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Click on a number to explore the lifecycle... |
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What people say about VBN...
"This is groundbreaking stuff. Administrating grant applications is an extraordinarily complex process, particularly where the funds available run into millions of pounds. This unique system enables a simple online registration, eligibility checking and application process enabling us to stay on top of thousands of applications and track their progress through the system.
We are also accountable to the EU and the system will allow us to report to them effectively and to track where funds are at any point in time. We will also be able to demonstrate a huge return on investment by massively reducing our administration costs. "
Steve Cargill, Project Officer, Lincolnshire Broadband Team on the Grant Administration System developed by VBN |
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Audience participation |
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Audience Participation
The issues during this stage
- identify community building forces - what will draw one member towards another
- put members in control - enable them to publish their own content
- enable sub-grouping - allow your membership to form their own interest areas
- reward participation - with prominence to encourage others to do the same
The activities in this stage
Enabling your members to communicate with each other, especially with others they have yet to meet, is one of the most valuable services a Network can provide.
However it is hard to achieve.
If you have acquired a significant audience for your website, then many of your
members will wish to use your website
as a marketing channel (for themselves, their jobs, events etc).
This is participation - encourage and reward it!
Design your site to accommodate this content. However retain all controls on content "pushed" to your members.
Non-marketing based participation (Discussion fora, help boards, etc) will happen, but plan to stimulate and moderate actively at first.
This type of communication often works best in focused Special Interest Groups.
Building a directory
Allow members to profile themselves, and their organisations, in a structured way and present the information as a directory.
Also allow them to post any other information such as news, jobs, events, products & services.
Giving members a voice
Allow members to post information and requests at every opportunity. Avoid rationing participation rights in accordance with ability to pay.
Address the issue of information overload when it happens.
Delegate authority
Enable small groups within your membership to aggregate around a subject or project and delegate control of these sub-groups to selected administrators.
Reward participation
A useful technique to encourage participation is to give prominence to those members who are actively engaged. Others will demand similar high billing.
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Enable your members to communicate with each other.
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