Design to Thrive
Creating Social Networks and Online Communities that Last
By: Tharon Howard
Paperback | 9 February 2010
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248 Pages
23.5 x 19.1 x 1.91
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Social networks and online communities are reshaping the way people communicate, both in their personal and professional lives. What makes some succeed and others fail? What draws a user in? What makes them join? What keeps them coming back? Entrepreneurs and businesses are turning to user experience practitioners to figure this out. Though they are well-equipped to evaluate and create a variety of interfaces, social networks require a different set of design principles and ways of thinking about the user in order to be successful.
Design to Thrive presents tried and tested design methodologies, based on the author's decades of research, to ensure successful and sustainable online communities -- whether a wiki for employees to share procedures and best practices or for the next Facebook. The book describes four criteria, called "RIBS," which are necessary to the design of a successful and sustainable online community. These concepts provide designers with the tools they need to generate informed creative and productive design ideas, to think proactively about the communities they are building or maintaining, and to design communities that encourage users to actively contribute.
- Provides essential tools to create thriving social networks, helping designers to avoid common pitfalls, avoid costly mistakes, and to ensure that communities meet client needs
- Contains real world stories from popular, well known communities to illustrate how the concepts work
- Features a companion online network that employs the techniques outlined in the book
Industry Reviews
Foreword | p. ix |
Acknowledgments | p. xi |
Why Design to Thrive? | |
Why? | p. 1 |
Buzz-Why Should You Be Interested? | p. 1 |
What Experience Has Taught Me | p. 2 |
Five Types of Online Groups Clients Seek | p. 4 |
Technological Testosterone Poisoning | p. 6 |
RIBS: The Four Elements Necessary for Long-Term Success | p. 7 |
What Are Ribs Good for? | p. 8 |
Works Cited | p. 9 |
The Nature of the Beasts | |
What Are We Talking About? | p. 11 |
Synopsis | p. 11 |
What Is a Social Network (Compared to an Online Community)? | p. 12 |
What Is an Online Community (Compared to Lists, Discussion Groups, or Forums)? | p. 22 |
Conclusion | p. 26 |
Works Cited | p. 27 |
Why Invest in Social Networks and Online Communities | |
What Are These Systems Good For? | p. 29 |
Synopsis | p. 29 |
Why Build Social Networks and Communities? | p. 29 |
Conclusion | p. 41 |
Works Cited | p. 41 |
Remuneration | |
Crafting Meaningful Social Experiences | p. 43 |
Synopsis | p. 43 |
Introduction | p. 44 |
Remuneration as User Experience | p. 45 |
Remuneration Does Not Equal Functionality or the Business Model | p. 47 |
Be Responsible for the User Experience | p. 49 |
Scratching the Sociability Itch | p. 51 |
Putting "Business before Pleasure" | p. 53 |
What Is Remuneration? | p. 54 |
Techniques | p. 57 |
Make The Text Editor Fun; Add Emoticons | p. 58 |
Use a Subscription Application Form | p. 61 |
Mentors Teach | p. 62 |
Seed the Discussion | p. 63 |
Use Stars on Messages to show Memberships Contribution Levels | p. 65 |
Rank the Value of Members' Messages | p. 66 |
Remove the Fear Factor by Providing Examples of How to Participate | p. 68 |
Create a Safe Environment by Sending out "Tickle" Messages | p. 70 |
Create a Regular Event | p. 71 |
Don't Automatically Archive | p. 73 |
Discourage Attempts to Send Conversations to Other Blogs, Websites, Discussion Groups | p. 75 |
Ban Redistribution Servers and Cross-Postings | p. 76 |
Conclusion | p. 77 |
Works Cited | p. 78 |
Influence | |
Differences in Members' Social Experience Needs | p. 81 |
Synopsis | p. 81 |
Introduction | p. 82 |
The Importance of Influence | p. 82 |
The Consequence of Disallowing Influence | p. 83 |
Play | p. 84 |
Types of Members and Need for Influence | p. 85 |
Techniques | p. 102 |
Set Up an Advisory Council | p. 103 |
Respond to Every Concern Without "Administrivia" | p. 106 |
Show the Number of Times that a Message has been Viewed | p. 107 |
Have a "Report-a-Problem" on Every Page of the Site | p. 109 |
Include in Your Application Why They Want to Join | p. 110 |
Have Exit Surveys | p. 111 |
Run Periodic Surveys | p. 112 |
Allow Avatars | p. 113 |
Require Profiles | p. 115 |
Create a Visitor's Center | p. 117 |
Put Novices with Novices | p. 117 |
Give Elders Opportunities | p. 118 |
Demand Respect | p. 118 |
Publish and Enforce Safety Policies | p. 121 |
Conclusion | p. 127 |
Works Cited | p. 127 |
Belonging | |
Designing the Experience of Belonging | p. 129 |
Synopsis | p. 129 |
Introduction | p. 130 |
Initiation Rituals | p. 130 |
Stories of Origin | p. 131 |
Leveling Up Rituals | p. 135 |
Mythologies | p. 138 |
Symbols and Codes | p. 140 |
Protocols, Routines, and Schemas | p. 141 |
Techniques | p. 144 |
Create and Distribute a Story of Origin | p. 144 |
Create an Initiation Ritual | p. 145 |
Encourage Your Leaders and Elders to Share Mythologies | p. 146 |
Encourage Members to Share Myths and Stories About Themselves | p. 148 |
Create Leveling Up Ceremonies | p. 152 |
Establish Routines and Protocols | p. 154 |
Establish Symbols, Colors, and Visual Identities | p. 157 |
Use an Application for Membership as an Initiation Ritual | p. 162 |
Conclusion | p. 165 |
Works Cited | p. 165 |
Significance | |
Building Gravitas, Brand, and Recognition | p. 167 |
Synopsis | p. 167 |
Introduction | p. 168 |
The Paradox of Exclusivity | p. 168 |
Acquiring "Social Capital" and Significance | p. 170 |
Quality vs Quantity | p. 173 |
Using Nodes and Connectors to Start the Conversation | p. 173 |
Deciding How to Contact Influential | p. 176 |
Techniques | p. 186 |
Provide a Story that Shares a Vision | p. 187 |
List Members' Accomplishments | p. 188 |
Participate in influential Communities to Create Trails Back to Yours | p. 188 |
Build Your Social Network or Community in a Custom Space | p. 189 |
Make Connections with Other Leaders in Social Media | p. 190 |
Celebrate Celebrities | p. 191 |
Create a Contest, Game, or Video | p. 193 |
Mobilize your Existing Members | p. 193 |
Conclusion | p. 196 |
Works Cited | p. 196 |
Technology Changes Rapidly; Humans Don't | |
How Lessons from Communication Technologies of the Past Can Inform Our Future | p. 199 |
Synopsis | p. 199 |
The Power of Social Media to Effect Change | p. 200 |
Technology Changes Rapidly; People Don't | p. 205 |
Looking Backward to Look Ahead | p. 207 |
The Origins of Copyrights | p. 209 |
The Dilemma of Control vs Creativity | p. 215 |
Investing in Future Literacies | p. 219 |
Decision-Making Contexts will Dominate the Marketplace | p. 221 |
Works Cited | p. 223 |
Index | p. 225 |
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9780123749215
ISBN-10: 0123749212
Published: 9th February 2010
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 248
Audience: Professional and Scholarly
Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann Publishing
Country of Publication: US
Dimensions (cm): 23.5 x 19.1 x 1.91
Weight (kg): 0.61
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