Hey BizJammers: What do YOU want to learn about building Online Community

I was just thinking (sorry): Who knows best what an audience wants to hear --the audience or the presenter? The presenter may know best some of what the audience needs to know, but the audience knows best what they want/expect to cover.

And isn't social media, sites likes Biznik, largely about getting good feedback, refining your product/service, connecting with your 'community'?

Well, I'll be presenting during the Social Media day of BizJam, on "Raving Fans: Using Social Media Tools to Build an Online Community for your Business" and what a missed opportunity it would be for me to not ask you, the BizJam attendees, what you want to learn about this subject.

So go ahead and let me know some of your questions, expectations, or whatever you think will help me to make your time worth while. This will help you prepare for the conference as well. I won't be answering here, but I'll be gathering info. The workshop will be divided into a time of presentation, engaging group interaction, and Q&A.

PS I imagine other presenters would love to get some advanced info as well (perhaps that should/could have been part of the Bizjam site?) so poke a few of them (facebook language) to start a thread.

Look forward to seeing you at BizJam -Leif

Need help navigating the social media maze?

9 Bizniks have posted replies

Posted by Leif Hansen, Seattle, Washington | Jun 07, 2008

Correction! Looks like there IS a comments section on the BizJam site. I should have known Dan & Lara would have thought of that. So feel free to leave comments on that page as well.

Need help navigating the social media maze?
Posted by Barry Hurd, Seattle, Washington | Jun 07, 2008

Thinking as a general business attendee (not a social media guy)

If I was going, I would want to have a detail of what type of community I'm shooting for as a business-

prospects, current clients, brand promoters and the primary goals of my community such as marketing, brand controllers, support, etc.

As a business owner- I would also want to have a bullet list of "community killers" that I need to avoid as I dip my toe into community building.

I would want to know some "best practice" ideas for dealing with my community when it gets a little out of control or decides to steer off the target I wanted it for in the first place.
Posted by Leif Hansen, Seattle, Washington | Jun 07, 2008

You rock Barry, thanks for the quick and detailed feedback. Good stuff ;)

Need help navigating the social media maze?
Posted by Bob Dunn, Seattle and Renton, Washington | Jun 07, 2008

Hey Leif, this is great. Either Judy or I will be attending your presentation at BizJam.

And Barry, great ideas -- took them right out of my mouth.

The one thing we are interested in is how to create a "buzz" around a word. I'm sure social media sites could help with this. We are building our new site/business around the term "marketing for solopreneurs". The term solopreneur seems to be catching on more and more, and even in Biznik, we see an increase of it being used. Our final objective, of course, will be potential subscribers to our site "searching" using the term solopreneur. So my question is, are social media sites a good resource to create a buzz? And if so, what strategies could be used?

On a side note: we have had several people ask us if we created the term "solopreneur" :-)

Marketing, Graphic Design, Blogging Support
Posted by Brian Crouch, Bothell & Seattle, Washington | Jun 07, 2008

Hey Bob,

I can envision a video testimonial snippet montage with some well known companies represented (with caption of company name) "I'm Mark Britton, and I'm a solopreneur" without defining the term within the video.
Posted by Bob Dunn, Seattle and Renton, Washington | Jun 07, 2008

Brian, thanks!!! That's a great idea.

Marketing, Graphic Design, Blogging Support
Posted by Leif Hansen, Seattle, Washington | Jun 07, 2008

Brian & Bob, thanks for jumping in -and good to know that you or Judy will be there. Just in case this thread goes in a different direction though, I do want to clarify that its main purpose is gathering Qs (and not answers) that bizniks have related to creating online community around their business to best prepare for my presenation. Bob, your Q is related to that indirectly (because buzz can build community), but Brian, I just wanted to curb this thread away from brainstorming answers, etc. Though I see a great new thread there, go for it! Hope ya'll catch my drift ;) -Leif

Need help navigating the social media maze?
Posted by Leif Hansen, Seattle, Washington | Jun 09, 2008

By the way, though I still haven't officially announced the site, you can find some good info (videos, etc) and ask questions about building online community on my new site --and I'd love some feedback on what you'd like to see there as well (click the signature link). Thanks! -Leif

Need help navigating the social media maze?
Posted by Leif Hansen, Seattle, Washington | Jul 08, 2008

(Thanks to those who offered private feedback!)

Also, last chance to say what you're hoping to get from the session...see you tomorrow!

Need help navigating the social media maze?