Community Software 24

If you've ever had the privilege of being part of an online community, it's hard not to realise the value of such a notion. The internet is a powerful tool, and the ability to near-instantaneously share information, opinions and commentary with one another via a medium that is now in the vast majority of homes is something we're willing to spend money on, whether it's heading to www.o2.co.uk in order to get the latest broadband deal, or even getting a smartphone that allows you to tap into the web when you're on the move.

Communities have two purposes - conversation, and the introduction of regular visitors to your site or network of sites. That a lot of popular sites also happen to have thriving communities is not a coincidence - what they're doing is sharing their love for your site, and giving them a space in which to build a community based on that love is the key to drawing them back, time and time again, extending the community via traffic, word of mouth, and other elements such as the free SEO work they're doing for you in expanding this community without your constant intervention.

Conversation with those in the community can also assist you in making improvements and generating new ideas and areas of the site for them to use. Beta subforums and feedback threads are crucial to figuring out what's not working, and how fixing that will help build your community. Ultimately, your site is being funded by advertising, and therefore the traffic that allows that advertising to generate an inflow of cash direct to you, the site owner. These are your customers, and if they're pointing to a broken door or a nail sticking out of the wall, and you ensure that they are listened to, and that the door is fixed and the nail is removed or hammered in properly or even replaced with a newer, shinier nail, you'll generate a loyal community who know you care.

Good luck, and take care of that community!