I found this site through Kevin Harris's Neighbourhoods blog. In a comment to that post, I noted that neighborhood groups have been slowly moving from older tools (eg listservs) to more versatile platforms such as ning (which is the engine beneath this site). I expressed the hope that the organizers of this site document its progress. Most neighborhood groups are just muddling through the process of building community online (as well as on earth). You’ve got some really smart people behind this site who could provide a priceless service to place-based groups all over the world if you'd just document your experience, and share it with the rest of us.
As I was writing my note to Kevin, it occurred to me that I should probably join your community to see what it's really like. I think it's a very good start. And now for some unsolicited advice:
As I was writing my note to Kevin, it occurred to me that I should probably join your community to see what it's really like. I think it's a very good start. And now for some unsolicited advice:
- Create an About page. In response to Kevin's post, Sam Mclean referred to "significant engagement research and data" that went into the decision to, among other things, create this online network. This website doesn't currently say what those findings were, what the resultant plan is, and what this network's got to do with it. It probably should.
- The introductory blurb toward the top of your main page does say something about the site, but it's too generic. The intros to the groups are more informative.
- Key points/quotes could be extracted from the current videos, and added to the About page.
- The proponents could do more to show the members the way, for example, by uploading profile photos, and introducing themselves. This might encourage members to share more about themselves, which in theory would strengthen bonds in this community.
- The sign-up form could be used more effectively. Ning allows members to state their interests and skills, then search for other members with similar interests, or whose skills they could use. It's best to set up searchable fields early in the site's development. Much tougher to do that later.
- Need at least three people to commit to monitor the site to protect the community against trolls. This guy (they're almost always guys) for example is a spammer and should be suspended by site admin (this will also notify ning of the problem). His spam post has been sitting on the main page for almost a week now.
- Consider tweaking the appearance options so links show up as links (not normal text).
Add a Comment
- Comment by Leo Romero on April 14, 2010 at 2:33pm
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Ben, Thanks for welcoming my thoughts; I live in San Jose CA, work in Oakland & San Francisco.
Thanks too Will. Gratified to know you found the suggestions useful.
- Comment by Will on April 11, 2010 at 10:54pm
- These are great comments Leo. Thanks for the input. Profile questions have been expanded and I'm working on some of of this now...
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Comment by Benedict Dellot on April 7, 2010 at 1:26pm -
No problem, Leo. It would be great to have your input.
Where are you based?
- Comment by Leo Romero on April 7, 2010 at 1:08pm
- Hi Ben - Am happy to help, and cheered that you'll be posting the research findings. - Leo
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Comment by Benedict Dellot on April 7, 2010 at 10:04am
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Hi Leo,
Thanks for your blog post. With regard to the engagement research, the scoping phase report due to be published shortly will contain a great deal of the information that provides a basis for our work in Peterborough - both conceptual research as well as findings from UK-wide and Peterborough specific data and stats. Once this is all set up on a PDF, it'll be added to the front page for everybody to see. But, I think you're right that we also need an About page so we'll try and get that sorted asap.
We'll also try and address the rest of your suggestions. For example, we'll be adding a video and instructions explaining how people can use this site and how everybody can get the most out of it.
I'll let you know how we get on.
Thanks again,
Ben
I'll get cracking with your suggestions
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