Primary links
Who's online
There are currently 0 users and 1 guest online.
Recent comments
- I love your comments here.
3 years 9 weeks ago - As far as grading on the
3 years 9 weeks ago - "by using this system,
3 years 9 weeks ago - Too bad she didn't create an
3 years 9 weeks ago - I completely agree that this
3 years 9 weeks ago - I feel this is the beggining
3 years 9 weeks ago - What can't moms do? My mother
3 years 9 weeks ago - Ha! My mom googled me too and
3 years 9 weeks ago - It is not only that you open
3 years 9 weeks ago - What a great idea! Thanks so
3 years 9 weeks ago
Navigation
User login
Syndicate
Successful applications of Social Software
This: http://www.webguild.org/2008/09/why-many-social-software-projects-fail.php is an interesting article on why many social software projects fail. The authors claim, "Many social software projects fail because IT managers wrongly believe that successful communities form spontaneously after social software tools are installed." This is such a great point! It isn't enough to implement the software and expect people to flock to it. New software must be marketed properly if the public is to not only find it useful, but find it at all.
They list seven attributes that make social software more likely to be successful.
The Magnetic Efffect - What about this software will draw users to it?
Aligned - Is the business/company/library using the social software just to use new technology or is there a reason to use this particular software?
Low Risk- Is the software liable to stick around for awhile? Is it brand new with bugs?
Properly Scoped- What is the purpose of the software application?
Facilities Evolution - Creation of a strategic plan for scope and focus of the software.
Measurable - Can success with the software be measured?
Community-driven - Community should end up creating most of the content, not the business.
I thought that these were interesting points to think about in terms of using social software in libraries.
Oooh! Great article! I may
Oooh! Great article! I may have to use this in a future iteration of the class. People very much buy into the whole "if you build it they will come" mantra -- probably because social software evangelists are so big on promoting how "easy" social software is to implement. If by implement, they mean install and use, yes, it is. If by implement they mean to get buy-in and build a community, it is just as hard as with any other technology. Once the technology is installed and configured comes the much more difficult task of actually selling the technology to staff or building community online. Those require patience, persistence, an understanding of what people need/want/fear, and -- most importantly -- the human touch.
In the article I shared with
In the article I shared with the class this week, the author mentioned spending many-a-night participating in online communities, commenting, stumbling upon, digging, which helped in generating readership of her blog. She found that many reciprocated by subscribing to her blog or visiting her site. This shows that in order to sustain a community, the organization or individual launching the social software project must be proactively involved in the networking community.