We’ve talked a lot about the need for executive buy-in on basically every major project, plan or strategic initiative that you may have, including your community rollout, but it’s easier said than done, right?

Almost every community has a dedicated rules post, and most tend to be pretty similar. This is partly because some rules (such as "be nice to each other!" "Don’t spam the forum!") are pretty obvious, but it’s also because many community managers don’t spend the time to tailor their rules to the individual needs of the community. Depending on the community in question, this is something that it’s possible to get away with. Many communities don’t need anything particularly unusual or specific in their rules. I do, however, have a few rarely-seen rules that I keep in my back pocket which most communities could benefit from adopting.

Launching a branded community is similar to any other strategic project; it requires rigorous planning, broad buy-in, commitment, and a tangible way to not only measure success, but a willingness to iterate and fine tune the plan accordingly. 

It’s that time of the year again everyone, Labour Day weekend in upon us. In anticipation of this upcoming long weekend, I thought I’d share a fun blog because let’s face it, I’m sure that you're already on vacation mode. 

That being said, I know you all have high hopes for this weekend. Don't keep your expectations too high though — here are 10 GIFs that describe the reality of what you can expect this long weekend.

It’s that time again, another CMX Summit is coming! It’s a yearly gathering of community builders and professionals of all levels that meet to connect and learn from each other. To me, it’s one the can’t miss events of the year and certainly most of you must agree, as the tickets are sold out. We are also sponsors once again for what is surely to be an amazing get together in Redwood City next week (September 5th & 6th).

This will be my fourth CMX Summit and I'm also a seasoned conference veteran. With this in mind, I thought I would share my best tips to ensure you get the most out of CMX Summit. Of course, I work at a vendor, but like you, I manage a community as well -- and that is how I attend the event. So without further ado, here are my best tips to ensure you have an amazing experience: