"It's a finding that strikes at the foundation of many a social-media marketing philosophy: Tapping into peer-to-peer networks is a way for marketers to tell authentic, credible stories to consumers whose confidence in corporate CEOs, news outlets, government officials and industry analysts has taken a beating. But according to Edelman's latest Trust Barometer, the number of people who view their friends and peers as credible sources of information about a company dropped by almost half, from 45% to 25%, since 2008. "
"Being a fan or follower is not the same as being a member of a community. Membership delivers a whole higher degree of commitment. It also demands a whole other level of engagement from participants and, consequently, a deeper appreciation by the community leader of their responsibilities." What, therefore, can we learn from cults that can help us create more effective communities?
Fascinating stuff. Thanks for sharing. It's great to find an article with depth. I'm weary of empty buzz words like "community" and "engagement." Also, I'm grateful to be in higher-ed and not working for a toothpick manufacturer. We've already got a strong community to work with. ;)