We mention the Online Community Research Network on the Online Community Report blog quite often, but I haven’t given a comprehensive update on what we are up to in several months. Please allow me to rectify that. 
As some of you know, the Online Community Research Network (OCRN) is a professional network of some of the smartest online community and social media practitioners. Forum One’s goal with the Network is to connect online community and social media pros to suss out best practices, solve problems and create a constant flow of new and inspiring ideas.
Who’s In?
We have over 100 online community professionals from a healthy range of industries and organizations. A sample of participating organizations includes: Adobe, Autodesk, American Express, Business Week, Consumer Reports, CNN, Edmunds.com, Global Giving, Google, IBM, Intuit, Microsoft, Razoo, and Yahoo! Membership skews towards Senior Managers, Directors and VP-level staff.
Research Projects / Current Practice Reports
The main activity of the OCRN is to develop and participate in an ongoing research agenda about online community and social media practice. What that means, specifically, is that members:
- Drive the Research Agenda – OCRN members vote quarterly on which research subjects to study.
- Help Design Research Studies - OCRN members help design the research studies by reviewing and giving input on survey instruments. We are usually able to accommodate specific questions from members into the survey.
- Participate in Research Studies - OCRN members also participate in the studies by completing the survey instrument, along with a select group from our extended network of 8,000+ community professionals. Members are also occasionally interviewed in-depth to supplement information gleaned from the survey process.
For a sampling of the Network’s output, check out our 6 most recent research reports. Follow the links to download an executive summary from each report:
- Online Communities: Platform and Services Satisfaction Report
- Online Communities: Surviving and Thriving in the Downturn Economy
- Online Community Culture: Establishing, Maintaining and Changing
- Online Community Compensation 2008
- Online Community ROI Models and Reports
- Online Community: Identity, Reputation and Ranking
Member Network & Collaboration
OCRN members have access to ongoing collaboration opportunities through our monthly roundtable calls, quarterly, member-only webinars where recent research findings are presented and discussed, and a member’s only “Request Advice” section (think LinkedIn Answers, but very focused).
Content
Members get access to a wealth of content, including an archive of all OCRN research reports, and a library of community and social media best practice content. We also send a monthly OCRN Update newsletter with key news from the Network, as well as social media industry highlights.
Why We (and our Members) Think This is Important
In the challenging economy, online community and social media pros are tasked with developing new tactics and strategies to show growth and value to their organizations, all while working with tighter budgets and fewer resources. The OCRN offers our members an opportunity to interact with other folks that are facing the same challenges in order to share ideas, collaborate and find solutions.
A Summary of the Benefits of the OCRN:
- Monthly Roundtable calls - There are three to four 15 minute time slots for members to discuss projects, challenges or opportunities with their peers
- Quarterly webinars on current OCRN research
- Immediate access to all research reports on timely online community and social media topics (Currently 6 per year valued at $295 and up, each)
- Invitation to submit research topic ideas – Our members choose the topics
- Review and input on all survey instruments
- Access to the Online Community Resources Archive
- Members-only professional network
If you are charged with the online community strategy for your organization, please consider joining us. One-year memberships are now available at $495/seat and multi-seat pricing of $395/seat is available for 3 or more memberships purchased from one company. Please contact Heather Virga for special discounted pricing for more than 5 seats.
Go here to sign-up: http://ocrnmembership-ocrb.eventbrite.com
