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Reviewed by Stephanie Dagg for Readers' Favorite
"Capturing Community" by Michael Silverman is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in building an online community. It is important to distinguish between social network and online community, which are sometimes confused. The former are driven by information focused on the individual (such as talking to friends via Twitter) while the latter is about commonality-focused information (for example, keeping up to date with legislation concerning a particular industry). The community is held together by a common interest. Defining terms and briefly looking at the history of online communities which all started with ARPANET, the book moves swiftly on to put online communities into context and explain why this is an ideal time for them. Then begins a detailed examination of how to begin constructing such a community. The book then goes on to look at creating value and marketing, managing and monetizing your community.
Michael Silverman quickly establishes his competence both in this field and as an author. This book is methodically and carefully structured and topics are covered in a logical and detailed manner. There are quotes and case studies and the whole subject is viewed from every angle. Silverman’s style is caring and inspiring. “Don’t fret,” he encourages us at one point! Everything is well-explained with clear headings, patient explanations and bullet point lists where necessary, and there is a handy glossary at the end. This is an incredibly well-planned and well-executed book. The overriding message, the author tells us, is to ‘think like a human’ where your online community is concerned. This human touch with humour and enthusiasm is evident throughout this really excellent guide.
