Andy Roberts recently posted an excellent comment on his blog about how not to use online communities. It's well worth a read. His point is that you can't just pop into a community and use it like a noticeboard, once - especially not for what is essentially an advert. ("You'll all be interested in this training course/product/service ...") Online communities, networks or communities of practice are collections of people with similar interests and/or concerns, and they are very useful as a way of spreading the word and establishing your online identity. But to make a impression you must be part of the community, not just trying to take advantage of it. Do:

Whether you're trying to create a learning community for the students starting your course or trying to nurture a community of practice for your business or organisation, one of the key elements of your strategy should be welcoming your participants. Every community moderator or e-tutor should have welcoming techniques in their professional toolbox. Here are five top tips for creating a welcoming environment in that vital starting period.