by Lon Lindsey

WHAT IS AN ONLINE COMMUNITY

A community is a group of people based on common interests. An online community is a group of people who have similar interests on the Internet. Master Networker subscribers would be considered a community as they have an interest in learning more about home-based businesses, specifically network marketing businesses. A community can be very broad-based as an over all subject area or it can be very specific based on identified interests. One can even have communities within communities. Communities on the Internet are very popular because people who join specific groups are doing so as a basis to gather more information.

WHY CREATE YOUR OWN ONLINE COMMUNITY

Creating your own online community is the best way to demonstrate your own leadership along with establishing loyal followers. People are attracted to positive leader-type people and by being a positive leader, you can build your own loyal community. This is especially important due to the problems one would have by spamming. Often times people ask me who they can email to if they do not, yet, have any online connections and if they are not allowed to send unsolicited email to strangers. The anwer to that is to create your own email list by building your own online community.

A UNIQUE WAY TO BUILD YOUR OWN ONLINE COMMUNITY

Below, I mention some conventional ways to build an online community as well as how you can be part of an online community . . even own your own. There is another way to create your own community. Have you ever considered making something available to people for free just for the asking? You need something that has value and would be of benefit to the person receiving it. If you don't have your own mailing list, then you would be limited to advertising in appropriate places or maybe return emails or through discussions via chat rooms or even your signature lines in discussion groups. The main thing is to be able to offer people something free and when they request it, place them on your in-house mailing list. When you email them, remind them you are the one who gave them such and such.

Here is an example of something I'm giving away right now, not only as a way to build up my in-house list . . or community, but as a way to provide something of value to people and at the same time is beneficial to me. Through FreeYellow, and My Free Office, I am able to give away free five page websites. New subscribers automatically get an invitation to get their own free website. Offline, I like to give away a free Master Networker article as hard copy for their choosing from a list of twelve articles what seems to interest them the most. That allows me to see which articles are most popular and also lets me add them to my in-house mailing list.

KINDS OF ONLINE COMMUNITIES

The most popular kind of online community is newsgroups. There are two types of newsgroups . . moderated and unmoderated. Moderated newsgroups are headed up by an individual or group of people who screen messages before they are posted to the total group membership. Unmoderated newsgroups are those that allow people to post to the group membership without screening. Newsgroups have rules and regulations with some newsgroups enforcing their policies more than others. Basically, newsgroups offer a way for people to exchange information with each other so all can benefit.

The next most popular online community is a list-serv. A list-serv can be set up by anyone who has the ability to manage such. There are two types of list-servs. One allows only the owner to send messages to those who have subscribed to that list-serv and the other allows everyone to post to the list-serv for all to read. There is an online company called One List that will allow you to set up your own list-serv. Go to http://www.OneList.com

The owner based list-serv is most used by owners of online ezines (online publications) as a way to educate and inform his/her subscribers. The share list-serv is most used by people who want to interact with each other, yet there is someone who oversees and monitors and even participates in the sharing type of list-serv. In order to be part of a list-serv, you must subscribe to it based on the directions of the list-serv. One such example of a business sharing list-serv is Govinda. This is a place where people can discuss business as emails go to each subscriber as other subscribers email. This is an excellent way to learn more about certain business topics and also develop new relationships in the process. You can mailto:majordomo@ultimate-list and type in "Govinda" in the body to subscribe.. Another list-serv that I am familiar with is Legendary Ventures which is a general business list-serv, but is closed allowing only certain leaders of the group to email everyone in the group. You can subscribe with Legendary Ventures at mailto:list-request@superteam.com

There are both advantages and disadvantages to both type lists. The open list tends to attract some junk email and advertisements, but allows for a very open forum for a free exchange of ideas and information. The closed list tends to be more focused on specific topics and may be a better quality of specific information, however the range of information may be narrow depending on the mission of the list-serv.

Ezines are popular communities. Ezines are online publications that are managed by using a type of list-serv to get the Ezine out to its subscribers. The Master Networker is an example of an Ezine as one can subscribe by going to http://www.masternetworker.com and then the list-serv automatically takes over. Other online ezines can be found at http://yoken.com/freeezinelist.htm

List-Servs are managed by list-serv programs. I use Majordomo as my list-serv manager, however I contract someone to manage it for me since I choose not to learn how to do it myself. If you ever want to set up your own list-serv via Majordomo, I can happily recommend Kristi Rushing of Ultimate Webnet to set you up because she offers the personal touch needed to manage a list-serv. Mailto:Ultimate@Ultimate.org.

Another kind of online community is downline-building groups or clubs. These groups usually start out as offering a business-building group atmosphere which eventually leads to one or more specific business opportunities. Sometimes these opportunities are chosen by the members and other times by the owner of the group. I have made some very important connections via downline clubs, however you need to read a previous Master Networker article that deals with the subject of downline building clubs. I feel the main thing they offer is the connections you can make through them.

A NEW TYPE COMMUNITY

A new type of community that is now showing up online is what I called "The Walled" Community. I call it "walled" because there is only one way in. Don't be alarmed because that doesn't mean there is only one way out. In order to get in a walled community, you can enter only one way . . .usually by purchasing a product that gives you member benefits and as you introduce the community to others, you earn additional benefits. I have recently become part of a unique walled community that offers several member benefits such as discounts on computer hardware and software, major discounts on classified ad submission and search engine submission, a profit partners mall where I get rebates on my own purchases plus percentages of other purchases and at the same time I can earn a FREE Mega computer system by introducing others to the concept. The product is one that all online marketers need . . . a lifetime autoresponder. You can look at this walled community by going to http://www.biz-e-bot.com

In summary, comunities can be of benefit to you, both in what you can learn as well as what you can share and also new people connections you can make through them. It's a great way to expand beyond your own circle of friends as a way to get into other circles of influence.