Tom Smith’s: theOTHERblog

Since my NorthPack post, they’ve Been Busy On NorthCrew Farm and have started adding a number of features.

Just in case the Linkbait-y title meant you perhaps didn’t get the real gist of the post, I’d like to re-iterate what I meant.

The post was not meant as moaning for moaning’s sake, it wasn’t having a go, and it definitely wasn’t a “What’s in it for me?” - all get thrown at you moment as 3HV suggests.

My point was this. I think NorthPack is a great initiative, but wanted to strongly point out how, despite its charm it was setting out on the wrong foot in terms of building a community. All communities are built, to some degree on a “what’s in for me” factor. Even if that factor is, “I get a warm feeling because I haven’t brutally killed anyone today”.

It all comes down to focus. I felt that NorthPack, wrongly, was focusing on NorthPack when, if it wants to be successful, I reckon it should really focus on interactions between members, enabling me (and everyone else to do/find/read things that my RSS reader doesn’t). Added value!

The difference is subtle. For example, there is a huge difference between being able to browse profiles, and being able to browse profiles near me. The first is a “feature” (yawn!) the second enables ME to do something with regards to other NorthPack members (membershiptastic!)

So…

• In the world of NorthPack, we are the “Social Objects”
• I really like the idea of a NorthPack Twitter channel. It is a “we” thing, well done!
• The stats are fun but can you now we-ify them? Let’s have a “Top of the Posts” chart
• Why not add a Post-code field to the profiles. Let’s worry about what we do with it later.
• Why not have a “NorthPack Stalk Suggestion Box”. This would allow people to recommend cool Northern bloggers. Their feed would get picked up, with their news shown in a sidebar. This would encourage them to sign-up and prevent NorthPack from becoming clique-y.

So… hope that’s clearer. All I wanted to say was that, if NorthPack want to really engage me and not be blown away by the next NorthPack, then you really do have to think about the “What’s in it for me” factor. And by me, I really don’t me… I mean all of us…. we.

So please, don’t go “feature mad”, keep up with the good work and keep focussing on the “we” factor.

Oh, finally… Uniting the North under the banner of a Flat Cap, is what my next post will be about.

(Newsflash, you have to change a Doncaster on the way to London from York today)