Community Marketing - Tools Used in Community Marketing

Tools Used in Community Marketing

• Online Social Networking - The chief medium for Community Marketing revolves around Web 2.0 interactivity such as Internet forums, Wiki's, Social networks, Blogs, and related syndication (RSS).
• Community-Specific Tools & Features - To encourage community participation, many companies offer tools and features exclusively to "members" of the community. These include Webcasts, Podcasts, and email bulletins. The key factor, however, in using these tools is the value of the message. Communities revolve around user-valuable messages (information, support, tips & tricks, etc.) and NOT promotional messages.
• Community Infrastructure and Governance - Some communities engage the participation of their customers in the role of elected officials, advisory board members, and volunteer "guru" status in order to exemplify key customers in their communities.
• Partnerships - Although this is often a purely Public relations strategy, some people view partnerships with non-profit consumer advocacy organizations to be a Community Marketing effort.