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Official unofficial communities

What do you do if you want to great a vibrant user community for your products … but you don’t want it to look too corporate or managed? 

Steve Jones at Capable Networks specializes in setting up user communities in partnership with brands like TiVo, Sling, and Monster Cable.  They put the whole thing together, manage it, and make sure it has the credibility, independence, and functionality to be a true user-driven community.

I agree with one of Steve’s big insights:  Companies are way too fearful of the negative word of mouth that will show up in a free, open discussion. Here’s the deal: If people are talking negative about you, they are talking negatigve.  It’s better that they do it on your site then scattered across a zillion random blogs. Have it happen in a place where you can participate and respond.

Watch the video interview

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