I see comments from frustrated list owners all of
time. They get frustrated because they have started discussion lists where no discussions take place... sure, they have subscribers, but discussions are scarce. Out of frustration, these list owners invariably throw their hands up and walk away from their lists.If you are one of these discussion list owners, then this article is for you.
I have been managing discussion lists on net for nearly two years.
Truth is, average list has 28 MEMBERS. And, chances are 24 of lists' members are LURKERS. Lurkers are those who are members, but never post a single question or comment to list. Every list has them. Yet, most list owners are frustrated by lurkers. They would like to see discussions on their lists, so that they may be educated same as lurker.
I have one list that is a discussion type technical support list. I have 140 members on that list and 120 of them are only lurkers. This list is set up for lurkers who have computer problems to ask their questions, and professionals answer questions. Many of lurkers find this an interesting and educational forum in which they only participate when they have questions.
This list will go often times for up to 8 weeks without a single question being posted, and then pow, ten questions in two days.
If you are interested in exploring this list, then please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WindStorm to get details.
Most discussion lists top out in membership around 150 members. There are of course exceptions to this rule, but more often than not, a discussion list will hold between 20 and 150 members.
Lurkers are actually really good for a list. They lurk behind scenes learning from those of us who are BABBLERS.
