The Managing Online Forums - by Patrick O'Keefe (Paperback)

About the Book

O'Keefe has spent years developing and managing online communities. Now, he shows readers how to make the right decisions about every aspect of their forums, including choosing a name and domain name, picking the right software, deciding on user options like avatars and private messaging setting guidelines, and dealing with violators.

Book Synopsis

Every day, millions of users log on to their favorite online forums and interact with others to get advice and discuss everything from the latest news and trends to their hobbies, professions, and whatever else strikes their fancy. Admin-istrators have to lead these communities, deal with difficult users, and choose moderators. Legal constraints, spammers, and technical issues can turn the excitement of running an online community into chaos. With the right guidance, however, running forums can be a pleasure. Patrick O'Keefe has spent years developing and managing online communities. Now, he shows readers how to make the right decisions about every aspect of their forums, including: - choosing a name and domain name - picking the right software - deciding on user options like avatars and private messaging - setting guidelines and dealing with violators - ensuring that posts stay on topic - settling online disputes among users - involving users and keeping the site interesting Managing Online Forums is the one book that shows site owners and administrators how to create a safe and entertaining community that users will return to again and again.

From the Back Cover

If you're running an online community, you know how satisfying, fun and exciting it can be, especially if you're in charge of a popular site where people come to discuss their favorite hobbies, movies, music and news. But you also know that there's a flip side to being the gatekeeper of a discussion board. Difficult users, legal constraints, spammers, and technical issues can turn the excitement of running an online community into total chaos. With the right guidance, however, running forums can be a pleasure. Patrick O'Keefe has spent years developing and managing online communities. Now, he shows you how to make the right decisions about every aspect of your site. Managing Online Forums is the first comprehensive book to cover everything you need to know to launch and run a community forum, including:

conceptualizing the community and launching it - attracting people to the community - choosing a name and domain name - picking the right software - deciding on user options like avatars and private messaging - setting guidelines and dealing with violators - ensuring that posts stay on topic - settling online disputes among users - involving your users and keeping the site interesting

Unique, lively, and timely, Managing Online Forums is the one book that shows you how to create a safe and entertaining community that users will return to again and again.

"O'Keefe provides an impressively insightful, comprehensive, and cogent blueprint for building a loyal and responsive community online."

--Ryan Leslie, Founder, NextSelection Lifestyle Group, recording artist, producer, and online video pioneer.

"Patrick is one of the true leaders in online community building, and his knowledge isn't just theoretical, it is based on "in the trenches" experience--and those experiences will prove invaluable as you look to leverage community in your endeavors."

--Jeremy Wright, CEO, b5media, and author, Blog Marketing

Online forums make up the very foundation of the social web. Unfortunately, there are few resources for the growing number of people who work behind the scenes to make them successful. In this comprehensive book, Patrick O'Keefe brings his real world experiences to bear in the form of strategies, tactics and ideas that fill a knowledge gap that has begged to be filled for too long.

-- Lee LeFever, Common Craft

Patrick O'Keefe is the founder and owner of the iFroggy Network (ifroggy.com), an internet network featuring content, community and e-commerce sites. He also manages 7 communities, including SportsForums.net, KarateForums.com, phpBBHacks.com, CommunityAdmins.com and PhotoshopForums.com, . He blogs about community management at ManagingCommunities.com and has written articles and editorials for several websites, including YanksBlog.com and BadBoyBlog.com. He lives in Harbinger, NC

Review Quotes

"I feel that Managing Online Forums is a worthwhile book to buy and absorb. There are TONS of great resources in there, and lots of real world examples for you to follow. This alone makes the book a great resource to have on the shelf." --Chris Brogan

"If you are thinking of starting a community, or are newly involved in one, this book will help you in the human side of managing the site." --Online Magazine

"While Managing Online Forums is obviously aimed at forum hosts and moderators, it can also be used to educate a general audience about online forum activity." --Book News, Inc./SciTech News

"In his book Managing Online Forums, Patrick O'Keefe provides thoughtful, detailed recommendations on developing and enforcing guidelines based on running several thriving communities." --Lois Kelly, author of Beyond Buzz (http: //blog.foghound.com/383/)

About the Author

Patrick O'Keefe (Harbinger, NC) is the owner of iFroggy Network, an Internet network of content, community, and e-commerce sites covering various interests. He currently manages seven separate online communities and has developed communities that have become some of the largest on their subject matter in the world.