In order to create a successful online community, you have to give people what they want, and what they DON’T want is a hard sell. For this post, when I talk about an online community, I am referring to Blog followers/regular readers, Facebook fans, Twitter followers and set community groups such as those built on platforms like Ning.

People join a community to be part of something, not to be just another number in line, a code in a database or a bum on a seat. I have spent several years building up communities for our own online games and for other brands. The common thread in successful communities is the experience that is built into the community. An online community that is successful for both the business at the helm of it and the fans that are part of it, is a community that is engaging and offers above and beyond what the fans expect.

Here are a few examples of how you can create an experience that will make your fans even bigger fans, create new fans, and keep you top of mind in the marketplace.

• invite client feedback about products: make sure you have a community manager that can respond swiftly to negative comments. Even the most negative comment if dealt with correctly can put you in good stead with your fans.
• Don’t enforce too many rules on your community: Be ready to govern, but let nature take its course as well as you will no doubt have a few standout fans that will make the place even more interesting
• Make your fans part of your company culture, show them what you live: share photos from after work drinks, share special events dear to your staff i.e birth of the VPs first child (of course you’ll want to keep photos respectful, only those that invoke good vibes and won’t slander the company)
• Host online (and offline is a good idea too) events that compliment your business: webinars, twitter parties, anything that lets your community connect to each other

Remember, its about creating an experience that reminds your fans as to why they love you and enticing those on the outside into wanting to be on the inside to something great. What are you doing to make your online community a great experience?

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Marketeers trying to influence mothers have realized that they need to attract us in new ways that are relevant to the way we shop. Some of our shopping is now done online while we juggle bubs and running a business from home. Others of us like to research online before we get to the shops, making the shopping experience quicker – which is important when you have grizzly kids in tow.

By joining online groups we can get quick advice on what others recommend, we can get feedback on products we sell, and some of us even keep up with our kids through places like MySpace and with texting.

Alot of mums are more connected than they realize. We are definitely connected in a much more different way than our mothers were.

What’s your Social Media diet look like in 2009? Do you MySpace? are you a Facebook addict? Where do you catch up with your online friends? Do you catch up with your kids online, through texting or even Skype? I would love to hear from mothers and how you are connected online.