Regardless the how they start, all Web communities need Social Scaffolding to grow and thrive. Much like a trellis enables an plant to grow, social scaffolding enables members to become progressively more involved in the community. The tools for community-building are becoming easier to use, and more widely available. Consequently, a growing number of online businesses are adding elements of community to their Web sites. But opening a chat room doesn't launch a community anymore than purchasing land will automatically result in a beautiful garden.
Most Web developers are familiar with the technical and design aspects of creating a great site.
This article builds on that knowledge, and provides an overview of the social aspects of creating a thriving, successful Web community. These 9 Timeless Design Principles are drawn from my experiences designing Web communities for a wide variety of clients. These ideas can help you address the range of social issues that you ll encounter as you create, build and run your own Web community. To attract and sustain people's interest, your community must offer them unique benefits that can't easily be obtained elsewhere. The first step is to understand your audience.