You might look at online communities like YouTube, Facebook or MySpace and think, "I can do that, too." But before you take the plunge, social media consultant Mack Collier has some advice.

Be sure to take these eight points into consideration:

• Don't think of your online community as a revenue-generating venture. Although you might realize some indirect income, users won't return if it's obvious the sole reason for the site is to generate money for you.
• Make the benefits obvious. Offer users something they can't get elsewhere, or offer your content in a better package.
• Let users create, share and exchange content. "Communities form when you give users a sense of ownership in something larger than themselves," writes Collier.
• Spotlight and reward your community's evangelists. This not only increases loyalty, it encourages others to become involved.
• Get involved. Your presence is appreciated—it shows you're just as interested in building the community as everyone else.
• Make it easy for users to give feedback. In addition to contact forms, consider email addresses and phone numbers. Also, respond to concerns as quickly as possible.
• Share potential revenue. Instead of displaying banner ads that might not be relevant to users, look for sponsorships and co-branded campaigns that award cash or prizes.
• Be patient. Don't worry if your site takes time to grow. Even Facebook and MySpace took years to achieve their success.

The Po!nt: To be successful, an online community must provide value and respect its members.

Source: MarketingProfs. Pro Members may read the entire article about how to create an online community.

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