There are probably more senior community jobs than ever before. But many experienced community pros struggle to advance while remaining in the profession, because many organizations fail to prioritize community. This leaves it under department heads who don’t want to scale it and only view it as a low paying role for junior-level people.

Alexandra Dao of Vimeo recently shifted out of a community role, in part due to a desire to advance that she wasn’t seeing in community. As one of the people responsible for We Support, a weekly newsletter for those working on community and support, she also reads many community job postings. For Alex, these experiences have revealed the ceiling of the community management profession, which we discuss on this episode. Plus:

• How Alex continues to work with community, now in research and customer insights
• Translating and transitioning your community skills from one department to another
• The simple ways to begin to experiment with usability testing for your community

Continue reading “The Career Ceiling in Online Community Management”

Associations are a natural segment of the online community space, because one of the primary objectives of associations has always been connecting likeminded professionals and sharing resources. And yet, according to today’s guest on the show, “most” associations have not yet implemented an online community platform.

Ben Martin has carved out a specialty, helping associations build their online communities. Why are most associations still skipping online community building? And where do associations often struggle when they attempt it? That’s what we discuss on this episode. Plus:

• Ben’s plans for a Community Manager Appreciation Day livestream
• The biggest reason that associations fall short in their online community efforts
• The differences between an association community and a public-facing community

Continue reading “Why (Some) Associations Struggle with Online Communities”

As community professionals, we get a zone when it comes to handling problems. We’re so used to fixing issues, that we can forget about outside resources that may be better suited for dealing with an issue than we are. Law enforcement is one of these.

Steve Brock has been working in community for over 25 years, with a unique depth of experience in moderation for big brands. He has had to work with law enforcement many times, and on this episode, Mr. Brock shares stories from those efforts. Plus:

• What has remained consistent in his career through four company mergers
• Determining “valid need” with threats of self-harm
• The implication of Facebook’s patent application for a moderation tool

Continue reading “Working with Law Enforcement”

Many online communities are ad-supported. Without that revenue, they may have to reduce their operations or cease to exist at all. Ad blocking is a serious threat, but what’s the best way respond to it?

Todd Garland is the founder and CEO of BuySellAds, an ad tech company that I’ve worked with for many years. He says the time to blame ad blockers is over, and that whining about ad blockers only guarantees a bad ending to this story. Plus:

• How ad quality became so bad, even for reputable players
  
• Why native ads are the future
• Ad behaviors that community managers and operators should watch out for

This is not only episode #50 of the show, but December 7th marks one year since Community Signal launched! Thank you to everyone who has supported our program, including subscribers, our 50 guests, those who have shared it online, people who have rated it on iTunes, Stitcher or other platforms, those who have offered thoughtful feedback or kind words and our sponsors.

Continue reading “When Community Members Block Ads”

After managing MetaFilter for 16 years, founder Matt Haughey stepped away from the community in 2015, handing the day-to-day operations over to a long time staff member with a small, paid team.

More than a year and a half later, Matt stops by Community Signal to reflect on his decision and how it has impacted the community. The transition of power at MetaFilter is our focus on this episode, including what led Matt to realize that it was time for him to go. Plus:

• Why MetaFilter charges $5 for new accounts
• The time that Matt caught Dilbert creator Scott Adams posting anonymously to praise himself
• What concerns Matt about the consolidation of power in social media platforms

Continue reading “How MetaFilter’s Founder (Successfully) Stepped Away From the Community After 16 Years”

As we talk about harassment and fake news online, we are often discussing what responsibility platforms have in the matter. What should they do? What shouldn’t they?

What does it mean to build an ethical platform? On this episode, with Marie Connelly of Vox Media’s product team, we talk about how algorithms aren’t a simple answer, why we should treat spam like we treat harassment and the cost of thoughtlessness. Plus:

• What Marie did that caused lurkers to raise their hands
  
• Community as education
• Baking community engagement into products

Continue reading “Ethical Communication Platforms”

Community is at the core of the existence of public libraries. They’re an important hub for local communities and, in turn, become a community of their own, where people learn and share.

Many libraries are safe, inclusive spaces where diversity is on display. If you are new to the area, or even to the country, libraries help you connect with your new community. If you are a member of a marginalized group, libraries can provide vital support. If you have a disability, libraries offer access to tools and services that improve your quality of life.

How do libraries create those spaces? That’s what I’m talking about with David Lee King, the digital services director at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, and a recognized leader in the use of emerging technology for libraries. Plus:

• What is a digital library branch?
• How the library’s online efforts are impacted by seeing so many of their patrons face-to-face
• What online community pros can learn from libraries

Continue reading “How Libraries Build Safe, Inclusive Community Spaces”

I recently spoke to a class at Syracuse about online community, and one of the students asked me what the two most important traits for a community professional were. I named empathy and attention to detail. The first one is the focus of this episode.

It’s hard to imagine a great community professional lacking empathy. And yet, it’s a skill that’s worth talking about, understanding and refining. Higher Logic community manager Lindsay Starke is passionate about empathy and the impact it can have on your community and your business. Plus:

• Why Lindsay cares about the history of our profession
  
• What feature she’d like to see Higher Logic add to their software
• Can empathy be taught?

Continue reading “The Skill of Empathy”