Should you have an online community?

I have blogged about The future of marketing and Do you have a community? By now, you can probably tell that I am really big on community building. There are many benefits to having an online community, or, what Seth calls 'creating a Tribe.' However, you have to ask, “Should you have an online community?” The answer could be NO. Here are some reasons you should NOT have an online community:

• If you do not think your community will enjoy connecting with others with the same interest.
• If you have several unhappy customer and you are afraid they will talk to each other.
• If you want complete control over everything said in the community.
• If you cannot deliver “services” the community wants.
• If you cannot tie back the community to your core business values.
• If you do not think a community will scale your business.
• If you cannot figure out who your community is (after you read this).
• If you have other successful methods of permission marketing.

After reading these questions and your answers are YES, an online community is not for you. If you answers are NO, it is time to start thinking about the goals of the community. To be continued…

Comments

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It was among such inspirations that impressionism was born.

[Cristina]

dear Rebecca.
I can tell from my own experience that even if all of the above reasons dont really exist for not building a community in my thirdworld country there is another major reason: people only have computers in cities and they are still not ready for a communities. They dont even know how to use them. Unfortunatly.
I like reading your articles and reaming that some day this could be done in my country too .

[Rebecca Goldstein]

@Isatruc - because you asked, I have 'permission' to recommend you read this book to learn about methods of permission marketing: http://www.sethgodin.com/permission/.

[Isatruc]

Could you tell more about other methods of permission marketing?