Community Management
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First of all this has nothing to do with ML or IT. I need some advice on community management for my own online community.
Background
There is a group called Group1. That had unregulated control of fishing in Brevard County. I tried to get involved with the group, but I found out the guys were corrupt and just promoting lures and equipment for their own benefits and kickbacks. So I started my own group called Group2
I started out with 20 members vs roughly 3500 .I started holding events and slowly getting members. I kept on decent terms with the other group. After I hit about 300 members the other group started attacking mine even though they had 10 times the amount of members
I got with some local businesses and had them put sponsorship money towards events. Group 1 does the same thing, but they ONLY use fishing sponsors. Which is stupid because bait and tackle shops have no money. Bait and tackle shops arent exactly known for being rich lol
I started to get so many sponsors that I had to turn them down. Now my little group had lots of money so I was able to reach out with advertising and events
Just like the Spiceworks community or any online community there are key members that everyone respects. I would say there are about 15 key members. 6 of them being very key.
I started to win over those members slowly, but surely. The last event I held basically brought over the rest. So all the sudden there was this huge powershift which happened much quicker than I expected
Currently
The fishing sponsor that has backed the other group has offered to pull their support and back my group. In order to maintain control and not allow advertisers to run the show and use my group for their own gain. I have decided to come up with a guideline to help keep the group from losing their sight of our original goal.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-Zj7y7G1-C_R0d2czZsbnNoaE0/view?usp=sharing
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Any time you take money there's going to be an inherent issue with a conflict of interest. If you have strong guidelines and can keep a virtual firewall between advertising and editorial roles, then that's the best way to handle it.
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@Nic said:
Any time you take money there's going to be an inherent issue with a conflict of interest. If you have strong guidelines and can keep a virtual firewall between advertising and editorial roles, then that's the best way to handle it.
I have declined a few gifts already. One of them being a $250 rod.
Can you elaborate a little more?
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That's good that you decline gifts, as they can influence you subconsciously.
Ideally you have separate people dealing with the two as it can be tough to separate when it's just one person.
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I agree that having a buffer or firewall is a great idea. It will also get more difficult as you grow to do all the moderation etc. by yourself.
