Thriving Web sites are places that engage people and make them want to return am again and again-not only to visit, but to participate. Beyond simply offering a reliable source of information, these sites provide a way for peers to communicate with one another, a place on the Web to meet and exchange ideas.

Building a Web community is a team effort. It takes the combined talents of marketing, production, programming, and design professionals. Community Building on the Web is a book for all those team members. Drawing from her own extensive experience as a designer and consultant to some of the Web's best commercial, nonprofit, and recreational sites, Amy Jo Kim introduces nine essential strategies for creating true community online. Her practical recommendations and behind-the-scenes views into flourishing communities such as Yahoo, America Online, eBay, Ultima Online, AncientSites, and others will give you insights you can apply to growing your own successful online world.
This book will show you how to:

* Select the tools and resources you'll need to get started
* Attract and retain a target audience
* Evolve your community and plan for change
* Identify and fill the essential social roles
* Create and use member profiles effectively
* Foster positive participation and encourage role models