So, just how hard is it to create community? That is definitely a question worth exploring, especially if you are into public relations or social media. Creating community is what we're all about.
What if someone set up a social marketing or social media format and nobody came? That's not uncommon. "If you build it they will come..." only works in the movies. Fortunately, creating community is something that can be addressed. One way to address it is by inviting people to join. Sounds simple, but that's why you see those invitations on all social marketing or social networking sites that invite you to participation.
Invitations aren't always readily available from every community. Some community's use a lack of an invitation to keep people out. Some invitations can be recipes for inclusion and exclusion as well.
The second thing that must be present to make people feel at home in a community is a sense of well-being or security. You have to not only receive an invitation, but feel good after you get there. That's why it's important to thank people for coming to a meeting and express your interest in their ideas--introduce yourself and follow-up with another invitation.
While these little steps may seem elementary, we often forget what it's like to be outside of the community. Especially when we're in the in crowd, so to speak.
Interesting. I also believe you need the right person to deliver the invitation. People have a tendency to follow someone they believe in. So there has to be some relationship there between the invitation, the person initiating the invite, and the public being invited.
ReplyDelete