Building Community Network Ideas From BAMBOO Project

Trevor writes:

Here are some ideas from Michele Martin.


Nonprofit Networks: Part Two--Building Connectivity Networks:

'The entire purpose of a connectivity network is to link people and information. That is all they do.' 'They must also create "bridges" across distance and social categories so that members are able to quickly and efficiently link to one another.'

'Information is the "currency" of a connectivity network... careful attention must be paid to finding and disseminating information to members that is useful, relevant and presented in a usable, digestible format.'

'..the other key purpose of a connectivity network is to create linkages between members of the network... you need people who are paying attention to the development of community... call these people "weavers." Another way to think about them is as "hosts" of a party.'

Nonprofit Networks Part Three: Using Technology to Build Connectivity

'It's important to remember that relevant, timely information and access to "the right people" are the major currencies of connectivity networks. People and organizations want to join networks that connect them to these two things. Further, they will not maintain their connections to a network if they do not have access to good information and helpful people.'

To create your connectivity network, consider who it is you want to bring together and what kinds of information they may need. Think about:

- Potential gaps in information needed by network members
- Opportunities to put information needed by different organizations into a central repository to be shared by all network members.
- Sharing of best practices and common resources.
- Consider creating communities of practice among people with common issues and needs, such as a case manager network or a network of grant writers and then focusing on their information needs.

'..simply providing information to members is not going to build community. This requires 2-way communication that allows network members to "talk" with other members. '

Building Nonprofit Networks--Part Four: Affinity & Production Networks

'The Collective Value Proposition is Key. For all types of networks, but especially affinity and production networks, the development of a common value proposition is critical. It is only through the creation of common value that you will gain the full effects of a network and be able to continually engage network members to achieve group goals.'

Regards
Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790 - www.innercircleforum.com
trevor@innercircleforum.com

Is It About SIMPLY Delivering CONTENT & Usability?

Trevor writes:

Something that Jay said at our last meeting sticks in my mind - 'how do you attract vast numbers of users?'

From there we progressed to a discussion of how 'simple' or 'complex/difficult' it is for our users to engage with us... and the difficulty that some of our market had with simple internet applications.

Ivan and I talked this morning at the gym of an ever-widening generational GAP in technology knowledge that could be a barrier for our target market - Business Owners, Directors & Decision-Makers.

Found these two links to highlight the need for KEEPING IT SIMPLE at INNER Circle!

1. LG's cellphone for the elderly

i. My mother needs a phone this simple: A green dial button with icon, a red hang up button with icon, a screen with a slide show of people to call. Number buttons should be covered so they are not pushed inadvertently.

ii. Why can't the phone look and handle like a traditional phone with dial and handset, so the elderly can use it like a familiar item but just not be locked to a land line?

iii. Elderly? Heck, I'm 30, and I don't want any of these extra features. I have a digital camera. I have an iPod. In a cell, I want: small size; long battery life - 3 days, real life use; great reception; virtually indestructable; nifty design; ease of use; I don't care about a color screen. I don't care about these entertainment features. I have specialized devices for those functions that excel at them-- a phone will never be more than a kludge.

2. Rosy outlook for gadgets for elderly

"'What we're finding is that the things that are easy to use are disappearing off the market," he added, citing an anecdote of an older couple who could not find a microware they could work.

"With older people, you have to start from where they are, make things easy to use. Then expose them to these and you will see a far larger uptake."

Regards
Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790 - www.innercircleforum.com
trevor@innercircleforum.com

eBay Rules For BUILDING A Community

Trevor writes:

Some more links of interest:

1. Summary of Guy Kawasaki's chat with eBay Founder Pierre Omidyer

Build it around the community and the users, not for the product to be sold

2. Money, Money, Money: How social networks can get some of the action

Metcalfe's Law tells us the value of a network is proportional to the number of people using it so that its expansion is often truly exponential (beginning with small numbers but increasing at a greater rate as more people join, rather than declining as with most trends).

Regards
Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790 - www.innercircleforum.com
trevor@innercircleforum.com

What Will Be The Social NETWORK Platform Killer App?

Trevor writes:

Want to take a social network platform global? What's it going to take?

Here are some interesting blog site links:

1. Mosh Pit as Innovation Model - Interesting 'Progress/Innovation' image -




2. Advertising spending on social network sites

eMarketer estimates that marketers will spend $280 million on social network advertising in the United States in 2006. The largest chunk of that spending will go toward MySpace, which eMarketer estimates will generate $180 million in U.S. ad revenue this year.

In 2010, U.S. online social network ad spending will total $1.9 billion, eMarketer projects.

3. Slide Presentation at Web 2.0 Expo - “Show me the money”; business models for web 2.0 startups

4. Horizon Project - Social Networking

5. Most frequently visited websites - not what you’d expect - April 20, 2007 - '..the 41 sites that were visited 10 times or more on average by US internet users in the month of March 2007':

Communications and Social Networking sites have three representatives on the list (Myspace, Facebook and Hotmail). They are all huge - between 20-60m UU/mth and between 6-43 billion PV/mth.

6. Three ways to build an online media business to $50m in revenue February 26, 2007

1. Be a site with a broad reach (say general social networking, communications, news).

2. Be a site with demographic targeting (say a Latino portal, or a sports site (targeted at men) or a social network targeted at baby boomers).

3. Be a site with endemic advertising opportunities (say a site about movies that movie studios will want to advertise on, or a site about cars that auto manufacturers will want to advertise on, or a site about travel that hotels and airlines and online travel agencies will want to advertise on).

7. More on building an online media company to $50m in revenues March 14, 2007

Regards

Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790 - www.innercircleforum.com
trevor@innercircleforum.com

simplify, Simplify, SIMPLIFY ..1 ..2 ..3

Trevor writes:

From this post - MAD 7. It Only Takes 'HALF-A-DOZEN' Things! (extract below) - I am reminded that it is all to easy to fall into the trap of adding unnecessary complexity to ideas, projects, strategies, et al, that should be as simple as ...1 ..2 ..3

Too many people look to make the simple things in life too complex to understand.

Yes, most often it takes only a few things... 1, 2, or 3 things... just a 'half-a-dozen' things to ensure success in most projects.

I am resolving to simplify every idea, project, strategy I have into a 'simple as ..1 ..2 ..3' graphic presentation.

Regards
Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790 - www.innercircleforum.com
trevor@innercircleforum.com