The Community Roundtable

Empowering global community leaders with research-backed resources, training, and tools.

  • Who we are
    • Our Values
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
      • Client Success Stories
    • Community Leadership Awards
      • Community Leadership Awards 2022
      • Community Leadership Awards 2021
      • TheCR Awards 2020
      • TheCR Awards 2019
      • TheCR Awards 2018
      • TheCR Awards 2017
    • Careers
      • 2022-23 Community Management Fellow
  • What we do
    • Benchmarking and Audits
      • Community Performance Benchmark
      • Community Readiness Audits
      • Community ROI Calculator
      • The Community Score
    • Models and Frameworks
      • Community Maturity Model™
      • Community Engagement Framework™
      • Community Skills Framework™
      • Community Technology Framework™
      • The Social Executive
    • Research
      • The State of Community Management
        • SOCM 2022
        • SOCM 2021
        • SOCM 2020
      • Community Careers and Compensation
      • The Community Manager Handbook
        • 2022 Edition
        • 2015 Edition
      • The Social Executive
      • Special Reports
    • Training and Events
      • Upcoming Events
      • Data-Driven Community Management Workshop
      • Connect
        • Connect 2023
        • Connect 2022
      • Community Technology Summit
      • Training
      • Resource Bundles
    • Resources
      • Vendor Resource Center
      • Community FAQs
      • Community Management Podcasts
        • Community Conversations
        • Lessons From The NEW Community Manager Handbook
      • Community Management Jobs
        • Job Board
        • CMGR Profiles
      • Community 101
        • Community Management Glossary
        • Community Management FAQs
      • Case Studies
      • Community Webinars
  • Who we serve
    • Resources for Community Managers
    • Community Program Owners
    • Community Executives
  • TheCR Network
    • Member Login
    • Join TheCR Network
    • Roundtable Call Library
  • TheCR Library
    • Subscriber Login
    • Subscribe to TheCR Library

How do I connect with community members around the globe?

January 16, 2017 By Shannon Abram

 

It goes without saying that managing an online community – whether you are internally or externally community jobs around the worldfocused, means you spend a lot of your time online. While the majority of your community programming and activities might take place online many of our members have reported that live, face-to-face events also help contribute to the success of their communities. But what if you simply can’t get your members together in real life? Maybe your community members live in locations around the world.

We’ve all heard that face-to-face meetings are important for relationships, but what if we can’t all get together? We have three best practices for building a vibrant and successful community when you just can’t round up all your members and get together in person.

1. Refute your assumptions.

While it’s true that face-to-face events are great ways to help members connect, the data shows that online and offline events are almost equally effective at improving community engagement rates. The State of Community Management 2014 research showed that communities that host offline events have a lurker rate at 56%, and communities that host regular online events have a lurker rate of 57%. The idea of regular programming might be more powerful than being face-to-face.

2. Don’t over-complicate.

Events are great opportunities for community members to get to know other members (and the community’s managers) in real time. However, they do not need to be complicated or complex – especially to start – and it is more important that they be regular to establish a pattern of behavior. Some easy ideas:

– Weekly free-form happy hour chats

– Scheduled AMA (Ask Me Anything) discussions with executives or subject matter experts

– Monday morning roll call and top three priorities for the week

3. Experiment.

Try a few different types of events to see what works for your community. Also keep in mind that sometimes you will have to have patience before events stick and become popular – so don’t cycle through experiments too quickly. In TheCR Network, our community manager Hillary launched a Happy Hour chat program that meets every Thursday, and serves as an informal way for members to connect both with TheCR team, and with each other. The program started off slowly – some weeks only one or two people showed up, but over the course of the first year word spread and now Thursday Happy Hours have become one of the primary ways Hillary connects with members and provides a consistent place for members to chat, vent and ask questions.

Do you have best practices for fostering a dynamic community without using face-to-face events? We’d love to hear them!

Want more insights like these? Download the free State of Community Management 2014 report!

—-

Want to access a global network of community professionals? Learn how membership in TheCR Network can provide 24/7 365 networking, training, professional development, and education.

 

About Shannon Abram

I love dogs, drinks, and the oxford comma. Writing from the great commonwealth of Massachusetts, I almost definitely need a nap.

comments powered by Disqus
Community best practices

Resources for the people who build online communities.

ABOUT US
Our Values
Our Team
Our Clients
Careers

RESOURCES
Vendor Resource Center
Podcasts 
Job Board
Community 101
Case Studies
Webinars
Upcoming Events

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Benchmarking and Audits
Models and Frameworks
Research
Training and Events

RESOURCES BY AUDIENCE
Community Managers
Community Program Owners
Community Executives

QUICK LINKS
Blog
Newsletter
About TheCR Network
About TheCR Library
About TheCR Academy

LOGIN
TheCR Network
TheCR Library
TheCR Academy

Contact
Support
Partnership
Inquiries
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter