wise and thoughtful advice from A List Apart..( especially for those of us who admin such sites aka ‘forums’)
Coaching a Community: “A key to running successful ‘social networking sites’ is …
to remember that they’re just communities. All communities, online or off, have one thing in common: members want to belong—to feel like part of something larger than themselves. Communicating effectively, setting clear and specific expectations, mentoring contributors, playing with trends, offering rewards, and praising liberally (but not excessively) can harness your members’ innate desires—and nurture great content in the process.