When was the last time that you walked by a restaurant with no one in it and decided to walk in?
Empty seats, how inviting is that?
As I have stated many times, Moderation and Management services have transformed over the last year or so. In the past, Moderation services were strictly thought of in a reactive nature – removal of content and the associated member accounts.
Now, the roles and responsibilities of Community Moderators have expanded to include a more proactive nature. Communities that are just beginning need to be jump-started. Content needs to be posted and interactions need to be portrayed within the community, so when potential members “stumble-upon” the area, they are aware of what is acceptable and allowed; what the community is geared towards. Not only that, members need to be aware of all of the features and functionality that is available to them.
Moderation services can assist with the seeding of content and active facilitation of interactions within a community to get it on track and moving forward. While some communities may need more than others, these services can be tailored to meet any companies needs.
After all, when you visit a restaurant or an online community it is nice to know what you are getting into.
The next time that you think of an online community and how to manage and moderate it, please think of what your needs and goals are, and how you expect to accomplish them – while at the same time, taking a look from the Outside.
Moderation and Management (whether internally or externally driven) of any online community is not something that should be an after-thought, because if it is, you are already setting yourself up to sink.
20 comments
Comments feed for this article
April 2, 2009 at 10:13 am
Impact Interactions
Mike,
Your thoughts are right on the money. We often use the wedding reception analogy (you don’t want to be the first one there with only the bartender to talk to) in order to make the same point.
We have found that using the moderator/moderation terms implies a negative, defensive response from management. This usually results in the 20 minute conversation about criticism instead of focusing upon how to meet member needs and grow the community.
For most communities, what is really needed is faciliation. As a company, we offer these two levels of service for companies needing help with their communities. Once we’ve reviewed why facilitation works so much better, most companies choose that option. Faciliation not only helps to connect members with each other, but it also builds the behavioral norms needed to run a successful community. This in turn reduces the need for defensive moderation. Working with both B2C and B2B clients has proven this again and again.
So perhaps our industry has matured enough to start referring to our services as facilitation rather than moderation. Afterall, the value added by a facilitator is greater than that of a moderator when looking at community growth and its value to an organization.
Mike Rowland
President
Impact Interactions
April 5, 2009 at 7:13 am
Charlie Osmond
Mike(1), good post.
Mike(2), great comment.
I agree the term Moderator is best left unused. Facilitator or Community Manager is better. See an example from a Chris Brogan post and USA Today community here:
Brogan
an empty restaurant
May 3, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Brandice
It was dark when I woke. This is a ray of suhnsine.
May 3, 2011 at 9:44 pm
zxatoio
N9no9C aoslqsqbruws
April 5, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Bryan Person
Scooch:
You’re quite right here. At LiveWorld, we have a “first on the dance floor” expression. Nobody wants to be first; rather, people want to join a party that’s already happening! That gets to having a good launch plan (seeding content, etc.) and having a host who can spark discussions, welcome new members, and connect people to each other.
Bryan | @BryanPerson
LiveWorld
May 4, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Blue
Tankhs for sharing. What a pleasure to read!
April 6, 2009 at 9:42 am
Mike Pascucci
Mike, Charlie, Bryan,
Thank you all for reading and commenting. All great ponits. I just hope that those that are not directly related to Moderation and Management are also reading and assigning a value to these services.
If you do not start with a strong foundation, your community will not be able to survive growth.
Mike
April 6, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Jeff D'Urso
Great post – the “Empty Restauraunt” concept really hits a big challenge. Also reminds me of the “other” PT Barnum Quote: “Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd”. Tools that can help companies / events / social sites get the initial crowd should be in high demand right about now…
April 13, 2009 at 10:28 am
Corporate Responsibility - Social Media « Online Moderation & Management Musings
[…] but they will not stay and you will not be able to retain any member if they see the “Empty Restaurant” (see prior blog post). Finding those key individuals and influences are key to the success […]
July 7, 2010 at 2:40 am
Area 51: Asking the First Questions - Blog – Stack Overflow
[…] But it’s a popular way to avoid the classic “empty restaurant syndrome.” […]
July 15, 2011 at 2:40 am
April Newsletter « Stack Exchange Community Moderator Blog
[…] only way to break that cycle of The “Empty Restaurant” Syndrome is to treat each meta question like gold. That small spark of activity may be just what you need to […]
January 13, 2013 at 6:34 pm
Comments, the fine line between relevance and trash : Gene Expression
[…] it. The current registration system sets the bar too high, and the blog has been beset a bit by empty restaurant syndrome. Once the switch to Disqus happens I’ll try and kickstart discussion again by reengaging. […]
January 14, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Comments, the fine line between relevance and trash | My Blog
[…] it. The current registration system sets the bar too high, and the blog has been beset a bit by empty restaurant syndrome. Once the switch to Disqus happens I’ll try and kickstart discussion again by reengaging. We’ll […]
March 12, 2013 at 1:42 am
Forum Software and the Empty Restaurant Problem | Ninja Post
[…] To address this problem, Mike Pascucci writes that Community Moderators must take a proactive stance: […]
September 16, 2020 at 4:18 am
AaronShurf
помощь юриста в Москве – услуги арбитражного адвоката, услуги юриста по банкротству
September 16, 2020 at 9:56 am
RonaldSoymn
Get the facts Bitniex.com Institutional Services
September 18, 2020 at 3:03 pm
AlfredBling
помощь юриста в Москве – защита в суде по уголовным делам, сопровождение бракоразводного процесса
September 18, 2020 at 3:08 pm
KennethWaw
Кран мостовой подвесной 3 2 тн заказать – Кран подвесной 3 2 тонн, Кран подвесной 10 купить
October 5, 2020 at 5:26 am
review-fub
Savemycam.com review – best records
I am very ticklish! Being woken up by being tickled is torture. I was very agreeable to get him to stop. So I gave him a nice handjob. Truth is I really enjoyed milking his hard cock till i made him cum.
