AI auto reply bots are killing the internet

Welcome to the Community Coach newsletter, a value packed read
for community builders who know community isn’t built for short term goals.

In this newsletter…

📚 Community 101: How to find your first members for a new community

🤖 Topical: helping you automate community newsletters

🥹 Uh oh: AI auto reply bots are killing the internet: you need to pay attention to this!

👋 Answering your questions: “How do you overcome negative feelings/ bad days as a community manager?”

Community 101: Finding your first members

This is one of the common questions I am asked when I advise new clients to build their own communities: how do we get our first bunch of members to join?

My first piece of advice is to lean into any advantages you have.

I was once asked this question by a prospective client who already had tens of thousands of followers in several social media accounts - and 100% relevant to the community they were trying to build.

This would be an obvious place to start - reach out to people you already know or who already follows you.

If you already have a current customer base, reach out to a % of them to kickstart things off.

There are many other strategies to find your first members - including:

• Create valuable content and distribute this out across the channels that your target members are in

• Partner with other relevant voices, associations, networks/communities which will help you gain credibility and attract their followers to your community - many communities have found their first members from posting in Reddit for example

• Use SEO and optimize content for search engines to attract organic traffic

• Host events and market this everywhere relevant (similar to creating valuable content - you’re just changing the medium).

Topical

If one of the ways you’re adding value to your community members is by keeping them updated on topical industry news - check out this new AI tool out that helps you complete the task a lot more efficiently.

The best part is you can use their chrome extension to easily save articles/ blog posts to add to your newsletter, and then add your commentary on top of it.

The downside is Topical doesn’t send out your email newsletters for you. Instead it focuses on designing and building your HTML email newsletters. Once your newsletter is ready, you have to export it to your existing email service provider (such as Mailchimp or Brevo (formerly SendInBlue) - and then send it out.

I would prefer it to be more seamless then this personally, but if you’re looking for a solution like this you can always try it out 30 days for free, and then prices start from $12/mth.

Auto AI reply bots are killing the internet

I’m still fascinated/ perturbed/ terrified by how the usage of auto reply bots will play out for online communities and social media platforms in general.

I decided to do some more research on the pros and cons of these bots and how we should consider proceeding given the current situation.

Pros of these auto reply bots:

1. Efficiency: Bots can handle repetitive tasks quickly, reducing the burden on human moderators or community managers.

2. Scalability: They help manage large volumes of interactions without the need for proportional increases in human resources.

3. Availability: Bots provide 24/7 assistance and can engage with users at any time, improving responsiveness.

4. Consistency: They offer consistent replies to common queries, ensuring standardized communication across the board.

5. Data Handling: Bots can process and analyze large datasets quickly, aiding in better community management through insights.

Cons:

1. Lack of Empathy: Bots cannot truly understand human emotions and may fail to handle sensitive situations appropriately.

2. Risk of Misinformation: If not properly monitored, bots could disseminate incorrect or misleading information.

3. Spam Risks: Bots can be misused to spread spam or malicious content, potentially harming the platform's credibility and user experience.

4. Dependence on Algorithms: Bots are only as good as the algorithms and data they rely on, which can lead to biases or errors in interaction if not carefully managed.

5. Reduced Human Interaction: Overreliance on bots can diminish the personal touch and sense of community, alienating people and causing them to walk away from these platforms altogether.

6. Privacy Concerns: Bots that collect and analyze user data might raise privacy issues.

So how should we proceed with auto reply bots?

• Transparency: Be clear with users about when they are interacting with a bot and what data the bot collects. Just like Youtube does this with AI generated content - we need full disclosure when auto reply bots are being used at all times. This may seem counter intuitive (given we are trying to “scale up” human conversations, but I believe humans could become equally comfortable having conversations with bots if they had full transparency around it. AI generated girlfriends/boyfriends/partners/friends are becoming more popular after all…

• Human Oversight: Ensure that there is always a way for users to reach a human for help - whether to complain about the misuse of a bot or to handle complex or sensitive issues.

• Regular Updates and Testing: Continuously test and update the bots to handle new types of queries and to learn from past interactions to improve accuracy and relevance.

• Ethical Data Use: Adhere to strict data protection guidelines to ensure that all user information collected through bots is secured and used ethically.

• User Feedback: We need to know what people think about their interactions with bots. Currently it feels like the wild west with many AI companies springing up without accountability. If bots overstep their mark, users should be able to provide real time feedback to the companies

What do you think? Are you using bots in your community? Reply to this email and let me know!

Answering your questions

“How do I overcome negative feelings/ bad days as a community manager?” 

Here are three techniques I have used in the past to help overcome those “tough days” that are inevitable when managing a community.

1. Create a “Good Vibes”/ Positivity Folder: Keep a folder filled with a document that reminds you of the purpose of your community, along with any positive feedback from members. I usually fill this up with screenshots of DMs, positive comments in webinars and anecdotal stories on how the community has made an impact. This isn't just a personal pick-me-up; use it in one slide at the end of the year to demonstrate the community's impact in presentations, showcasing your value beyond just the metrics.

2. Step Away to Reset: When a quick folder browse doesn't cut it, take a break. Whether it's a walk, a gym session, or choosing to read a book, changing your environment can help freshen up your perspective. Often, the best insights come when you're not actively seeking them—the number of times I have figured problems out during a walk or even while reading something unrelated is astonishing to me!

3. Set Clear Boundaries & Processes to Support: Be transparent with your community about your availability. This helps manage expectations and preserves your mental well-being. This is really important especially if it’s just you managing a global community - it’s so difficult to cater to all timezones if you’re just one person! It's okay to remind your community that you are human too. I also highly recommend providing your community with as much “offline” support as possible: make sure your FAQ’s and user guides are solid, provide them with ways they can self help if required and consider having ambassadors in different time zones to support you.

Got a question for me? DM me on Twitter and ask away. Your question may be answered in a future newsletter (and I’ll reply to everyone who asks).

Until next time,

Carmen
Community Coach

Connect with me on Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn.

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