Web Community Management in the Digital Era: Review

Abstract

Online social communities have become integral components of the digital landscape, experiencing rapid growth in recent years. However, community managers face numerous challenges in sustaining engagement and growth amidst this expansion. This paper explores the multifaceted nature of effective community management, focusing on user engagement, content relevance, and community growth. Despite previous literature reviews categorizing approaches to community management, there remains a gap in understanding the nuanced influence of users' social contexts on their participation behavior. This review paper aims to bridge this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of essential concepts related to online communities and highlighting various management approaches cited in the literature. The methodology employed in this study, along with fundamental concepts, approaches to community management, and evaluation of these approaches, are presented. The discussion delves into challenges and future directions, providing insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to manage web communities.