This is one question I am almost certain to be asked whenever I speak with people regarding community and community management. And when I tell how I do it - people say they knew it but never paid attention to it. The trickiest part with community management is to understand the 'WHY' and the most often ignored aspect too.
Here are 6 questions that I ask myself almost every day and if I get all Yes, I know I am on the right track:
1: Is your community what they dream of?
When the concept of the community links with the interest you are more likely to get a regular and active member. This is determined when you're conceptualizing your community. The more your community concept fits with their interest, the more they will be interested in that community.
If you already have a community that's struggling for participation, you need to revisit the concept and bring a stronger interest shared by a more specific group of people.
2: Are you reaching out to your members?
Don't always rely on mail blasts to get more members (in fact you should never worry about getting new members, it will happen over time). Reach out to people outside of the community to respond to a particular question or respond to a topic. This should be done with existing members too. You will amazed to see how many people respond to your personal mails than mail blasts.
3: Are you tempting them to join the community?
Why are you waiting - go out and tell everyone that they need to join your community by enticing them with cool events that you do, by interesting stuff that's going on. If you wait for people to come and join on their own, then pack your bags and go for a vacation - they will anyways join.
4: Are you thinking from a member's end?
That's where you need to think from while you don the community manager's hat. If you don't you will never know what they need. Most of the community managers are busy 'doing' things that they forget to even pause and see if it's adding any traction.
5: Are you helping members take the first step?
Your members are scared - yes they are if they are new to social media. Do you remember how uneasy was it for you to write your first blog or status update? Hold their hands and walk with them few steps and then you will see the transition. Imagine yourself as a crèche owner and members are kids who need you all the time.
6: Are you happy when you get the data?
This is your playing field - more data means more information. Try and get more of it - through anything. Don't be happy that your community has 5000 members, find out how many are active - every month and then see how to increase that number.
As a community manager, you will have to play many roles at the same time and you should be ready for it. Take time off and think if you are gone, will it make any difference to the community? If the answer is no - it's time you need to take actions.