April 5, 2010 24 Comments

Spending More Time at Third Tribe

At Third Tribe Marketing, the community I co-founded with Brian, Darren, and Sonia, we talk every day in the forums. I was just realizing what a value it’s been for me, and how much I appreciate it.

Today, I started a thread about examining our habits, so that we determine how we’ve configured our days and so we think harder about things we’re doing that maybe are just habitual, but not helpful.

I also talked to someone about his pricing model for a software launch he’s about to have, gave feedback on a new website my friend Lisa launched for her pilates studio, talked about books to improve our effectiveness, and weighed in on a few other decision-making posts.

What’s exciting about it is that because it’s a somewhat closed off community, we feel more open to share from our gut and from our business perspective. The other thing that I like about it is that we’re all sharing and helping each other. It’s not like the four founders sit around on thrones and everyone else grovels. We’re all doing peer learning, my favorite kind. And I learn just as much from others as they do from me.

When I was trying to figure all this out, I’d spend tons on attending conferences. I’d fly all over the place, hoping for at least two nuggets, and a handful of business cards to show for my efforts. With a project like Third Tribe, you get the best part of a conference, without the airplane rides and hotel rooms. Oh, and it costs less than most conferences, especially if you use it daily like I do.

I’m thinking that there are lots of other ways people could use a private community to build their community’s value. I mean, Third Tribe Marketing is for marketers, and we’re really learning a lot from each other, but what about a small private community for cycling, for franchisees, for photographers?

Where are your little hide-outs? Can you see your business or your blog sustaining a small, private community?

And if you’re a member of Third Tribe, what have you found to be good, bad, or otherwise?

Related posts:

  1. My Offer on Third Tribe
  2. Some Of The Third Tribe Conversations
  3. Third Tribe is Live
  4. 6 Time Management Tips: Time Audits
  5. What Storytellers Can Do In Real Time

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  • Pingback: I dream of a locally-based niche community « Ambitious Inquiry

  • http://www.murraynewlands.com/ Murray

    I run a couple of small private communities and it is hard work. I have spoke to the owners of a number of forums and pretty much all say it is moving to Twitter Facebook and LinkedIn.

  • http://www.linkedin.com/in/otolofrancis Francis Otolo

    I think Third tribe is a good place to join, I tried making payment to join last week but couldn't succeed because your payment mode is only Paypal – Nigeria is out of paypal, I have mastercard.

  • http://twitter.com/KarinHccp Karin H (=Hermans)

    I've just joined a new forum, dedicated to traders in the floor covering industry – this forum has been set-up by another trader we already knew from a DIY-forum. Now there is a place for just trades-people to discuss pro's and con's of product and methods etc. Learning from each other without “interference” of DIY-ers (in the best of meanings! interaction with DIY-ers is great, but there are other forums for that).

    Another small “private” community is starting to happen for our own business too, password protected ScreenSteps Life space for those who purchased our paperback and/or E-version of the Wooden Floor Installation Manual” – comments and questions are starting to appear. Now we have to encourage the posters to interact with each other.

    Karin H (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  • http://www.mikestenger.com Mike Stenger

    I'd like to have a really dedicated forum at some point. The trick is really making it a unique place for others to spend time at and to get regulars that are very knowledgeable and helpful at what they do. And like Murray said below, it's hard work but so is anything worth building and growing.

  • http://blog.SingularityDesign.com/ Jeff Greenhouse

    Microcommunities can be an incredibly valuable oasis, but they are also highly likely to dry up and blow away. After the initial success of Friendster and the rise of MySpace, everyone was suddenly looking to add a social network to their site or tailor one to a new niche audience. The successes where a niche group had a real unmet need are real successes, but for each of us there's a limit to how many communities and networks we will actively participate in. That's why you see many of these niches migrate to Groups on sites like LinkedIn. For every success like Third Tribe, there are dozens if not hundreds of aspiring forums that have failed to catch on.

    For you and for others with this dream, I'd say that you really need to provide something that people cannot readily get from the larger networks that they actively participate in. That's my two cents. Cheers!

  • http://davidhorne.me david horne

    Chris,

    I have really enjoyed being a member of Third Tribe. It is great to mastermind and share ideas. The most value I have received so far is the various perspectives everyone shares from. It helps me see ideas and questions from every angle. Thanks

  • Mary_Pat_Whaley

    My post today is echoing your sentiments exactly – the best part of a conference is the people, people, people! Actually, the best part of life is the people. Conferences should be more people and less everything else.

    Mary Pat
    http://bit.ly/a3qpl5

  • http://www.influentialblogger.net/ Janette Toral

    Hi Chris. I have a small tribe running at e-commercephilippines.com. As these are mostly entrepreneurs, I find that my members prefer communication through e-mail, workshops, face-to-face networking, consulting session, and the likes. I guess this is also because of the tight schedules. What I find to be important is being accessible and be ready to give answers/referrals when they need it.

