COMMUNITY BUILDING ON THE WEB

9. SUBGROUPS: Clans, Clubs & Committees

One sure sign of a healthy, thriving community is the emergence of small, close-knit groups of members who make their home within the community setting. These groups attract members who share a common interest or purpose, and allow them to maintain a feeling of intimacy as the community expands.

If your goal is to build a robust, large-scale community, then fostering member-run subgroups should be an integral part of your community strategy. Whether they're set up by the community staff, or created by the members themselves, these small groups are where people will form their deepest relationships and strongest loyalties. That's why it's crucial to understand how these groups evolve, and make sure that you cultivate a fertile environment within which they can take root and grow.
 

In This Chapter

Why Subgroups?
     Maintaining Intimacy, Managing Growth
     Your Subgroup Program

Setting the Stage
     Meeting Virtual Neighbors
     Provide Leadership Opportunities
     Cultivate Emerging Subgroups

Developing Your Official Program
     Leverage Your Existing Platform
     Create Group Management Policies
     Use Events to Highlight Groups
     Create a Fertile Environment
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