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Engagement in Small Comms
Leaders of small communities - do you face engagement issues?
- Yes! I try posting content but no one is participating16 votes
- Yes, but I get the odd comment every second post13 votes
- No, fans are commenting1 votes
- No, fans are commenting and posting their own stuff in the comm3 votes
- just here for the results14 votes




I don't have a community, but I have joined quite a few that are very small. I've commented a few times and made one post. So far, I'm enjoying the interactions I've had and would like to be more active, but sometimes find it difficult.
Maybe this is just me, but I'm reticent to post if I'm unsure of the tone or direction expected. This is esp true in communities where there are no/few posts, or where current posts are either versions of the same thing (one question repeated, for example) or links presented in the absence of editorial comment.
I like it when leaders/posters indicate what it is about linked content they find interesting or suggest discussion points. (ie: "I found the suggestion of [x] in this article surprising," or "I really like how this piece focuses on [x]. Do you feel the same way?") It gets me thinking and wanting to participate.
Also, asking for posts could be encouraging. Perhaps leaders could inspire ideas among members by suggesting content along themes. ("I'm interested in learning more about [x]. Does anyone have interesting links/resources to share?")
Where there have been few posts or comments in a community (or where the focus of a community is very open-ended) it's hard to know where to start. I think communities do find their voices and evolve organically, but sometimes the ball needs more of a push to get rolling.
Some very good ideas here! Will try and adapt some of these ideas.
I do think that people should post what they want to see in a community, even if they're unsure of the tone - to help mold the community into a place they want to be.
As a leader though, I'm holding back because I don't want to spam people, and it's a little awkward having 7 posts on a page, and only 3 with a comment. I'm going to have to push past this.
Hey thanks. And you're right--I'm going to try to be more assertive and post things I find interesting to see how they're received. As for spamming, I don't know you should worry too much. I am personally jazzed when I see new content from the communities I've chosen--even if I'm not quite ready to comment. Silence doesn't mean disinterest or disapproval. You know, sometimes things just take time.
I have a 2-3 day old comm that gained members quite quickly when I first set it up, and it's now at 40 members - the comments have been pretty active but noone other than me have made a post yet.
I also have a fandom comm that is 10 days old and has only gained 17 members despite being about a game series that just had a new game come out a few weeks ago. I have never received a comment on my posts and one other person has made a post.
I'll keep trying to make regular posts in these comms to keep them on people's feeds - Imzy is worth the effort and I am excited for the future!
/socialjusticedebates is fairly active. Occasionally other people will post but mostly they comment. I try to have 1 post a week, though with school getting busier I may have to cut down.
258 members is a good number to ensure some bit of engagement. It's good to hear people are participating.
My comm still has under 30 members. I've kinda figured that 10% of members are going to participate, so maybe a comment or two on a post, if I'm lucky.
I think it comes down to having patience. There probably aren't that many fans of Jimmy Reed, or even many people that know who he is - so I don't expect that community to ever really get big. The Avenged Sevenfold community would be more likely to expand once Imzy comes out of beta mode.
I don't have too many rules for either community, right now - aside from "don't be a dick". If we do start to have any issues, though - then I may start to law down the law a bit. So far, though, that hasn't been an issue.
I might be posting too much - it's twice a day right now. Nothing focused, but still relevant. A rec here and there, some discussion posts. I'm hoping to draw more members but since it's a single fandom comm I guess there isn't as much interest in it as I thought :(
That's what I was thinking of my comm. I tried not to post too much, and I posted a poll so people would at least engage without having to comment, but not a lot happening still.
Same. There are several members who are still lurkers, I'm just trying to get them engaged.
Same!! 11 lurkers, and IDK how to get them to participate. Trying to use links to pretty pics to lure them out
I mean, I knew there wouldn't be too many Sufis on here, but now I'm kinda stuck with /Sufism and just hoping people will eventually join.
Do you feel a pressure to post content? A pressure to try and engage people?
Or do you just post when it's of interest, and hope others will do likewise?
I mean, I've posted a couple things, told myself "I'm going to post one thing a day and maybe people will join me" but at 5 members we're not going anywhere fast.
Part of the thing is is that it's not so clear what you would post about. I posted a couple recordings of Sufi music I listen to on soundcloud, and then deleted them because I thought it would give the wrong impression to people who are looking for knowledge, something critical to the Sufis. So I tried posting a quote by a prominent Sufi leader, and asking to see if anyone else wants to post some knowledge. I didn't get any responses.
Once I have the time, maybe when Imzy is officially released, I'll try to advertise on other social media, but for now it just sort of sits there.
Maybe a combination of all of the above is needed?
Well, I'm not really expecting there to be a big participation. /Islam only has 30 members, the last active person was me like 2 weeks ago, so I don't think /Sufism, a subsection (not really a sect) of Islam would have much success. But, I'm hopeful for the future.
Best of luck with it all :)
Thanks!