    I tried having online forums at some point but it doesn't seem to work with the kind of members I have (or maybe I have to try harder).

  • arnold

    nice blog!

    Have you heard about Mojofiti.com? http://www.mojofiti.com is a website where anyone can get an international blog and every entry,
    email and group is translated into 28 different languages for free. It's awesome, finally a world without language barriers!

  • annejaa

    Well said Chris!Most people do something and immediately ask for something in return and the problem is that you end up spending a fortune on these schemes but can gain very little from them.I would like to know more about this and so i will keep visiting here.
    forex expert advisor

  • http://www.powerwebbusiness.com/ Ashwin / PWB

    I am already behind the doors of TTM and loving every bit of it. Already making a lot of value to my Web Presence and Business. I am moving closer and closer to taking it full time… Thanks to TTM.

    And you 4 are doing an awesome job!

  • http://www.careerealism.com CAREEREALISM

    We started an 'underground' private social network a year ago and spent 12 months testing/developing it to determine what we wanted users experience/accomplish within it. Then, in late January of this year, we officially launched CAREEREALISM Club to the public. We currently have 200 members and climbing. It's staffed by 40+ proven, approved career experts so our members can get access to personalized career advice 24/7 – all for less than .30 cents/day. A concept I was told 'would never work' at least 2 dozen times.

    I feel as you do you Chris, I love helping our members because I'm always learning from them as well – and I don't have to get on a plane or leave my family (I'm a mommy of two) to do it. I'm grateful we live in a time where technology has enabled me to create something like this.

  • http://www.r4cards.co.nz/ nintendo ds r4

    It’s about being yourself and still making money while doing it. The extremes are too much focus on the money making side and then there’s the other side which is about being yourself while not making money. Third Tribe is in the middle and combines both.

  • http://www.movingfrommetowe.com KareAnderson

    Third Tribe has really got me thinking about how associations could benefit from a mix of private an public variations of Third Tribe.
    You asked for other examples: My friend John Kogan has launched Proformative, a growing online community for finance professionals where some forums are public and others are by invitation.

  • http://www.kherize5.com Suzanne Vara

    Chris

    I enjoy third tribe as there is so many great conversations that are going. I love forums as there is real conversation by real people who are there to help. Real conversations is where relationships start and that leads to trust and when we trust we recommend and that is where business happens. I find forums a place where we can be ourselves as just interact.

    I have made it a point to spend even more time in third tribe lately as I am finding the community itself has gone from a promotional to a place where connections are made and also more people are reaching out and engaging.

    Love seeing you over there too.

    @SuzanneVara

  • http://twitter.com/MeganBucher MeganBucher

    As a Business Development Manager for a group of car dealerships from 2002-2009, I joined a lot of things as they began, trying to get in on Internet and social media strategies. ADM online community is one I'm still a member of, and check back in with from time to time. Third Tribe is nice because we're all trying to stay on the cutting edge and better ourselves. Unlike ADM, there's no constant chatter about proving why social media is important. Third Tribe is intimidating, to me, though. As a stay at home mom with a career on the side, I sometimes feel I can't keep up and have no business joining in the conversation. I've learned so much there, but don't always have the time to apply it and the skills to track it. Hopefully I'll put it all together soon. I'm naturally hard on myself, so it'll lead to more success eventually :)

  • http://stopdoingnothing.com Patrick Allmond

    I've been lucky enough to be the beneficiary of some of Chris' advice – on 3rd tribe and other places. The cynical me will say that you can get the same advice and same information anyplace that you can get behind these paid forums. And it might be true. But I'll also argue with myself and tell you that people that pay for access take it seriously. The do post more, and they do participate more. And the dialogs are more professional. While I was skeptical at first, I am a believer now.

  • annawoods04

    Feedback is always necessary for anything new we launch in the market for the service to generate more business out of it in a better way. People will definitely sometimes be so harsh and give feedback which may make us loose hopes but only this thing will lead us to success.

    Smart Lipo

  • http://www.guerreroink.com Guerrero Ink

    So, I guess I am missing something because although I like the idea, I find that perhaps I am missing how to get the most out of the Third Tribe.

    I've been in there since February but wonder if it is really worth it for me to continue. I tend to do better with specific progression types of courses and I've had little luck with feedback when I've asked.

    My engagement has been limited because I am not at a point where I can outsource and spend lots of time participating in a forum.

    I know I am not the only one feeling like I do and, yes–I've talked to at least one person who is happy with the forum.

    I've made a couple of connections but perhaps you can explain where 3T is heading, how to best use it, and the goals for it and how participants can make the most of it.

  • http://www.memorybits.co.uk/ memory card reader

    With a project as the third tribe, you get the best part of a conference without plane rides and hotel rooms. Oh, and it costs less than most conferences, especially if you use it every day like I do.

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    Feedback is always necessary for anything new we launch in the market for the service to generate more business out of it in a better way

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