Forrester's New Online Communities Report

I was interviewed for the new Forrester Report on Online Communities that was released yesterday. Actually, as I recall, Jeremiah asked folks on Twitter for a definition of online communities and he liked mine. He was the report's primary author. Because I contributed, I got to download the 17-page client report for free.

Of everything I have read to date on the subject of online communities, this is the most comprehensive and the most useful. It describes the multitude of options that a company faces in developing a commnity. It looks at each phase along the path to development. It even discusses the types of adversaries you might encounter in your community and how to deal with each. It is written in tight, clear, unambiguous language.

I would recommend the report to anyone interested in online communities, but you have to be a Forrester client to see it. If you happen to be one, then the report is well worth the $379 fee. If you don't like it, there's even a money back guarantee. If this report motivates you to subscribe to Forrester, you can sign up here.

, Josh Bernoff, Christine Spivey Overby, Scott Wright 

Comments

[Jeremiah Owyang]

Shel

Thanks for the honest and open review. Please note that you only received a copy of the report as you were a direct interviewer in the research, not everyone gets a report, they have to have made a significant contribution.

Thanks again for the honest critique.

[RIck Julian]

I read your prior conversation "Can Brands be social?" from 12.18.07 and found the debate re: the definition of a brand very interesting.

As it relates to branding focused corporate participation in the sphere of social networking, my article on the neurobiology of brands may provide interesting perspective on the mechanics of the mind's structural mapping of memories and experiences.

http://www.quo-vadis.tv/rickjulian/2008/02/19/the-brand-as-a-place-the-neurobiology-of-memory/

Best,

Rick

[Justin Thorp]

Wish the report wasn't $379. It sounds really cool.

[Jeremiah Owyang]

Friends

Please note that this report is filled with hours of research and insight, it's designed to save a decision maker time and money by getting to the truth of the discussion.

While many wish the reports are free, this is our product, as you've yours, and I can't possibly expect anyone to give away their products below cost, and certainly not free.

You'll find that a great deal of insight can still be found on my blog.

[shel israel]

Jeremiah, I most certainly support Forrester's right and need to charge for it's reports. My issue was that I o not usually point to something they cannot just click to see and I thought my readers should know that they would have to pay.

-S.