Private Communities

Nick · Posted: 1/23/2006, 8:25 pm Post subject: Private Communities

Would you ever create a private community - as in invite only - and for what purpose? I'm in the middle of a project and I'm not sure in which direction I'd like to take it...
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Teknomancer · Posted: 1/23/2006, 10:40 pm Post subject:

I can think of one situation... All members of your class at school want a community. Then making it private would be good, but then again you just start a public community ask them to join and make a board or too private to suit the purpose....
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Nick · Posted: 1/23/2006, 10:46 pm Post subject:

What about just making one for an assortment of friends - online and/or personal friends?
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chrispian · Posted: 1/24/2006, 3:29 pm Post subject:

I've run a couple of private communites and think they can be useful. I had an idea to create a private community for advanced members of one of my other sites. It would have been private and invite only.

Also there are some ideas I have of paid only private communties that also require an existing member to invite you. Its a very specific niche and access to it would give members a lot of networking and business opportunties.

The idea of a private forum for friends and friends of friends is a pretty good idea and could be a virtual "hang out / meeting place".. I don't see any reason you shouldn't do it.
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Ex0dus · Posted: 1/24/2006, 4:15 pm Post subject:

Ive hosted one before, It was for a group of housewives that talked amongst each other about who knows what. Their forum was very secretive and it was a very strict invite only process.

The forum was really active as well until two of the members got into a fight or something.

Gotta be especially careful with moderation situations when dealing with a close group. (whether you know them in real life or not)

-Ex0dus

Ryan · VIP

I thought about it, and actually set one up, but my friends aren't as computer-dorky as me so they never joined.

My friends don't know anything about sites, and really don't care. Laughing

I think it would be nice though, and it's a good idea if you can create one. But as stated, moderation issues can be tough. You don't know if someone will take it too personal or whatever. I wish you luck, and be careful.

As for designing it's pretty tough. URL and the actual visual design. I would make it so it could suit each of your secretive members personalities, but all in one template. That sounds hard, but if you can accomplish it, you're golden. Very Happy

As for what you want to direct it at...

That's hard. I see two good ways this can go.

1) It can be as stated a virtual hangout for those you know in real life.

Or...

2) It can be like Platinum Membership type deal. The best of the best at your communities are invited to just chat it up without any worries of spam or any other issues getting in the way.

Either way, with the right stuff, I can see it working, and working well. Angel

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Nick · Posted: 1/24/2006, 7:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all of your comments guys. Truestar - your 2nd idea is what I'm shooting for if I go through with this. As far as moderation, I'll start off with only one or two mods and then see how it goes. Don't want people to feel "less" because they aren't mods on such a forum, even being "Elite" if you will. Essentially, the mod position will not be so much for actual moderation of the boards but rather as a "special member" denotation. Most mods are both, but these won't have much need for the former quality if I'm only inviting members I have respect for. I wouldn't expect them to break rules to the degree that moderators need to step in (lock, delete, etc.)

Truestar, you touched upon a template idea, but just how stylized should I get it before I invite people?

Should I not have the link visible anywhere as well?
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Teknomancer · Posted: 1/24/2006, 10:15 pm Post subject:

Ryan · VIP

I really apologise Nick, when I logged on this never hinted you posted after I did. Confused

But anyway, I would try to create one template that suits each of your memebrs perosnalities. I imagine not hundreds of people will have access to this forum, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Laughing

But I would ask around about colors fonts and pictures. If they like red or blue, high tech images or just something to pass by. Or, monitor their posting styles. Try to get an aim at what they would like to see as a template for the forum. A very basic idea, and one that may not even matter. But just a thought. I know my friends, we all like similar themes. So I would try to roll up everything we like, and put it in one template.

I was just throwing the idea out there. I'll go on further if you'd like, I might even start doing some actual work with my site and publishing ideas. Laughing

Stylizing before inviting... well. I would try to look at their personality before you invite them. And kind of have something going before anything really happens. Or another way would be ask them as they come. Simply ask, what hacks or styling would you like to see? That could put pressure on yourself though, as they may ask for some huge hack or something, so I wouldn't recommend it unless you have time, which an admin rarely has. Laughing

As for links...well. I'm not sure about that one either. I have two ideas. You could either invite them via e-mail or private message, explain to them the purpose of the forum, and that they shouldn't leak any information. As a precaution to this, I would try to integrate some password system. Something along the lines of when they enter the URL, before they can see anything they have to type their username and password. The ultimate secrecy lies there. Basically, create your own Area 51. Literally make it nearly impossible to be accessed from unwanted visitors. Or, you could have a public link. I would stick with the perosnal invitation though.

Nick · Posted: 3/27/2006, 9:39 pm Post subject:

You can always show them this video. Very Happy

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