So I was reading someone else’s article on social networking and they said “The internet is made out of people.” I couldn’t read that without hearing good ole Chuck Heston’s voice.

Oh you silly social networkers. Never say something is made out of people. That’s just gross. Don’t use synonyms either. The internet isn’t made out of people, nor does it consist of people.

Not only are those statements flagrantly wrong, but they make it sound like our world is based on some sort of 1970′s B Movie dystopia, and I just can’t get behind that.

I know what they were trying to say. They’re trying to say that the most important websites, and parts of websites, on  the internet now consist of communities. It’s been ‘the thing’ for a few years now. Community building. The internet isn’t made of people though, nor communities. The internet is a fickle thing and will change again soon enough.

But the point is sound. if you’re not developing your communities for your services, products, organizations, whatever… you’re doing yourself a disservice.

For nearly every business with recurring customers a “sticky” website with a community is a huge thing. People need to understand that a website isn’t just brochureware anymore. It’s gotta go “next level”.

For instance say you need a website for your local Chamber of Commerce. Twenty years ago it might not have had a website at all. Fifteen it may have had some basic thing. A page or two. Ten years ago it would have been a fancy looking multi page brochure you go to for information. Today it needs to be a hub for your members. It needs to have forums, and blogs written by members. You need to be able to sell tickets to events online, and have profiles of businesses that are easily searchable. You need to make it so that the members of that chamber actually USE the site and particpate in YOUR community. The last thing you want to do if you’re looking for a new website is to make one that looks like it’s 10 years old and does absolutely nothing for you.

Our oClubhouse product makes websites for associations and chambers with this in mind. It lets you build your little brochure site, but we focus on improving the organization through effectively leveraging your own website. Having features your members will use, and ones that you can get a return on your investment for.

Your new association website. It’s made of people.

Ew.