About This Project

Hi there! You’re here because you’re interested in how online communities work. Sweet. Me too.

About This Space

Culture Conductor is for anyone who is interested in the health and structures of online communities. This includes people who create and grow online community spaces, people who maintain the health and stability of those spaces, people who participate in them, and people who are just totally utterly geeky (like I am) about How People Systems Work.

I should add that there’s a special spot in my heart for people who are just getting started in this work. (So, to those people: I like you. Please stick around.)

My goal here is to explore the philosophies and techniques being used right now in good online community work. This exploration involves interviewing fabulous people, digging and pontificating about what works and what doesn’t, and shining a spotlight on some great online communities.

Why Are We Talking About Conductors?

There’s a lack of good language for the kind of people and structures we’re talking about here, so I’m throwing out a blanket metaphor and hoping you’ll help me run with it: conductors. There are three kinds of conductors that are useful to talk about in this context:

Electrical Conductors: Mediums that allow important energy to pass through them.  Think wires, metal, cables.  A good conductor makes space for the current, guides it, and tries really hard not to obstruct it.

Music Conductors: These are the ones in the cool suits making simple rhythmic gestures in front of orchestras and choirs, guiding dozens of people with different skills and interests to work together, creating something beautiful. They’re also the ones who got all those performers prepared and ready to shine.

Train Conductors: You know the ones. They’re hole-punching tickets, making decisions about our speed and direction, and keeping the whole “taking people places” deal on track. Plus, they look cool. (CHOO CHOO!)

Get it? Okay, good.

What are we really talking about?

Community Managers. Community Organizers. Community Developers. Moderators. Facilitators. Tummlers. Volunteers. Contributors. Staff. Super users. Evangelists. Social hubs. Engagement strategies. Social Media. Community marketing. Community program management. The list goes on.

What are we NOT talking about?

We are NOT here to talk about “how to make people care about something they don’t care about.” You can call that marketing and community organizing if you want to, but I call it manipulation and a path to failure. Don’t even bring it up here.

About Me

My name is Sarah Dopp, and I’m obsessed with community structures.  (Should we start a 12-step program about this?)

Between 2004 and 2009, I started two kinda-big-at-the-time online communities (TheWrit and Genderfork) completely by accident, and learned how to run them by trial and error. I had no teachers for that work, no courses or tutorials, and no websites telling me what to do. I just made it up as I went along. There’s more about that story, and how it led me to start this project, over here if you’re interested: “If I only talk about one thing for the next ten years, I want it to be this.”

Throughout that time, I also worked as a freelance website developer.  Now I’m moving all those pieces around and working as a freelance online community consultant. If you’re interested in that kind of help, you can read more about what I do over at SarahDopp.com.

A little more about me: I live in San Francisco, I co-host a monthly open mic event, I have a shaved head, I used to speak Chinese pretty well but have forgotten most of it, and I’ve been blogging since 1999. I also really really like good ice cream, and this is totally the town for it.

You can reach me by email at:  sarah at sarahdopp dot com

Where to Wander Next

There’s a lot going on here. Try starting with these…

Are you brand new to this subject?

• Try this post: “What’s a community and when does it need a manager?”
• Check out our posts tagged Community 101

Are you already a Conductor?

• We’re building a discussion group for sharing job leads and advice, and we’d love to have you. It’s over here.

Do you need help with a community?

• I’ve got just the place for you to find it!

Just here to read?

• Great! Have a look around! I’m personally fond of the interviews.

Now… back to the writings.