Comments on: How to Damage an Online Comminuty http://www.jasonegan.net/2008/09/15/how-to-damage-an-online-comminuty/ Marketing Measurement, Site Optimization, Web Analytics, Omniture SiteCatalyst, Omniture Test&Target & Social Media Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:27:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Darren Shafae http://www.jasonegan.net/2008/09/15/how-to-damage-an-online-comminuty/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Darren Shafae Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:07:57 +0000 http://www.jasonegan.net/?p=13#comment-37 Hi, Jason, You are absolutely correct! Customers should not be considered faceless consumers with credit cards. We have always taken a customer-centric approach in terms of building our Web site, and I think that is one step below what you are proposing here. I have to tell you, I love the idea of bringing the community to our Web site. Our editing staff is already a community; now, we must incorporate our customers into that community, as well. We have given some thought to this project, and our Web development team is already working with the new Facebook connect program to create a social aspect for our Web site. Of course, there will need to be incentives to provide feedback and to obtain new loyal community members, but we are taking our first baby step to go beyond just providing a service. Best regards, Darren Shafae Hi, Jason,

You are absolutely correct! Customers should not be considered faceless consumers with credit cards. We have always taken a customer-centric approach in terms of building our Web site, and I think that is one step below what you are proposing here. I have to tell you, I love the idea of bringing the community to our Web site. Our editing staff is already a community; now, we must incorporate our customers into that community, as well.

We have given some thought to this project, and our Web development team is already working with the new Facebook connect program to create a social aspect for our Web site. Of course, there will need to be incentives to provide feedback and to obtain new loyal community members, but we are taking our first baby step to go beyond just providing a service.

Best regards,
Darren Shafae

]]> By: Jason Egan http://www.jasonegan.net/2008/09/15/how-to-damage-an-online-comminuty/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Jason Egan Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:37:24 +0000 http://www.jasonegan.net/?p=13#comment-35 No maybe about it, Eric. It would appear that the current management is mostly concerned with short term gains. I think that the ailing economy is going to result in a lot of companies making some decisions that they will later regret. We hear all of the time that human resources is one of the greatest assets of a company. A community is also an important asset, and one that a company should not harm. No maybe about it, Eric. It would appear that the current management is mostly concerned with short term gains. I think that the ailing economy is going to result in a lot of companies making some decisions that they will later regret.

We hear all of the time that human resources is one of the greatest assets of a company. A community is also an important asset, and one that a company should not harm.

]]> By: Eric McCarty http://www.jasonegan.net/2008/09/15/how-to-damage-an-online-comminuty/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Eric McCarty Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:34:15 +0000 http://www.jasonegan.net/?p=13#comment-34 Good post, Jason. Did you read "The Perfect Store"? It was the only insider-perspective book authorized by Omidyar and company. http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Store-Inside-eBay/dp/0316150487 Omidyar said over and over again that they wouldn't have survived the early competition without the community they built. Maybe since he's not in the day-to-day now, Whitman and the gang have forgotten this important lesson? Eric Good post, Jason. Did you read “The Perfect Store”? It was the only insider-perspective book authorized by Omidyar and company. http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Store-Inside-eBay/dp/0316150487

Omidyar said over and over again that they wouldn’t have survived the early competition without the community they built. Maybe since he’s not in the day-to-day now, Whitman and the gang have forgotten this important lesson?

Eric

]]> By: Jason Egan http://www.jasonegan.net/2008/09/15/how-to-damage-an-online-comminuty/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Jason Egan Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:17:23 +0000 http://www.jasonegan.net/?p=13#comment-33 Vic, You're right that eBay has a big share of mind. However, that share is in terms of auction sites. As eBay begins to move away from an auction-based business model, towards a more traditional retail one, I think that we'll see them start to slip away. eBay's challenge right now is to continue to grow while at the same time remaining true to the community that they've created. I don't think that canabalizing their existing aution community and forcing them to become a retail community is the best idea. There are plenty of other sites out there that have already created a community around retail. Vic,

You’re right that eBay has a big share of mind. However, that share is in terms of auction sites. As eBay begins to move away from an auction-based business model, towards a more traditional retail one, I think that we’ll see them start to slip away.

eBay’s challenge right now is to continue to grow while at the same time remaining true to the community that they’ve created. I don’t think that canabalizing their existing aution community and forcing them to become a retail community is the best idea. There are plenty of other sites out there that have already created a community around retail.

]]> By: Victor Agreda Jr http://www.jasonegan.net/2008/09/15/how-to-damage-an-online-comminuty/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Victor Agreda Jr Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:36:57 +0000 http://www.jasonegan.net/?p=13#comment-32 Problem is, ebay has HUGE mindshare. The brand is virtually unstoppable. Ditto PayPal, which is just horrible (an unregulated bank, basically), and owned by PayPal. There have been so many challengers to the ebay throne, I don't know what it'll take to unseat them. But I 100% agree. That's why I took 20 minutes today to explain to ONE guy who I found badmouthing TUAW via his Twitter feed (thanks Tweetbeeps!) what TUAW is and does, and why we're not the NYT or even the KNS. Users matter, and users are your community. The more tools you give them to act like a community, the stronger your business. Problem is, ebay has HUGE mindshare. The brand is virtually unstoppable. Ditto PayPal, which is just horrible (an unregulated bank, basically), and owned by PayPal.

There have been so many challengers to the ebay throne, I don’t know what it’ll take to unseat them.

But I 100% agree. That’s why I took 20 minutes today to explain to ONE guy who I found badmouthing TUAW via his Twitter feed (thanks Tweetbeeps!) what TUAW is and does, and why we’re not the NYT or even the KNS.

Users matter, and users are your community. The more tools you give them to act like a community, the stronger your business.

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