I’m always amazed at how organizations don’t even listen to the people coming to their own web site (never mind conversations out in the wild). For most groups a steady and regular review of search keywords that bring people to them is an enlightening experience, esp. relative to the rank that they have for that term.

e.g. the manufacturer for whom terms related to “parts” got a substantial amount of traffic, but where their web site was on page 5 for search results for those terms - put two and two together and determine quickly that the relevant discussion is happening elsewhere.

second tiime today I run into you so happy birthday again.

was intrigued by your post, as I just finished a post saying it is all about participation, not the canard of control…and once we get the power relationships out of the discussion, then moving forward and participating is what it is all about.

I’ll lift from yours for the next chapter. I am just behind you

an extension of this is: how do you handle participation in a community when the feedback is negative?

Obviously, you may have a different point of view, but you don’t want to minimize your credibility. Perhaps in a future post?
Confront it head on or leave it be?

I think this is an excellent point. The community conversation is a very valuable resource if only for understanding what people think about you.

You can learn just by listening - imagine that!

TO’B