Announcing the Two Winners of Our Kno Tablet Computer Giveaway Contest

[Eric Suesz]

We have a winner! Two, actually.

We want to thank all of you who entered our contest to give away two Kno tablet computers. The response was impressive, both in the amount of advice you gave and in the quality of that advice. It was hard to pick two winners, but we did.

Here’s how we did it:

• I collected the feedback as text and presented it as a rather large printed document to our CEO, Jason. 
• To make it as free from bias as possible, I did not include any names or avatars. Just the actual text of each entry. 
• I cajoled Jason each day to keep whittling down his favorites and pick only the two that he considered the best. 

It wasn’t easy to get him to choose two because there truly was a lot of great advice given.

The first winner is Travis from iAmTri, a network of triathletes. His advice:

Remember two pieces of information:

 

1. It's about engagement, not numbers. A network with 200 members who are spending time, creating content, and interacting with one another is a much healthier and longer-lasting network than one with 20,000 members who rarely or never visit. Facebook isn't successful because they have millions of members; they are successful because more than 75% of their members return to the site at least once a week.

2. You may manage or "own" the network, but it's not about you — and it's not your network. It's the community's network. It's going to go in unexpected directions, not quite be exactly what you had in your head when you started, and not always mesh with your own views and ideals. That's okay; that just means it's healthy, growing, and ever-changing — which is good, because that also means it's bigger than you. And that can only be a good thing. “

This “it’s not about you” approach was popular advice, and a number of you expressed something similar. But Travis seemed to say it the best.

The second winner is steve from GovLoop, the network for government employees. His advice:

Remember it's just a dinner party - get the right people there, feed them well, provide a little entertainment, kick out the drunks, and tell them to come back with their friends next time. 

Again, well said. A bit more general advice, and one that plays directly off the dinner-party metaphor. It’s a pretty apt metaphor!

Nicely done, steve and Travis. We hope that you two both enjoy your new Kno table computer!

Again, thank you to those who took time out of their day to share their expertise with everyone. I hope everyone got something out of this contest, and I hope we can run another contest soon.

 

[Patrick Chappelle]

[Travis]

I'm honored and flattered that my random thoughts were selected!  

 

(Oh, and personally, I really love what Steve said -- I am definitely going to end up quoting that at some point!  ;-)

[Agosthina]

Congratulations! Well said!!!!  God bless you.

[Kevin Clarke]

Congrats guys..

[Jen]

Very nice, and congratulations! Love them both, but have to say, I adore the Dinner Party analogy. ;-)

[Scott Bishop]

Must be nice! Congrats.

[Mark Flockhart]

Congratulations guys!

[Cautious]

[J.Pedro Henriques]

Congratulations

 

 

[Thomas Hoey]

Great reply, Steve. Could not put it better.

[Jayne]

WEll done the winners, you deserve to win, great advice you gave...

[Geronimo Theml]

Congratulations to Travis and Steve. Good answers!