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These days it doesn't matter what you are trying to market, you need a community. Created a new video game? Start a community. Preparing to release a new album? Post something on MySpace. Created a flash game you are particularily proud of? Post it over at MillionsOfGames. Starting a diet and exercise program? You better at least have forums.
The draw of having such easy access to groups of like-minded people online is undeniable. I'm on no less than twenty different online community sites. In fact, my online presence mirrors my bachelor days, I move every couple months at least. I have been a paid subscriber at IGN Games, DeviantArt, and more recently StumbleUpon. On top of that I am on dozens of message forums for work, play, and even self-help. I have probably written more than Shakespeare, though somehow I doubt my body of work will stand the test of time as well.
Even my wife has a page on MySpace and has blogged. That's right, I said it, my wife has a blog. She hates the word "blog", she can't even say it out loud without it sounding like she is chewing on a two month old bagel dipped in rancid goat cheese. And yet the power of online communities has drawn her in too.
Here's the thing, up until now I had mostly turned my nose up at standard online communities. I was on so many forums I figured I had seen and done it all. Then I rediscovered StumbleUpon, I had treated it as a sort of random site generator but hadn't really put much back into it. Then I started actually making friends online. For once I was in an online community where there were people who used full sentences. For once I didn't have to worry about whether or not my next comment was going to start a Nintendo fanboy flame war. I have stepped out of the gaming community, and into something that actually conveys a sense of community.
Buoyed by this success I put a little more attention to MySpace. I logged in and began listening to music. Then I realized I could add musicians I like as friends, perhaps eventually being able to contact them directly. I immediately added the first three artists who I actually would like to talk to, Beck, Weird Al, and Bob Ricci. Then I expanded my search to include other heroes, like Kevin Smith. Unfortunately Kevin wasn't on there, so I will have to seek validation elsewhere. Maybe I should aim a little lower, maybe I can get Uwe Boll instead... =)
But as with anything else, finding the online community that is right for you is touch and go. I love the functionality of StumbleUpon, but am not a big fan of the design. I think MySpace is cool, but it seems to be plagued with issues. What would be great is instead of a matchmaker that just lined you up with like-minded people, is one that would point you in the direction of a community that suited you. A sort of community directory. Like a digital realtor, "Oh, you are looking for a community that doesn't have too many script kiddies, allows photo uploads, and that doesn't charge too much rent... Let me see what I can find." I'd code it myself, but I just don't have the time.
Oh, and on a final note, THE CLERKS 2 TEASER IS OUT. Watch it, study it, and then tell Kevin Smith that he needs to get in touch with me because I have an important message for him.
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