The 7 P's of community for Google Developer Groups

Key Concepts:

• Seven Ps of Community: Purpose, People, Place, Participation, Policy, Promotion, Performance.
• Community Purpose: The reason a community exists, driven by the needs of its members.
• Community Personas: Representations of different types of community members based on their needs and motivations.
• Community Policy: A set of rules that ensures a safe, inclusive, and useful environment for members.
• Community Performance Measurement: Tracking key metrics to assess the effectiveness and value of the community.

1. Purpose:

• Main Point: Clearly define the community's goal.
• Details: A well-defined purpose guides all other decisions for the community, helps identify necessary resources, and clarifies what success looks like.
• Key Question: "Why does your community need to exist?" The answer is the community's purpose.
• Important Note: The purpose should be based on the community's needs, not the organizer's needs.
• Example: The Google Developer Groups community's purpose is to help developers interested in Google technology succeed through community.

2. People:

• Main Point: Identify and involve inspired organizers and understand the community members.
• Details: Organizers should be passionate about helping others learn and being part of a community.
• Community Personas: Identify different types of members by talking to them individually (30-minute conversations).
• Actionable Insight: If a single persona is found, deliver a single experience. If multiple personas exist with differing needs, deliver various experiences.

3. Place:

• Main Point: Choose a compelling space for community gatherings.
• Options:
  • In-person: Reserve a conveniently located physical location.
  • Online: Utilize various virtual platforms.
• Decision Factor: The community's preference (in-person vs. online).

4. Participation:

• Main Point: Encourage active participation from community members.
• Benefits of Participation: Increased likelihood of greater contributions later on.
• Organizer's Role: Show the value of participation, guide members on how to participate, and ensure a safe space for sharing ideas.
• Community Journey: Take members on a journey to increase engagement.

5. Policy:

• Main Point: Enforce a clear set of rules to ensure a safe and inclusive environment.
• Policy Goals: Make the community inclusive, safe, and useful.
• Implementation:
  • Create a brief and easy-to-find policy.
  • Require members to opt into the policy to ensure they take it seriously.
• Example: Google community groups follow the Google community guidelines.
• Organizer's Responsibility: Shape the community's culture through a well-defined policy.

6. Promotion:

• Main Point: Grow the community through strategic marketing efforts.
• Growth Strategy: Focus on slow and steady growth.
• Marketing Channels:
  • Social media
  • Blogs
  • Press and influencers
• Content: Publish relevant and engaging content.
• Branding: Utilize provided design templates.
• Example: Google Developer Groups promote their community through various tools like social media posts and blogs, catering to developers in over 140 countries.

7. Performance:

• Main Point: Measure the community's success to identify areas for improvement and justify investment.
• Measurement Approach:
  • Start simple by focusing on a specific question.
  • Identify the data needed to answer the question.
• Key Measurement Areas:
  • Content: Are events effective?
  • Participation: Are members engaged and having a positive experience?
  • Objective: Is the community achieving its goals?

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The seven Ps of community (Purpose, People, Place, Participation, Policy, Promotion, and Performance) provide a comprehensive framework for building and supporting a successful Google Developer community. By clearly defining the community's purpose, understanding its members, creating a welcoming environment, encouraging participation, enforcing clear policies, promoting the community effectively, and measuring its performance, organizers can create a thriving and valuable community for developers. The framework emphasizes the importance of understanding the community's needs and tailoring the community's activities and resources to meet those needs.