These latest artilces are from CommunitySpark.com, a community building blog, that shares tips and advice on how to build successful online communities whether they are forums, blogs, chat sites or social networks.

• Nobody likes a desperate community administrator
  If you want your online community to be a success, you need to be involved in it. You should create content, interact with new members and encourage them to be active. Just don’t come across as desperate, though.
  
• When is your online community ready to launch?
  How do you know when your new online community is ready to launch? What do you need to consider before launching online communities? This article will help you determine whether your community should be given the green light.
  
• Add depth to your online community for success
  A brand new online community will always be a challenge to establish when set amongst existing competition. By adding depth and additional value to your online community though, you can level the playing field.
• 5 ways to attract members to a social networking site
  One of the best ways to attract members for your online community is through the quality of your content. If you have high quality, unique, relevant and up-to-date content then you are far more likely to attract members.

This study examined whether recent graduates of the Northfield Public Schools (Minnesota) had acquired the skills necessary to make successful transitions to adulthood and postsecondary education. Continue reading →

A study was done of how educational institutions seek major gifts in their fund raising strategies. The study surveyed 57 institutions in 4 major categories: private colleges (24), private universities (6), public universities (12), and private elementary/secondary schools (15). Continue reading →

Alumni can be visible or invisible, engaged or disengaged. They can speak highly of their college experience–or not. Most [schools] find that alumni, regardless of their opinions and experiences, represent a vast, often untapped body of potential support. With a little nurturing, administrators can use relationships with former students and boosters to propel their [institutions] forward in nearly every area and at high speed. Continue reading →

This paper presents two ways that schools can enhance their reputation: the annual back-to-school night and recognition programs for alumni, namely, a wall-of-fame. Continue reading →

Some of your alumni use MySpace. Some of your alumni use Facebook. Some of your alumni use both, but for different reasons – and the vast majority of them all watch videos that have been uploaded to YouTube. That said, if your alumni association wants to launch and integrate a successful social networking strategy with your Web 1.0 communications (website, e-newsletter, and “Donate Now” buttons), then your association needs an organizational presence on all of the Big Three. Continue reading →

Martin Reed – Blog Author from CommunitySpark.com

Starting a new online community is a huge challenge. Not only do you need to attract visitors and convert them into members, you also need to ensure they return to your website frequently and get involved.

Never think that once a visitor has become a member of your site, your work is done. You need to ensure that every person that visits your site will remember it. By keeping your site in their minds, they are far more likely to return and get involved. Continue reading →

IPR Strategic Business Information Database June 1 , 2003

Former employees will be an increasingly meaningful and valuable part of an organization’s human capital – a fact that many, if not most, companies ignore. It used to be that former employees were either retirees or marginal performers whom had been let go, so it was natural not to focus on . .  full article.