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cyfm 0 Junior Poster in Training

If you read through the tutorials here you’ll quickly find useful information about Search Engine Optimisation, the right domain name and researching you target audience. All of these are very useful to read and I would recommend you to do so, however something that isn’t mentioned here is networking and ‘getting in’ with the pros. I’m talking about the successful community owners, podcasters, bloggers and everyone involved in your ‘genre’ of online communities.

Most of these people are very friendly and are always keen to give you a helping hand when it comes to giving advice from the best way to promoting your community to dealing with staff members.

The best way to meet these kind of people is join communities like Daniweb which have sections on running communities, coding and general tech stuff. If your ‘genre’ of online community is a little bit more niche then its best to go searching and spending a little time doing that will normally end with you finding a little gem.

Another useful way of meeting other people in your area of expertise is to use social networking sites such as my space etc, although you may not like these places it’s always good to have a presence on them, whether it be your own personal page or a business page also go actively hunting on these social networking sites for people with the same interests which your online community caters for and your sure to find people. I’d also recommend you join business networking sites such as Linkdin which allows you to network with a range of businesses from Microsoft and more, it also allows you to search for jobs or submit jobs which can be quite handy from time to time if your looking for a staff member with that special something.

The key issue here is never be afraid! If you get the msn address for say Bill Gates add him! Become friends and then you can start from their. I think it’s also good if you can form a personal relationship with these people so that they can trust you and vice-versa.

I hoped you enjoyed my first tutorial/article and if you ever need help with your online community please don’t hesitate to contact me.

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Good, practical point from about getting face-to-face with experienced community operators. The idea that relationships matter is the right place to start; below are pragmatic, platform‑neutral tactics that move contacts into working relationships without sounding like a cold sales pitch.

Begin with a tiny, demonstrable contribution that solves a real pain — a one‑page moderation checklist, a short screencast showing a quick fix, or a concise resource roundup tailored to the community’s interests. Package the work so it’s easy to consume: one paragraph summary, one concrete outcome, and a 5–10 minute demo or screenshot. That lowers friction and shows capability without a big ask.

When reaching out, be specific, brief, and give a single clear call to action. A lightweight outreach template:

Subject: Short idea based on [recent post/title]

Hi [Name],

Noticed [specific detail]. I prepared a short [one‑page summary / 5‑min demo] that fixes/illustrates [concrete issue]. No commitment — happy to send the summary or schedule a 20‑minute call.

If interested, suggest two times or I’ll send the summary directly.

Regards,
[Name] — one line of relevant background

If there’s no reply, follow up once or twice with fresh value (an update, a small improvement, or a clarified benefit) rather than repeating the original request. When collaboration happens, under‑promise and deliver early: a tight, polished small win creates trust and opens doors to larger projects. Common pitfalls to avoid: generic mass messages, vague benefits, and asking for favors before any value has been demonstrated.

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