Doing Research In Online Communities

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Doing Research In Online Communities

• Richard Adler
• Digital Places
• (radler_at_digiplaces.com)
• If We Build It, Will They Will Come?
• Monday, April 26, 400-500 pm

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Basic Metrics

• Hits
• Page views
• Sessions (total visitors)
• Unique visitors (reach)

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Metrics for Stickiness

• Sessions/visitor/month
• Average session length/visitor

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Metrics of Participation

• Number of active forums
• Number of messages posted
• Chat sessions (number, length)
• Number of registered members
• Most active participants
• Sales

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Feedback on Content

• Most popular topics
• Most popular threads
• Requests for new topics

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Tools for Member Feedback

• Online polls
• E-mail surveys
• Online focus groups
• Forum for comments suggestions

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Types of Member Feedback

• Satisfaction
• Sense of belonging
• Favorite features
• Problems and frustrations
• Ideas for new features

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Profiles of Participants

• Demographics
• Interests
• Community participation
• E-commerce activity