Common Craft Blog
The Step Just Before "Community"
By leelefever on March 10, 2005 - 12:54pm
I have all sorts of thoughts going through my head about Social Design and I’ll be putting some of them here to see what you think. I’m considering creating some sort of Social Design Manifesto- and this may be a start…
Community building is not about tools
Community building is not about tools like message boards and blogs. Community building is about people- about developing trust, relationships and emotional connections. Community is more tool-agnostic than you might think- if the people want to create a community, it will happen.
Tools facilitate community, they don’t define it
On the web, people need tools to come together. Before an online community can emerge or be served, tools must be in place to manage the interaction.
The goal should not be to form the community around a tool, but to form a tool around the community. Success depends on appropriate matching of the two.
Social Design is the step before “Communityâ€
Social Design in not Community Building. Social Design is the process of creating the appropriate environment for community to develop. It’s about designing and implementing social tools that match with the needs and goals of the organization and community members (often before they arrive). With appropriate tools in place, community building can begin with a strong foundation.
Is this making sense to you?
The Step Just Before "Community"
Hi Lee,
Based upon my experiences in the online community world, you are right on track with your manifesto. The idea that tools alone create a community was pervasive throughout the go-go internet bubble years. I can't tell you how many marketing folks threw online community building to IT depts...
What I've learned is that the community idea is formed prior to a visitor coming to your site or blog. That person knows why they are coming. Your site needs to provide tools to allow them to accomplish their task easily and encourage them to come back. This applies if you are offering entertainment, self-support, or e-commerce.
In my experience in community building this statement in your manifesto is the essence:
"It’s about designing and implementing social tools that match with the needs and goals of the organization and community members (often before they arrive)."
I think that you've got it.
The Step Just Before "Community"
Yes, make sense to me. Would be nice to look at some good practices in social design, and publish these.
The Step Just Before "Community"
Great stuff! I just pointed to this post on my blog.
The Step Just Before "Community"
That's it! I've been trying to figure out what to call the service that I want to provide, and I think you've nailed it.