7 Elements of a Successful Social Network – #6
We’re just about done with the 7 Part Series on the Elements of a Successful Social Network.
We’ve been covering a lot of material but don’t worry, I’ll have at least 1 “wrap up” type post to synthesize, summarize, and provide some helpful tips on what and where to go from there.
If you’ve missed the previous 5 posts, they are listed right here:
- Ownership and User Customization
- Getting and Giving Feedback
- Exchanges and Gifting
- Collecting Things
- Earning Points
Number 6 has already been mentioned in a number of the comments on the other 5 which is great! It means that you guys are actively thinking about the elements.
So let’s jump into #6.
Element #6 – Competition
This is an extremely powerful element and the element, by itself, can provide almost enough “staying power” to create entire social networking sites and services without many of the other elements in parallel.
But you already knew this.
Competition can drive people to spend enormous time on websites, blogs, and other social properties. Sometime all you need is to add a little competition and your traffic can spike.
Done even better, though, is to help it loop back as a valuable feature set for the actual users where they can benefit more than just simply on the current site in which the “competition” occurs. One of the simplest implementations is on this blog.
You see, the “Top Commenters” widget (provided by IntenseDebate) is a simple way to provide “healthy” and “spirited” competition among the people who spend parts of their day here reading this blog.
What it does, in return for their “community building” and commenting love, is provide them with “high-visibility” to their IntenseDebate accounts, which ultimately link back to their own blogs and personal properties.
This is a “positive” way of creating an element of competition without going too overboard.
How can you use competition in your social properties and blogs to provide an even better end-user experience?
Buzz it!
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18 Responses to “7 Elements of a Successful Social Network – #6”
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links for 2009-02-20 | This Inspires Me
[...] 7 Elements of a Successful Social Network – #6 (tags: socialnetworking) [...]
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7 Elements of a Successful Social Network - #7 - ChurchCrunch
[...] Competition [...]
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Social Experience Lifecycle - ChurchCrunch
[...] Competition [...]
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Ask 8BIT
Yip, but I am not sure that it is competition as must as trying to be the most 'respected' commentator.
I am aiming for 50p so that someone might think I have something important to say or that my blog means something.
Ok I just made that last thing up, I'm just happy that my name is above Ron's 31p
And so I come back to make sure that that is the case (other than to fact that there is great content here)
he he he
You see, the “Top Commenters” widget (provided by IntenseDebate) is a simple way to provide “healthy” and “spirited” competition among the people who spend parts of their day here reading this blog.
Has my life become that sad?
Am I nothing more than a log in name and number on the blog sidebar of life?
But I am #4. w00t!
But you want spirited, healthy, respectful and friendly competition. You do not want a bunch of people putting each other thumbs down, but striving to earn a thumbs up from others.
hehe. do it! boot some of the others down.
hehe. more than a number bro~!
but you already knew that…!
Thanks for the advice. Since this is my first time commenting on your blog, I am not sure what # I will be on the list, but I am sure it will be at the bottom. That said, perhaps a few more comments, say 30, will put me in the top 30. Not bad. Anyway, Looking forward to reading #7.
Great series, between you and Michael Hyatt I'm about sold on Intense Debate.
Chris,
Thanks for stopping by~! the comment block is there for you guys, not really for me. glad you came!
excellent!
Ah, but it only works for intensedebate commenters, which most of mine are not.
In fact, all of mine are not.
But whatever. It's ease of use makes it the best way to respond to comments (via Email baby!)
John,
I wanted to let you know that doesn't count as a comment. I'm onto
you! (Fluffing your post count.)
You can just submit your information directly. just add an email!
That top commentor plugin is really very good. I am alsoi thinking to apply that on my blog.
yeah, the top commentator plugin is awesome.