BigTent Blog | Product updates and news for groups » social networking

BigTent is Real Simple

BigTent — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:20:15 +0000

Our whole staff was delighted this morning when a Google Alert popped up, telling us we were just published in the REAL SIMPLE blog, “simply stated.”

Special thanks go to Erin and Kristin, creators and hosts of Manic Mommies, a weekly podcast and national support group for busy moms. Since launching on Big Tent in December 2007, the group has signed up over 1100 members. Using our membership approval feature, Erin and Kristin have been able to build a candid community based on trust.

BigTent starring in REAL SIMPLE

All Aboard! BigTent rides Cluetrain

BigTent — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:59:54 +0000

We just can’t seem to leave you alone! We love it when our group admin list teems with suggestions of new ideas. We’re giddy when a new user takes our survey on ways to improve our current technology. We devote many of our communications to spotlighting our groups’ efforts to stay innovative and organized.

You may be wondering, what’s our thinking around always stirring up the conversation with members? Recently, Laney and I participated in a conference honoring the 10-year anniversary of the Cluetrain Manifesto. Back in ’98, some visionary techies declared that marketing was going to completely change, and companies had better get with the program. They predicted the extinction of “one way marketing,” where companies have control over what is said about their products and services. Instead, they spoke of marketing becoming a two-way conversation, where customers would spread their product reviews in wide-open public forums on the Internet. According to the manifesto, companies who participated in these conversations with authentic and honest responses would thrive, while those who tried to control all the messages would, well, die a slow and painful death.

Now here we are in 2008, where the incredible channels of blogging and social networking give power to the people, who in turn keep companies honest. There is no room for “spin.” We at Big Tent couldn’t agree more! Our team is here because we’re passionate about a partnership with our groups and their members. We love your ideas. And if you haven’t been part of the dialogue yet, please feel free to send us a line at hello@bigtent.com — or better yet, post it in your blog.

-Donna Novitsky, BigTent CEO

Intel Alumni Network launches on BigTent

BigTent — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:59:17 +0000

There’s no doubt that the Silicon Valley is enamored with launching. Any excuse for a launch will work, whether you’re a hopeful new company, or a booming one that just published a “for Dummies” instruction manual to guide your 60 millionth new user, like Facebook.

Here at BigTent we launch great groups. Last Thursday, the Intel Alumni Network (IAN) held its inaugural social event: Intel Alumni – A Night at the Computer History Museum. Over 100 alums spanning four decades showed up to celebrate, lighting up the room with laughter and eagerness to reminisce. Keynote speeches from Dave House, of microprocessor memory and semiconductor fame, and Bruce Schechter, a member of the IAN launch team, capped the evening of reunited friends, free-flowing wine, and hors d’oeuvres.

IAN went live on BigTent in February, and signed up an incredible 500 members in that short month alone. Currently boasting 665 members, and with the epic launch event behind them, the group is now working to plan future growth and bonding activities for their members. We wish them the best of luck!

Raising the Tent

BigTent — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:14:26 +0000

We’re excited to start our company blog today! As a quick introduction, I am Laney Whitcanack, a founder of Big Tent and likely frequent contributor to this blog. We started BigTent to make it really easy for trusted groups—the people and the communities you care about and interact with on a daily basis—to connect online. Our platform provides these groups with a safe and secure place to continue the conversations that start in monthly meetings, on the playground, or in the front yard. We’re excited to have you join us here on our new blog, in a new conversation about what it means to have trusted communities communicate and connect online.

We hope that this blog can be a place for considering what it means to build, sustain and grow trusted groups online and off. In the future, Big Tent community members of all stripes, from group members, to product developers, even to Big Tent advertisers, will have a turn at the mike. Of course we’ll have the obligatory announcements and discussions of cool new features, but we also want this blog to be a place where we share experiences and reflections on community building in these exciting technological times.

We’re glad you’re here.

And that’s what’s new under the Tent today.

–Laney