Now that You Have a Group
So, if you already had a group or have started one while reading this series (Part I), it’s time to give it some love. Feeding it links is a good start, and you’ll be amazed at what happens organically, but here are a few hints on how to kick start the activity.
Spread the Word
Odds are pretty good that you know other people interested in the same subject, so go to the main page for the group and click on the “Recommend Group” button to invite folks to join it. This is a super fast way to spread the word about your new group to friends on Ma.gnolia, as well as to people who have never visited the site before, as you can send the invite to people via your Ma.gnolia contact list, or outside e-mail addresses.
Adding Links and the Hot Groups List
Good links, that are on the topic are the best way to expand the group, but just as important is maintaining a steady stream of these links. When you first set up your group, one of the best ways to get it noticed is to fill it with links right away, as that may get your new collection listed in the Hot Groups section of Ma.gnolia for a little while. The size of the group doesn’t matter – the activity within the group does. This is great as it evens the playing field for new, small groups compared to the older large ones. If your group’s subject appeals to an audience that wants to contribute, you’ll find that the group periodically returns to this list as more and more people participate.
Talking to Your Group
Ma.gnolia has some great functionality that is under-utilized. As a group manager, you have the ability to send a message to all members of your group, and while you don’t want to spam them, there’s nothing wrong with the occasional message to remind them of the group, promote some interesting links, or ask for links on a specific topic. You can also utilize the discussion boards attached to each group to generate conversation and some activity. The boards don’t always garner a lot of participation, but that is easily remedied if you post some good topics. You’ll find that each group contains some people who would absolutely love the opportunity to talk about the group’s subject, or provide ideas that could improve the group.
Ultimately, the best way to expand your group, is to rely on your members, giving them every opportunity to add to it. We joined Ma.gnolia because we want to share our interests, so the easier you make it, and the more excitement you have for the subject, the better your group will be.
More to Come
I hope this has helped you expand your group. This is just one in a series of articles about Ma.gnolia, so please check back in the next few days, or subscribe to my feed.