Author

I’ve Nurtured a Brand-New Online Community …

Growing an online community for me was trial by fire and in some aspects it still is. What seems like a great idea can easily flop, and the simplest ideas can resonate with the community in ways you couldn’t even imagine, bringing new members in waves.

There is no surefire way to make any community the ultimate destination but I’ve learned that there are surefire tactics you can employ to connect with people and help them connect with others.

You have to do more than provide the tools. You must facilitate the process, engage, interact and create an environment where people feel appreciated, important and special.

I’ve nurtured a brand-new community from its infancy to more than 11,000 members, and I’d like to share with you how I made that happen and how you can do the same. (Check out examples of my community engagement here.)

And if you want to know what early reviewers of my book have said, read their praise for “18 Rules of Community Management” here.
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Angela Connor is a multimedia journalist and community manager with a passion for online communities and social media. She is the Managing Editor of User-Generated Content at WRAL.com where she launched and currently manages the top-rated news organization’s first online community GOLO.com, which has grown to more than 11,000 members in 18 months. Angela is also consulting and accepting new clients. See her list of services and client testimonial.

Angela’s news management experience spans broadcast, print and online news at television stations and newspapers in Cleveland, Tampa, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. She writes the highly-read blog, Online Community Strategist and is often requested to share her social media insight and discuss the benefits of online communities at conferences and organizational events.

Angela develops policies and best-practices for handling user-generated content and driving user engagement, and serves on the Digital Media Committee for the Society of Professional Journalists. She lives in Holly Springs, NC with her husband and two young daughters.