7 Ways To Build A Successful Online Community

Posted on 07/11/2008 by Nutwork Web Design and SEO Perth

Lot’s of people try to build an online community. Lot’s of them fail.

Havin built Loconut.com.au, we know a thing or two about what works, what doesnt work, and what the user wants. Ultimately, it comes own to the user experience being paramount.

There are lots of social networking tools and great sites out there – you don’t necessarily have to be the best, or the biggest – to build and maintain a successful community.

Here’s some great tips from YoungEntrepreneur.com:

1) Pick A Theme

I see so many forums, blogs, and portals that don't have a specific niche. If you try to be everything to everyone then you're not going to make a memorable impression and people won't come back or get involved.

2) Choose Something You're Passionate About

You have to love what you do. Especially in a community driven website if you don't have an interest in the topic then there is no way you're going to be successful. You have to live and breathe the subject matter to drive it forward and you'll have a lot more fun as well being able to share your passions with others. It can be tempting to jump at an opportunity because it looks like a "sure thing" but if you don't love the topic, don't do it.

3) Get It Started Yourself

You can't have the mindset of "if I build it, then will come." It's so easy to set up a new blog or forum – the technology makes it extremely simple to get going so anybody can do it. The key is getting it started, putting up interesting content, and continuing to post and add to the site. If you are not heavily involved at the start to get it to critical mass, it won't succeed.

4) Get Help!

You're going to have to put in a lot of work to get your website off the ground (see point #3!) but as soon as possible you need to engage people to come out and help you. Get them to comment on your blog, get them to post responses in your forums, get them to moderate different categories and contribute. You can't do everything yourself and more people become interested in your website if they see that there is a discussion going (not just you talking to yourself). Start with your friends and people you know and then reach out to others who run related websites who might be interested in participating.

5) Post Interesting Topics

People click through, read, and participate in stories that are engaging and interesting. Be controversial, offer practical advice, be a source of inspiration. If you're just regurgitating news from a Google Alerts feed then people aren't going to care and come back to your website. A good trick is to look at the homepage of Digg and see what stories consistently come up on the first page. Adjust the topics to fit your niche and get writing!

6) Get Prizes

People love contests and there's nothing like a great prize to get people talking. If the prize is related and interesting to your target audience and there is a degree of value associated with it then visitors will increase their participation and help drive more traffic for you. The prize doesn't always have to cost you money either. How about a feature story on your website or a special report or service from a partner who is willing to donate a prize? If you're going to be an entrepreneur you need to think outside the box – I've never paid for any of the prizes I've offered on my site – you just need to get creative!

7) Encourage Your Top Users

You will have a top percentage of your users who love your site and visit it daily. Give them encouragement and recognition in the community. Point out how useful some of their contributions are and thank them for their involvement. You can also profile them as community ambassadors. Stay in regular contact with them and get their suggestions for how to make your website even better. Keep your champions happy and they will help you go out and bring more people in!

Loconut – Perth WA news, friends, groups, local community, business directory

Posted on 06/06/2008 by Nutwork Web Design and SEO Perth

What is Loconut?

Loconut is WA's online hub. It's a locally owned and run website where Western Australian people, clubs & groups and businesses can communicate based on common interests.

The level of participation is up to each user "“ active users set up their own page (my Place) to keep in touch and share photos with family and friends or use it to make new friends (commonly known as social networking). Others prefer to browse the daily updated local content to learn, participate in discussions or just be entertained.

What makes Loconut different?

Social networking is about people actively communicating online. Some websites provide tools for friends to talk to people they already know and others are for singles who want to meet new people with the view of dating. Loconut has an interactive element where people can do either or both.

The biggest point of difference is that Loconut is based on local content so there are targeted spaces where people, clubs & groups and businesses can communicate and share these interests. It's an active online community where people choose what they wish to participate in.

How does it work?

It's very much up to the user "“ some choose to scan the site for the daily updated User Submitted News (USN) that's posted on the homepage where anyone in WA can send in videos, photos, stories, creative art, jokes or even a link to another site they like. It's a place where ordinary and extraordinary West Australians can showcase their talents or express themselves.

Others choose to use the site to find out what's on in and around Perth and WA "“ despite the labelling of Perth by many as dullsville, there are heaps of great things to do and Loconut is proud to promote them.

The most common way people use Loconut for their benefit is to set up their own home, called "˜my Place' which can be as public or private as they wish. Here they can list their interests, the clubs and groups they like, chat to their friends or others with similar interests and can choose to receive information from the Loconut network based on what they would like to get out of it.

They can access information on topics they are interested in, read features and reports from local experts, have their own say or post their own photos or even choose to receive their own discounts and specials from businesses that provide products or services they like. The great thing is, unlike many sites, the people, the content and the businesses on Loconut are all local.

Loconut is a safe and friendly website for people of all ages – make it your place!

Show Us Your Nuts and win $10,000

Posted on 22/04/2008 by Nutwork Web Design and SEO Perth

Loconut has started a new competition offering 10 grand for submitting a crazy video.

Thanks to WA's own Loconut.com.au, it's your chance to show off those fun or entertaining videos of you, your family, mates or work mates. If you haven't yet gone nuts with your mobile phone, camera or video camera, start filming, upload your 30-60 second video here and you could win 10,000 bucks!!! Not to mention, up to 100,000 West Aussies might just see your handywork.

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