The Wild West of Online Communities
Funny how writing about topics perpetuates the subject in conversations. This week I had conversations with multiple people about the Online Communities they either run or in which they participate. In all instances the conversation pinnacled on a specific thought – Is the community in response to a need, or trying to establish one?
Online Communities created for the sake of being an Online Community pose a tough question…WHY?
Why create an Online Community simply for the sake of having one? Does it not make more sense to create one out of a growing need, or better yet, let your community evolve naturally from demand of an existing audience?
With social networking and online community software as abundant and cost-effective as it is today, many are lured in to the idea of creating an online community simply because we can, well in theory anyways. What is the motivation here?
Money of course is one reason. Not in all cases but in many instances it is. The Internet has developed this evasive stigma that you can make money by having an audience. Well, yes, you can, but can you make enough money for the amount of time you put in to it?
Recognition is another reason. I seriously think the desire to have your own online community tantalizes this fundamental human need. We all want to be recognized for who we are and what we do.
Opportunity is one, particularly for business folk and people prone to networking. An Online Business Community holds out some shiny bright lights of opportunity for many of us.
Reality is there is a lot more to establishing an Online Community that most consider, which is why so many come and go. Like websites and software, most people completely underestimate the requirements for success and effectiveness in these areas. And while there certainly are proven methods and best practices for establishing community, the process is certainly organic and requires vision, commitment, and dedication.
This is why I think that Venture Capital can be dangerous. If a person or group start pouring money into developing an Online Community from scratch without having an actual product or service then what is your community accomplishing and where can it go before the funding runs out? It’s a tough reality because it is all too simple for us to think we have a revenue model that will work if have an audience. The school of hard knocks will most likely reveal that your audience itself is what will perpetuate the need for, or at least sustain any effort to establish an Online Community.
Like the Dot Com days that reach unfathomable heights, so too is the practice of creating Online Communities becoming a Wild Wild West in online communications.
Three Main Models of Online Businesses
Beginning your online business with affiliate opportunities can be a great way to jumpstart your earnings and get excited about your income. But have you chosen a business model to follow yet? If not, here are the three main model categories which online businesses fall into to help you choose the one tha best fits your goals.
1. Marketing your own products and services: This one is fairly simple. If you have a service or a product that you are selling yourself, this would be your chosen business model. That means you have the rights to sell the product or service and you are basically on your own.
2. Marketing someone else’s products and services, or affiliate marketing: This is a much simpler business venture because you are merely selling something that somebody else creates, markets and maintains. All you have to do is provide a link to the other company’s website and become one of its affiliates. You get a commission (sometimes up to 70 percent) on the sales that come through your online business or website.
3. Creating advertising websites: With this business model, you need knowledge of keywords, niches and Google Adsense. By knowing about these concepts, you can create a market that brings in a great deal of income through your website. You can even let other businesses advertise on your website for a fee.
Choosing a business model is one of the first decisions to make when creating your website. It gives you a clearer idea of what you want to achieve as well as a better means to achieve those online business goals.
