You Can’t Create Good Online Communities Without Taking Risks

A time will come when you’re managing an online community or a Facebook Fan Page when you feel the urge to make a big splash about something, in an effort to generate activity.

Sometimes it will come as a result of something that has happened, or is happening, in the community. Other times, it will be an attempt to imitate something you saw in a different community or Facebook Fan Page. You think it will work for your community, too.

As with most risks, when it pays off, it pays off big time. But when it doesn’t, it fails spectacularly.

As a community manager, you can’t be afraid of risk.

Just be selective with when you go to make a big splash. Trying to create too much change in a short period of time could have the opposite effect and drive your community members away because they’re having trouble getting a handle on how to participate.

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