To find relevant conversations online, do a Google search for blogs and set up Google alerts for your best keywords. Do a keyword search on Twitter. Tweetdeck and other Twitter clients allow you to set up a column based on a specific keyword so you can monitor conversations on an on-going basis. Conduct similar searches on Facebook and LinkedIn.

We are fiercely loyal to those people, places, and things that we can call our own. They are a part of who we are, a piece of our identity. Relinquish control, give members an ownership stake, and watch Fierce Loyalty soar.

As tempting as it is, resist the “if we build it, they will come” mindset. Many communities fail because an organization builds the structure first and then tries to locate people to join. One of the reasons The W Club and Ikea Hackers are so successful is they were created in response to obvious but unmet needs.

Involve members as much as you can in developing the structure of the community. When I began building Escaping Mediocrity, I had some loose ideas on the structure I wanted to put in place. But because I wanted to create a real community, one that could function whether I was present or not, I encouraged people to take ownership of how

The Evolution of Trust. Members are confident that their community has their best interests at heart. A spirit of mutual reliance, faith and transparency dominates the community culture.

4} Create a culture of “We.” Traditionally, the relationship between an organization and its clients is based on an “us” and “them” paradigm. Over and over again, I hear “those clients,” “those customers” and “those donors.” What if we eliminated the whole idea of “us and them”? What if there was only “we”?

Listen. Listening is a recurring theme on the path to creating Fierce Loyalty. As you observe and contribute to conversations in and around your frame, you’ll hear your ideal community candidates express their needs for Belonging, Recognition and Safety.

this approach helps me understand the community members better: how they think, what they like, what they hate, and what they are really looking for. All of these insights make me more connected while teaching me how to deliver better and more meaningful solutions.

The Evolution of Pride. Members gain pleasure and satisfaction from their participation in their community. Community membership is a part of their identity and they are anxious to display their loyalty via t-shirts,