Hey guys! In this clip I get on my bed and I show off my nice ass, I give you extreme close ups in different angles of me fingering my ass, spreading it and puckering it for you! I finger my self in my ass while talking dirty and joi, until I cum! This video shows off my tight little ass hole while I pleasure myself. It is all about the ass!! This is one hot video!-Brooklyn Kate
In this video I turn my foot slave into my own personal shoe rack! Gagged, handcuffed and blindfolded, he must remain very still while I try on all of my favorite pairs of high heels, fishnet stockings and knee-high socks, then stack them on him one by one. I use sharp stilettos to Torment, and my pink satin Dolce & Gabbana rabbit fur to tease his cock and balls in between blows from my crop landing all over his body when he is stupid and careless enough to let one of my shoes fall. Maybe I’ll need to find a new foot slave who will display my shoe collection for me without angering me with his many mistakes!
I get a lot of people asking me for British ladies on Chaturbate so I assumed I’d put collectively a definitive list and take a look at to maintain it up to date. Even considering those latter points, she has an excellent cute face and a beautiful athletic physique and who doesn’t want they may put her legs behind her head to present her an excellent fucking. This woman love to point out you body and now you not need to spend tokens if you want to see it! I like stay nude exhibits, that’s why I have 222865 followers that I communicate with day-after-day in English . In fact I really like being tremendous sexy, however usually I similar to with the ability to be myself with my fans. Try her adult webcam tip menu and you will note a nude model with issues like Squirt, Anal, Wet in addition to watching your cam. ] elmokennedy95 document video with dildo cam blowjob data online?
Savemycam.com scam – I tease you in my little blue thong, then stuff it in my tight, wet pussy. I use my vibrator to cum hard with my panties still stuffed inside my pussy.
I’ve been a bad fiance, and the hubby is mad. I get spanked with a paddle til my ass is red and raw. Then I’m pounded hard, til I cum over and over! Hear my moans and cries from the pleasure and the pain! All done in a cheesy 70’s style retro film. 😉
I have this gigantic teddy bear. And it’s really, really soft. And very convenient.
Savemycam.com review – OMG this is all I can tell LOL I wake up first at 7AM while I was in holiday and was a good time to make a video, but I wasnt that lucky because while I was all wet ans horny, one of friends wake up and had to stop haha anyway is hot fine video
Watch a solo with a vibrator and dildo with me! Watch me cum in self-pleasure
Watch my pussy extremely close up as I shave it for your viewing pleasure!(Clip from the shaving and masturbation video. For those who only want the shaving part for a cheaper price.)
In each show document there may be one thing very exciting – they does oral sex, fuck, fuck someone, taking it up the ass, and so on. ] alessacolombian chaturbate webcam file right this moment with blowjob and toying simultaneously! In most of Chaturbate records you possibly can watch alieffy bare and with none clothes. Largest information archive by purplebiscuit woman (nude, sex, XXX, fuck, cum, dildo and so forth.) is avalibale worldwide now. Watch different new chaturbate lettali records from our massive archive. It was very excitingly, it’s best to examine the information of this show pressing! 60,835 admirers watching the general public show for 4.5 hr. Forty eight admirers watching the public present for 12 min. 342,948 admirers watching the general public present for 2 min. 187,709 admirers watching the non-public show for 1.5 hr. 120,892 admirers watching the general public present for two min. 2,199 admirers watching the public show for 3 min. 19 on 1998-07-15, who is desperate to tease and perform public present high-def. Go to Daisy’s profile and be a part of without spending a dime her dwell webcam if you would like to speak with Daisy. VisitKristine/Tom’sprofile and be part of for freeher dwell webcam if you’d like to talk withKristine/Tom. Anytime YOURFANTASYPOV is online at Chaturbate, you’ll be able to intercourse chat proper here for an infinite time.
October 9, 2020 at 5:47 am
CraigLotthela
Очень прошу, помогите информацией!
Я остался без работы подскажите пожалуйста кто мож знает где в интернете можно заработать денег? Я понимаю что бесплатный сыр бывает только в мышеловке но хотябы с минимальными вложениями желательно на постоянной основе.