26 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159326 Spike I absolutely agree. As Evan said, we recognized some time ago in organizing the Swamp Fox Community that it was important to the efficiency and personalization that can occur online, but it is critical that people have personal in person relationships. In our case, we do that in both large conferences, like InnoVenture, but even more important we have a number of small groups leading to InnoVenture where people really got to know each other which created trust and mutual accountability. Spike

I absolutely agree. As Evan said, we recognized some time ago in organizing the Swamp Fox Community that it was important to the efficiency and personalization that can occur online, but it is critical that people have personal in person relationships. In our case, we do that in both large conferences, like InnoVenture, but even more important we have a number of small groups leading to InnoVenture where people really got to know each other which created trust and mutual accountability.

]]> By: John from TheDisneyBlog.com http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159291 John from TheDisneyBlog.com Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:55:20 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/04/15/why-social-communities-will-fail/#comment-159291 Any one have a suggestion for the people who inhabit Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom. Disney built a place that allowed them to form a community. Now Disney is pulling the plug, how does a community that doesn't want to fail survive? I'm trying to answer this question over at my blog. I'm sure thoughtful ideas would be appreciated by the VMK folks. Any one have a suggestion for the people who inhabit Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom. Disney built a place that allowed them to form a community. Now Disney is pulling the plug, how does a community that doesn’t want to fail survive? I’m trying to answer this question over at my blog. I’m sure thoughtful ideas would be appreciated by the VMK folks.

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