Socialize This episode

Channel 9's secret sauce to create community

Head of Microsoft's developer community builds on his experience as a bartender in college


Innovation show by Charlene Li
May 8, 2009 | Comments (0)
Short URL: http://vator.tv/n/832

1416
Jeff Sandquist, Senior Director of Evangelism at Microsoft, has been running Microsoft's developer community at Channel 9 (channel9.msdn.com) for the past five years. How did he become such a good community manager? By tending bar! He shares how he builds community, as well as how he measures the results.
 
Jeff's "secret sauce" to creating community is to participate as much as you want customers to participate. "It's the 'Golden Rule' of community." He also shared that everything he ever learned about being a community manager he learned by tending bars in college -- knowing when to engage with people and when to leave them alone. One thing Jeff stressed that like a good bartender, you sometimes need to kick out your best customers. "Everyone needs to be respectful of one another."
 
One tactic Jeff used to entice engagement was to send out a small squishy Channel 9 "guy" to anyone who sent in a postcard requesting one. Responses hailed from all around the world. The team sent out the figures free of charge, Jeff commenting, "It's a way for us to give back [to the community]."
 
In terms of metrics, Jeff keeps it simple. 1) Do you have an audience and is it growing. 2) Is the audience engaging, such as commenting and posting. 3) Measure not just the traffic on the site, but also who is linking to the content. In other words, is it resonating in other places. And 4) How satisfied are your community members? This can be easily done with surveys.
 
Jeff stressed that Channel 9 and evanglism is not about sales. "It's about communication and conversation." "It isn't about how many sales we generate. It's do we have great, happy customers that are interested in using our products. The sales will come after that, hopefully."
 
Finally, Jeff was asked about a new technology that he was excited about. He is all about Windows 7 (of course!). Outside of Microsoft, Jeff is excited about PlayOn (www.themediamall.com/playon) which allows users to dlownload video from sites like Hulu and play them on-demand on devices like an Xbox, PS3, or PC. Video can be brought down to a local device on a scheduled basis and played back on demand - no online connection needed.

0 comments

Create your venture's profile
Vator is short for innovator. If you have a new venture, create a profile so we can help you build awareness and a following. We'll distribute your voice to our users and our partners.

Latest company updates on Vator.tv

Smaato Inc.'s data was edited about 2 hours ago
Smaato Inc.'s data was edited about 2 hours ago
Smaato Inc.'s data was edited about 2 hours ago
Yield Software, Inc. was featured in a article: "Social media marketing, Part 3" about 2 hours ago
Outline a strategy and an objective See more
Rentcycle - Tim Hyer (Founder)
Greetings from The Rental Show in Orlando, FL! Day 1 exceeded expectations. I think the rental ...
See more about 6 hours ago, 2 thumbs up

Other episodes of this show

Channel 9 - How Microsoft launched it

5906_socialize_this_sandquist_int_01

Socialize This

by Charlene Li
Jeff Sandquist of Microsoft talks about how the software giant opened up

Using blogs in a public relations' crisis

5741_socialize_this_ed_terpening_int_02

Socialize This

by Charlene Li
Wells Fargo recently faced a PR dust up and turned to its blog to quickly respond

How Wells Fargo successfully blogs

5658_st_terpening_int1

Socialize This

by Charlene Li
How banks can blog without getting in trouble

A big company's use of social technologies

5513_chris_curtin_interview

Socialize This

by Charlene Li
HP's VP of digital strategy talks about getting social
© 2010 Vator, Inc.