So now that your business has moved into online territory, it is time to get the conversation started with your consumers. Building an online community has great benefits including being able to directly interact with those that use your product or service and creating a real sense of togetherness.

Some members of your community will be self-motivated to share their thoughts through pure love and loyalty to your brand and product, but others may need a little push. According to Richard Millington, the founder of FeverBee Limited, members can be motivated by a few things your company can offer: fame, money and power. Here are tips on how to provide these rewards.

Fame

• Have a hall-of-fame or special mentions for people who achieve something
• Organize competitions to recognize people in your community
• Let loyal members write their own columns or blogs
• Continue to refer achievements by members
• Interview the top members
• Have a member of the week/month
• Hold awards nights
• Have popularity ratings

Money

• Don’t pay members with actual money
• Invite related recruiters to participate in your community
• Encourage members to develop products for the community
• Mention members that have been hired by their work in the community
• Keep a list of members who have been most successful in their work
• Tell you members about job opportunities that may not be advertised
• Let your members arrange events that have entry fees

Power

• Give top members projects and initiatives they can run
• Ask top members for advice on key issues
• Give top members the ability to approve comments/pictures/columns by other members
• Create a list of members who have these power for the rest of the community to see

Use these rewards generously. They cost very little to your company, but provide huge benefits.