Admin Manual

Audio

Don't be surprised if you have dozens of members and little to no activity.  This is NOT uncommon.  Most people get the benefit of an iGrOOp by following along on other's conversations, reading posts and reviews, watching uploaded videos, etc.  In other words, most people are readers and not writers.  The good news is, through a few techniques, you can unlock the creative genius in your members and get a flurry of activity.

There is something called the 1% rule in web 2.0... basically it means for every 100 members, only one will be active in contributing content.  We have found with iGrOOps this is actually closer to 5-10% since it is a pay per membership environment.

Here are some techniques you can try to stimulate activity within your iGrOOp.  Some may work better than others for you.  The more you try, the more activity you will see.

• Send each member a private message with a question.
• Create a "Getting Started" document (custom web page)
• Create a new members custom web page and form a "welcoming committee"
• Seed your forums with controversial topics and/or questions that stimulate responses
• Include an RSS feed on your homepage
• Send regular e-mails to your group members
• Create a blog and post regularly with member notification option selected
• Host live chat events
• Send members humorous and/or interesting videos and ask them to rate/comment them.
• Invite members to become part of your iGrOOp administration team.
• Customized welcome e-mail.
• Introduce yourself category on forum
• Follow up with inactive members according to stats
• Use Meebo™ to make yourself accessible to members.
• Give members specific ideas on how to use the applications (intro).
• Update the homepage welcome message regularly.
• Praise members when they participate, comment on their posts and entries.
• Contest
• Reward your most active members with free memberships (you give them prepaid memberships)

Do you have any other ideas? Add your comments below!