All Things in Moderation: Attributes of Effective Social Media Moderators

Posted by yoni67 under Self-Development
From http://socialmoderator.wordpress.com 5108 days ago
Made Hot by: hamed1 on November 8, 2010 6:01 pm

More and more Social Media sites have moderators.

As I have just become a moderator of one (not BizSugar!), I have decided to take a look at what makes an effective Social Media moderator. How is fairness ensured and how can bias, favoritism and partiality be checked at the front door?

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Comments

Written by vanessa.tan
5101 days ago

So inspiring post Yoni!To set an example for participants based on ethics and to instill values into others in not just a simple task. It is a noble one.

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Written by BIZvoter
5107 days ago

Two very good posts, each quite different from the other. I wasn't expecting this one as it didn't appear on your blog website.

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Written by yoni67
5108 days ago

Shawn, Duncan, Anita, Heidi, Martin & Ofira,

Thanks for all of the great comments and feedback! Sorry this has to be a "group" "Thanks!"

I am running out the door. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I won't be blogging for a couple of weeks...today was the last...but I will be looking forward to reading all of the great psotings here on BizSugar!

Yoni

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Written by ShawnHessinger
5108 days ago

Yoni,

Great points and good luck in your new gig! I think the most important ideas here for me are probably #5 and #7, but they can be summed up by saying that everything a moderator does should be done to promote community. This means no ulterior motives beyond making the community a better place and a source of the best information possible for all members, but it also means working hard to make sure that every member gets a voice. As you observe, there can be other motives for individual members to become involved in social media sites including greater exposure for their work and potentially more clients or customers for their businesses. But these motives must be subservient to the needs of the entire community and making sure this is the case is the job of every moderator. This can mean making some tough decisions. Members come to a community for many different reasons: some to share information they have found helpful or posts they have created, some to comment or vote on the submissions they find most beneficial, still others to network and find business owners with whom they may share common goals and with whom new partnerships can flourish. It is important for moderators to avoid prejudice when considering the many ways in which members may decide to participate and share (other than to discourage contributions which only serve to ruin the experience for everyone else.) But to restate, community is what is MOST important and maintaining and nurturing that community should be the top goal of every social media moderator.

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Written by businessavante
5108 days ago

p.s. Something I wrote above is bothering me - the part about a contributor also having a "real" job. It was poorly phrased - what I meant was that they may have their hands full running their business, and are over-extended just finding time to write & submit a blog. I DIDN'T meant that blogging isn't a real job, all on its own. My apologies if that line offended anyone.

businessavante (Duncan)

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Written by businessavante
5108 days ago

Lots of Good Points, Yoni.

For #12 I'd say that there are some contributors who - while they don't vote for others, leave comments, or reply to comments - DO submit very high quality material. I vote for them because I want them to know that their work is appreciated - by me, if by no one else (and sometimes they sadly end up with only my vote besides the automatic "vote" they get when submitting material - check my "voted" record - how many have only 2 votes). I always vote based on merit, and I give new bloggers an extra push - they may be learning something completely new, and be very unsure of themselves, so I vote to encourage them (even if their material isn't yet 1st rank, as long as it isn't awful).

I see voting as a soft compliment, but recognize that with 16 votes the contributor gets to the front page - which has "do-follow" link juice (I guess that's the only "prize", besides just plain recognition).

My beef is that so many contributors do end up with only 2 votes - either no one bothers to read their submissions in the 1st place, or they snub voting (I think it's the former). I'd like to see all contributors who submit good material get votes - whether they participate in the rest, or not - their material Does deserve recognition. I can't judge their reasons for not commenting or voting on others' submissions - maybe they have a "real" job, and contribute to many sites - too many to participate in all of them. I don't know their motivation, so I just vote based on the merit of their contribution to the site. I think that by Not judging their motivations, I'm being More Fair than if I snubbed contributors that don't otherwise participate, especially if their material is well written. To me, it's all about the recognition of a job well done.

Let me wish you the best of luck as a moderator - it ain't hard if you do read all the posts.

businessavante (aka Duncan)

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Written by smallbiztrends
5108 days ago

Good points, Yoni. I'd add this to your point #7, about ensuring fairness and consistency. That also means ensuring a level playing field, and on a Pligg site it means that the same person does not monopolize the home page, Top 10 widget, or the newsletter. It's extremely offputting to new users when one person's submissions or articles from that person's website, always seem to be taking up multiple home page spots.

Fairness has to be considered from the perspective of ALL the site's users, not just from the viewpoint of a single user.

I guarantee that will be one of your biggest challenges as a moderator.

I'm sure you won't be able to spend time here at BizSugar once you start your new moderator role elsewhere, so I'll take this opportunity to wish you the best.

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Written by ofirafromjobshuk
5108 days ago

Nicely written and tastefully done!

Ofira

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Written by lyceum
5109 days ago

Yoni,

Thank you very much for your kind words! Have you been to Athens? I look forward to the day when I have the opportunity to basically walk on the foundation of the Western world. The citizens of the United States of America and the individuals who are Americans in spirit, must understand the roots of the new world in order to protect the modern lifestyle in the future.

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Written by yoni67
5109 days ago

Thanks Heidi!

Yoni

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Written by lyceum
5109 days ago

Yoni,

Best premises with your new role. By the way: I found your post (The First Year of My Small Freelancing Business: Mistakes, Corrections, and the Path Forward!) on an annual blog review when I searched on my name (image search). Thanks for the reference and link.

Regarding the role as a moderator, I strive to achieve the wisdom and skills like Aristotle when it comes to my role as one of the moderators here on BizSugar. It is for a reason that I picked Lyceum (Aristotle's school) as my user name / email handle.

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Written by yoni67
5109 days ago

Martin,

I'm glad you found it! It was my tribute to you and the advice you instilled in me as far as looking back, taking heed and moving forward! Aristotle was a man of immense wisdom and I will covet his words!

Thanks and all the best!

Yoni

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Written by lovedthisarticle!
5109 days ago

P.S. Your motivation and professionalism which is evidenced by your following are inspiring!

Heidi K.

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Written by lovedthisarticle!
5109 days ago

Very well said Yoni! I know this post means a lot to you personally and professionally. A moderator just like any position of authority needs to be fair and avoid bias. I know you will do your job well and I hope this will be reading for any moderators out there as a great lesson!

Heidi K.

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