How do we encourage lurkers to become more active participants in our communities?

13 words · 1 min read by Ben Wilkoff

How do we encourage lurkers to become more active participants in our communities?

3 comments from the original blog. Comments are closed now; the conversation moved to Bluesky.

  1. Kevin Croghan

    I think as moderators, we can make “lurkers” more comfortable by doing what we can to  . . .

    1) provide as much context and rationale as possible

    2) post and reply using comments of encouragement, especially when lurkers post for the first time in the community.

    3) Occasionally give a call-out to a known lurker that is doing something compelling you know about, but phrase it such that is does not require a response from said “lurker.”  Perhaps even post a piece of work that person has shared in an alternate space.

    There are other thought here, but I am short on time right now.  Perhaps I’ll have more when we talk today.

  2. Kevin Croghan

    I think as moderators, we can make “lurkers” more comfortable by doing what we can to  . . .

    1) provide as much context and rationale as possible

    2) post and reply using comments of encouragement, especially when lurkers post for the first time in the community.

    3) Occasionally give a call-out to a known lurker that is doing something compelling you know about, but phrase it such that is does not require a response from said “lurker.”  Perhaps even post a piece of work that person has shared in an alternate space.

    There are other thought here, but I am short on time right now.  Perhaps I’ll have more when we talk today.

  3. Kevin Croghan

    I think as moderators, we can make “lurkers” more comfortable by doing what we can to  . . .

    1) provide as much context and rationale as possible

    2) post and reply using comments of encouragement, especially when lurkers post for the first time in the community.

    3) Occasionally give a call-out to a known lurker that is doing something compelling you know about, but phrase it such that is does not require a response from said “lurker.”  Perhaps even post a piece of work that person has shared in an alternate space.

    There are other thought here, but I am short on time right now.  Perhaps I’ll have more when we talk today.

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