#michael silverman

Many of the myths surrounding online community development are proliferated by common sense conclusions. Creating an online community has a basis in science—but best practices that seem clear-cut on the surface become much more complicated when you dig deeper. Communities on the web function much like real-life communities; they unite around a specific focus and often pursue common goals. They fulfill the needs of your members by driving learning and networking that enriches the personal or professional lives of everyone involved. Creating that value for your membership requires a deep understanding of your audience’s motivations and goals. Only then can you define the business goals of your community. It’s natural for community managers to make their goals the priority. But they can’t reach those goals without fulfilling their responsibilities to their membership. Based on popular myths, here are six common mistakes that community managers make in online community development.