This document discusses how to build a community around an education technology product or service. It emphasizes that while utility is important for initial adoption, community is what drives long-term retention of users. It provides tips for community building such as participating in educator networks, conferences, and events; using social media like Twitter and blogs; and empowering evangelists. The document also lists some top education Twitter users and chats to join to help connect with potential community members.

1. Building Your Community
Engaging Educators

2. About.me
@Jessie_Arora
edcrunch.org

3. “Utility drives adoption, community drives retention”
Caterina Fake, Founder- Flickr & Hunch

4. When you connect with people,
they want to help you

5. Communities Make Business Sense
“Make sure your product
doesn’t suck”
- Dave McClure, 500 Startups
Did you really solve a problem?
Did you discover a bigger problem to solve?

6. Where should I start?

7. Take advantage
of being small

8. Teacherpreneur Networks
Muhammed Chaudhry iHub Pitch Games
Barnett Barry
Leanne Link
Join the Collaboratory-
Classroom Practice Lab
Roshni Mirchandani #edtechRI
@RoshniMirchi
Gay Krause MERIT and FAME Programs
Kate Meersschaert NewLearningTimes, Vialogues
kzv2000@columbia.edu
Suzy Munroe TinkerEd.co
@teacher_suzy

9. Conferences & Events
Be selective.
@BrewCUE
@CoffeeCUE

10. Message and Momentum

11. Low Budget Storytelling
#esinstruct
- Comment on blogs
- Become a guest author
- Mini case studies/testimonials
- Speak at events
- Start blogging yourself
- Educator Advisory Board

12. Empowering Evangelists
Head of Teacher/Parent Satisfaction Director of Teacher Happiness

13. Tools Create Frequency Tips
- Custom background
- Consistent hashtags 2-3 times/day
- Join chats- #edchat,
#edtechchat, #edtechbridge
- Consider Twitter ads ($0.03
CPCs)
- #TwitterBook
- Fan page
- Groups Once/day
- EdgeRank
- Pictures and links are more
effective than status
updates
- Space to foster
ongoing
communication
Once/day
- Encourage members to
invite others
- Facilitate intimate
conversations
- product details
- guest bloggers
- industry/policy news
Weekly/bi-weekly
- comment widget
- videos
- testimonials

14. Early Adopters <3 Twitter
List of Top Edu Tweeters on edcrunch.org

15. Join Twitter Chats

16. #ntchat

17. Jo-Ann Fox ( @AppEducationFox)
Karl LS ( @LS_Karl )

19. @Nurph

22. “Utility drives adoption, community drives retention”
Caterina Fake, Founder- Flickr & Hunch