community engagement - Blogs - Ning Creators Social Network2024-03-28T09:49:08Zhttps://creators.ning.com/blogs/feed/tag/community+engagementSanta Gift Exchange idea for Support Groupshttps://creators.ning.com/blogs/santa-gift-exchange-idea-for-support-groups2011-08-23T02:30:59.000Z2011-08-23T02:30:59.000ZShannon Klipsteinhttps://creators.ning.com/members/ShannonKlipstein<div><p>Hi everyone! </p>
<p>I have a support group for a rare medical syndrome.  </p>
<p>Well I posted an event today... for a "Not a Secret, Santa Gift Exchange" </p>
<p>I wanted to share my idea! </p>
<p>Basically everyone emails me a set of information (I have it all explained on my site) , everyone who enters the exchange will be put into a hat </p>
<p>Then I will reveal the matches via video Nov 1st.  </p>
<p>I posted deadlines to ship their packages to each other </p>
<p>The rule also is they have to open their gift ON xmas day ONLY! And they have to make a blog post with a photo attached of their gift. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>What is great about this is that... a lot of parents on my site are baby loss moms so... they go to everyone's house for Christmas and most people will not give a gift to a baby who is no longer alive but that is all us baby loss moms want (A memorial gift, with their name or a necklace etc)... is for someone to acknowledge their existance.  So my network is a support group and we've all created some great bonds.  So holding a gift exchange where a fellow baby loss mom recognizes your lost child... makes the Holidays much easier knowing you have that ONE special gift waiting for you, that will make your day! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>This could work with several types of support groups, if that is what you're running on your network.  SO I thought I would share!  So far... my idea is a big hit! </p>
</div>A new way to increase member activity on Ning networkshttps://creators.ning.com/blogs/a-new-way-to-increase-member2011-05-28T22:00:00.000Z2011-05-28T22:00:00.000ZVincent Granvillehttps://creators.ning.com/members/VincentGranville<div><ul>
<li>Have questions that members have to answer on sign up (e.g. country of origin)</li>
<li>Download your Ning member list, extract email addresses, and group them into segments based on sign-up answers (e.g. segment = country of origin - India, Australia, Canada, US, Europe, etc.)</li>
<li>Create groups on your network, representing these segments (e.g. Indian Chapter, American Chapter, etc.)</li>
<li>Invite all members from Canada to join the Canadian Chapter, etc.</li>
<li>Entice these groups to compete against each other (e.g. India vs. US) by sending requests to all members of all these newly created groups to invite fellow citizens to join - and outdo other countries </li>
</ul>
</div>Fuel your members activity and keep them coming!https://creators.ning.com/blogs/fuel-your-members-activity-and-12011-05-14T01:51:22.000Z2011-05-14T01:51:22.000ZIdáliz Escalantehttps://creators.ning.com/members/IdalizEscalante<div><p>Hey everyone! First time writing here, I hope it's useful.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here's a way I keep my members interested, busy and coming back again and again to our Network. Using the Chat application!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1.</strong> I created a whole <u>Online Programming for the Chat</u>. Of course I have moderators; I myself only manage one of the Online Chat Programs while other members who I've chosen carefully moderate the other shows. The Program is posted on a Blog page and can be accessed from the main menu (Live Online Program). So every day we have a "Show" using the simple Chat application from Ning.</p>
<p>We create themes for each program and topics, a whole schedule that is announced to all members.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>2.</strong> But recently we took it to the next level. We invite <strong><i>Special Guests</i></strong> to our Chats to "talk" about a specific topic or to answer questions from members who connect that day. It's been awesome! Actually it's been so great I'm adding that as a Bonus to a MARKETING plan I sell to customers who want to reach my audience.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>3.</strong> When we have a very interesting topic for let's say, the Monday Chat, we add it as an event and invite the whole community.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>4.</strong> On February we actually had an Online Open House. That's where it all started. We programmed 4 Chats that day, with 4 different experts (all members of the community by the way) at different hours. We posted the Open House on Fb and Twitter and a bunch of people joined our community in just a few days to participate.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>5<strong>.</strong> Next step will be to sell "adds" for the show. If I'm the moderator of the Monday show, I can ask customers for a fee to mention them on my Program via Chat.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I only hope at some point the chat conversations can be recorded by administrators so we can post interviews and important info shared on this simple but wonderful application.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Notes: My Network is a community for business women. Its content is mainly in Spanish. But if anyone's curious you can check it out here: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mujerempresariadehoy.com/">http://www.mujerempresariadehoy.com/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks for reading, to our success!</p>
<p><em>Idaliz Escalante</em></p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mujerempresariadehoy.com/" target="_blank">Mujer Empresaria de Hoy</a></p>
</div>Stop!! You're stressing me out Add-on + Add-on + Add-onhttps://creators.ning.com/blogs/stop-youre-stressing-me-out2011-05-04T00:30:00.000Z2011-05-04T00:30:00.000ZMark Flockharthttps://creators.ning.com/members/MarkFlockhart<div><p>It's a well known fact that you have approxametly 4 seconds to make someone like your website or they're gone.  I just wanted to let you in on a little secret.  People get overwhelmed with the toys you allow them to play with.  What happens to kids when they're given 30 toys for Christmas?  They get tired angry and end up in their room without dinner (smirk).  Too many toys to play with and the value starts to dissapear the more they open another present just like the first.   </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Why am I jabbering about toys and Christmas?  Simple, when creating your networks and websites there are tons of add ons you can make.  there gets to be a point were something new and cool comes out and you blast it on your site like it's gold.  We need to keep in mind that we have a specific niche and we need to build our website around our content.  Having chat boxes and news feeds and picture shows and donate buttons and this and that and this and that will create anxiety on your site.  KEEP IT SIMPLE.  Check out my site <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.learningtocreateawebsite.com" target="_blank">LTCW</a>, it's simple and only using the basic template and it's calm and clearly displays it's content.  Sure I'll add new features as they appear but only if it fits inside my category.  </p>
<p> </p>
<p>You won't see many if any of my sites with a chat box on the page.  I don't need people to talk and I believe it's almost becomes a hinderance.  Maybe when you have enough memebers that want to utilize features like this it would be a great idea.  </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So how much is too much?  Well you need to decide that.  Just keep it simple and don't go crazy with add-ons.  Let the content control your site and you will find your visitors to be loyal.  Return visits will burst your site beyond control!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have fun with it and build!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>-------------------------</p>
<p>By Mark Flockhart:  The best compliment you can give me is visit or join my network for designers <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.learningtocreateawebsite.com" target="_blank">LTCW</a></p>
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