What is a Virtual Community andWhy Would You Ever Need One??
What is a virtual community anyway?
Online or virtual community is the gathering of people, in an online "space"where they come,communicate, connect, and get to know each other better over time. From that point on, the rest is up to you. Your community will be what you and your members make of it!
The Effect of Online Communities in Offline Lives
According to Amy Jo Kimthere are two ways we participate in online communities:
The kind you are yourself
"augmented reality" where you're "you," and you're there to integrate with your life -- deal with the issues in your life.
The kind you're playing out a phantasy role
game communities
will affect you emotionally, but they won't tend to integrate into your life as what I would call 'augmented reality' communities do.
Why do people join and build virtual communities?
to socialize
to work together (business)
to work together (community - geographics)
to work together (issues)
to work together (issues)
Examples of community
Case History: A Community of Purpose - John Aravosism of Wired Strategies
Case Study: the IBM/Electric Minds 'Kasparov v. Deep Blue Chess Match'
Nancy Rhine and Women's Wire
Steps to build a virtual community
Identify your community purpose or goal
Identify your target audience
Think about which interaction tools would serve your purpose and audience and how to structure the space.
Think about how you want to host or facilitate your community
Build it
Draw in the members
Go and nurture it!