engage your community

Engage Your CommunityNovember 14, 2012 Alex de Carvalho ● @alexdc

Alex de Carvalho

@alexdc

twitter.com/alexdc

linkedin.com/in/alexdc

facebook.com/alexdc

alexdc.org

I create spaces for individuals,

companies, and brands to connect

Desarollo espacios para conectar los

individuos, las empresas y las marcas

About me ...

Securing the ClicksNetwork Security in the Age of Social Media

I am half-Brazilian and half-Finnish

You

Community

Some Concepts

Why focus on tech communities?

What Now?

But enough about me, let’s talk about ...

You

You want to ...

• Extend your social network and make new friendships

• Learn something new

• Find work and projects

• Bounce your ideas off like-minded people

• Not feel alone

• Access resources: space, marketing, funds

Community

A source of ...

• Like-minded people

• Learning

• Work and projects

• New ideas as well as people who understand your ideas

• Fellowship and togetherness

• Space, marketing, funds

You CommunityProfitablePersona

When you provide service/value to others, it always reflects positively on you

You CommunityProfitablePersona

How do YOU make a difference in your community?

Influence

Authority

Reputation

Credibility

Identity

Presence

The pyramid of influence

alex de carvalho @alexdc

Influence

Authority

Reputation

Credibility

Identity

Presence

• "80 percent of success is just showing up"  — Woody Allen

•Online, you publish yourself into existence•First step is to determine your objective(s)•Next steps include choosing the platform(s)

(blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and creating your profile (bio, avatar, etc.)

Personal Branding vs. Profitable Persona: •Image vs Personality•Commercial focus vs Paying things forward•The value you derive vs The value you add

Influence

Authority

Reputation

Credibility

Identity

Presence

•Credibility is about trustworthiness and expertise

•Are you a consistent source of reliable information?

•Do you have extensive knowledge or ability (or interest) about a certain topic?

•Every post you publish will add to or subtract from your credibility

The profitable persona publishes and curates

Influence

Authority

Reputation

Credibility

Identity

Presence

• Your presence and history of publishing uniquely describes who you are

• Your interactions and relationships with others help authenticate who you are (ie., who you are is who you say you are)

• Interacting with others in real-life situations, including publishing photos taken together, help cement your identity

The profitable persona is authenticated through interactions with others and is associated with a set of communities

Influence

Authority

Reputation

Credibility

Identity

Presence

• The dynamic and ever-changing measure of what others believe about you

• Changes in credibility and identity will impact reputation both negatively and positively

• It is out of the individual’s power to control and manipulate (ie., “you cannot fool all of the people all of the time”)

The profitable persona is perceived as a valuable contributor to the community

Influence

Authority

Reputation

Credibility

Identity

Presence

• Recognized expertise and an esteemed reputation will vest an individual with a higher social position for any given topic

• The scope of a person’s authority depends on their ability to reach other leaders and people in the same field

• Once achieved, authority may outlast reputation and subjects may follow regardless of consequent effects on other people

• The profitable persona acts in accordance with a high ethical value system

The profitable persona rewards community members for their participation, longevity, and quality of contributions (social capital)

Influence

Authority

Reputation

Credibility

Identity

Presence

• Do you bear social proof for others to follow?

•Your cues are interpreted by others

•In ambiguous situations, your example determines the correct way to behave

• Do people conform in order to be liked?

The profitable persona helps define ethical social norms and becomes a steward of the community’s shared understanding (social construct)

Before a community is formed, potential community members are as fickle as crabs

They are quick to hole-up and hide out

But they are not alone

@brianbreslin

@robertmurray

@cwsaylor @alexdc

It took us 3 months to organize our first meetup ... and only 5 people showed up (including the photographer)

But we persevered, meeting up monthly ....

Within 18 months, our meetups averaged 100 people and our community grew to over 2,500 members

- South Florida’s largest web community

- Established March 2006

- Over 2,500 members

- Monthly meetups average 150 participants

http://refreshmiami.org

RefreshMiami: new media community

facebook.com/groups/smcsf

Social Media Club of South Florida

Established September 2008

- Over 2,500 members

- Monthly meetups average 100 participants

Expand media literacy

Share lessons learned

Adopt industry standards

Promote ethical practices

- Web and new media “un”conference

- Over 1,500 have attended five events

- Supported by over 60 company sponsorships

http://barcampmiami.org

BarCamp Miami

First one in June 2012:

16 presenters & 300 attendees

500 people joined for the conference and networking in May 2012

Community spawns communities,like rainfall makes things grow

• RefreshMiami• BarCamp Miami• Social Media Club South Florida• Mobile Monday Miami• Tech Tuesday• Tweetups• Coworking Miami• Ruby Brigade• iPhone Lovers Meetup• Wordpress Meetup

Many other models to create / copy

• The Hatchery • TechCocktail• OpenCoffee• World Café• First Tuesday• Twiistup• etc.

When you create a new community based on what exists in other parts of the world, those international communities start noticing you!

The thing is, we have shared interests ...

It’s the reason we speak to each other and not someone else

Shared interests means passions in common

Shared interests means helping each other

TextText

Shared interests means having a common language, vocabulary, stories, and inside jokes

And spaces acquire shared meaning

The market for shared experiences is inexhaustible

(just use the bathroom first!)

Connecting through shared interests

Why focus on tech communities?

"The digital economy is absolutely central to the future of wealth creation.

Although we are living in an increasingly globalised world, it is local communities rather than nations that are becoming more important"

Chris Clark, BT Chief Executive, February 18, 2010

Why is tech important?

“The key to economic growth lies not just in the ability to attract the creative class, but to translate that underlying advantage into creative economic outcomes in the form of new ideas, new high-tech businesses and regional growth.”

Richard Florida

Why is tech important?

• White collar, well-paid, culturally curious• Driver of economic development• Attracts innovation, talent, and money• All industries need tech to remain competitive

• Real Estate• Tourism & Hospitality• Healthcare• Banking• Journalism / Media• etc.

@gapingvoid

The right type of community

• Identify community needs• Large & all-inclusive or small & focused

• Online & Offline

Community Management

• Seeding

• Introduce yourselves

• Blogging Challenge• Identify early leaders

• Policies

• Enforcement• Executive Committees

• Events

• Communities are often very local

Event / Meetup Format

• “Open-source” culture and ethics

• Networking --> panel --> networking

• Master of Ceremonies & Moderator

• Low-stress, informal, “Beer and Pizza”

• Quality presenters

• Awards

Consistent Date & Location

• The right meeting venue depends on objectives and size of group

• Universities

• Hotels

• Coworking locations

• Coordination with other event organizers

• “City” calendar for better coordination

Sponsorship

• Networking should be free • Proximity to bar or restaurant

• Sponsor pays vendors directly

• Company involvement

Use Social Networks

• Google groups• LinkedIn

• Facebook

• Twitter

• Eventbrite registrations

Alex de Carvalho

@alexdc

twitter.com/alexdc

linkedin.com/in/alexdc

facebook.com/alexdc

alexdc.org

Got questions? Here’s where to find me

Engage Your CommunityNovember 14, 2012 Alex de Carvalho ● @alexdc