Social Media, Strategy
6

7 Elements of a Successful Social Network – #5

Posted by John Saddington on Feb 18, 2009

elements3Wow.

We’re already on #5!

Only 2 more after this one and we’ll be done the 7 Part Series covering the Elements of a Successful Social Network.

If you’ve happened to miss the previous 4, you can check out those elements here:

  1. Ownership and User Customization
  2. Getting and Giving Feedback
  3. Exchanges and Gifting
  4. Collecting Things

It’s been a great run so far and we’re finally on the “back stretch.” So let’s jump right in.

Element #5 – Earning Points

There’s something about the need to “earn” points.

We could probably deep dive into the mind and the human condition from all types of angles but research has shown that social networks that have a system whereby the participants, users, and members can earn points has typically yielded great returns.

People like to earn things, just like in the offline space.

Just think about all the things that you enjoy doing. How many of them are related to “earning points” as a part of their system? Can you say “sports?”

Here’s a perfect example: There are probably quite a few of you that are very familiar with this thing called Fantasy Football. People are absolutely fanatical about that thing.

People gather to earn points about football games that happen in real life.

Can you think of some other good examples? So as you begin to build our your strategy for engagement, consider using “points” as a low entry functional req.

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John Saddington

John is the Chief Editor @ The 8BIT Network and Senior Blog Junkie here at ChurchCrunch. He enjoys Triple-Tall Americanos, developing Wordpress Themes, and a few other Random Things.

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6 Responses to “7 Elements of a Successful Social Network – #5”

  1. Phillip Gibb
    Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    Points are dangerous, well to me. I am far too competitive ;-)

    Take CounterStrike for example – if I am not on top then someone is cheating , grrrrrrrrrr

    but I stay away from that, now I just stare at my WP stats graph, lol

    More relevant example could be the number of posts, comments or thumbs up for them?

    The number of blog you contribute on?

    Am I on the right path here?

    the average syllables per word in a post – NOT

    Phill(SynapticLight)
    ;-) ;-)

    Reply
  2. human3rror
    Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    PUAHAHAHA. that's why IntenseDebate is insane.

    Reply
  3. Ancoti
    Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Earning points blog post from a guy who tweeted in post his #1 status in IntenseDebate just yesterday.

    No, I cannot think of a single example.

    (And someone "thumbs up" me here, i am falling behind!)

    Reply
  4. human3rror
    Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    ;) dude. you make me lol.

    Reply

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