April 12, 2011

Online Communities

Image from: Flickr
Of the online communities that I've viewed, I am most drawn to Flickr.  A large part of this is probably due to my being a naturally visual person.  But the simplicity of Flickr in terms of ease of use and navigation also immediately adds to my appreciation for it.  Everything is pretty much laid out in a format that is clear and intuitive for users.  As far as some of the "groups" within Flickr, there are numerous varieties to choose from that keep things interesting.  The "group pool" is the main contribution area, and the area for discussions is an added feature that allows users to interact with one another.  Although by taking a quick look at the "group pool" area, one will immediately get a sense for what the group is about, the front page of each group clearly states what the group is about, and the rules that apply to the group which is particularly helpful for newcomers.  Of the various online communities that I've viewed, the visual nature and ease of use really made Flickr stand out for me.  

1 comment:

  1. I've always been impressed with Flickr's community. They have a huge dedicated base of users that have made it a success, even after being acquired by Yahoo. I think the site's openness like providing an API for users to access content beyond the webpage is one reason for their success. Anyway, thanks for your post :)
    Alphie Garcia

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