Channel Community

A few years ago, I got interested in building Communities of Interest. This was back when the internet was really just a collection of publish and read sites. My thinking back then was build a secure site for like-minded people to share ideas. At the time this would be through an electronic bulletin board. The challenge was that people used the bulletin board, but conversations didn't happen. What I created was only one-way and not what I had envisioned.

The internet has changed and is evolving into a massive network of mini-communities where relationships are built and communities thrive. Facebook and MySpace are obvious examples of this, but so is Wikipedia. These are open communities where anyone can join and contribute to the discussion. Successful communities grow and prosper and become an important part of the lives of the members.

I think the time might be right for you to open your information/content up to your channel partners. Let them build your channel program(s) in an open, collaborative environment where debate happens freely and efficiently. Discuss your objectives and listen to what they need and you just might find that your community will build something different and remarkable.

I think the future are these kinds of collaborative communities where partners, suppliers, customers, and employees all contribute. The creative energy of these constituencies will produce not only a channel program, but passionate commitment from the contributors.