The Web site is invaluable to the Center and the art show. You have truly developed a lasting legacy. – Betsy Alley, Special Events Coordinator, The Women's Center

Growing Online Communities

On August 8, 2000, CTO Steve Champeon led a panel entitled "Growing Online Community" at Web2000 in Washington, DC. Here's a list of the panelists, some notes on the panel, and some useful links.

Panelists Brian Platz, Emma Taylor, Jeffrey Zeldman, and Steven Champeon.

left to right...

Brian and Jeffrey started the Web design digest A List Apart in January of 1998.

Emma is VP of Community Development for Nerve, an online magazine, now with a community component and a print version as well.

Steve founded webdesign-L in April of 1997, and serves as its "list mom".

At the end of the session, Jeffrey summed up the most important topics covered:

  1. define your goals (identify a need)
  2. choose technology appropriate to your audience and goals
  3. establish rules and enforce them consistently
  4. delegate authority (ex: make co-moderators of your most active participants)
  5. keep it real (maintain human presence; acknowledge mistakes; be HUMAN)
  6. listen and learn (example: ALA listees didn't like discussing articles, so we stopped)
  7. close the feedback loop

Some links to interesting community-related information: