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The 21st century is one of too much information.  We are living in an era of information overload.  On the other hand finding information on something you care about can be enriching.  A good example of this is tracing a family tree.  Recently my wife, Sue, did this and it is moving to find out about the life struggle in generations past.  Most of the vital information came from the community, from individuals sharing information they had found.  Pieces were linked together in months that previously would have taken years. 

In business the same principal can apply.  Online communities can provide a useful space where relevant information is shared for the benefit of all.  Reuters have one for the Carbon Community and there is no doubt we will see more.

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Online community for a fiver

I know I’ve been away a while, but I’ve not been idly sitting in the garden (with our UK rain?).  No, I’ve been lost for a month in the world of online communities.  Busy on Ning, Blogtronix, Terapad and of course Facebook.

A while back Gary, the Pastor, at Montpelier Church bumped into me at the twins Parents and Toddlers group.  Gary is a lovely chap and if anyone can get me back to church it is him.  He’s young, down to earth and is not afraid to be innovative.  The conversation led to the church’s website.  What should we do Gary asked?

Montpelier is a small church and unlike large companies really can’t afford a big outlay on a website.  On the other hand as well as needing a traditional website the church very much has a community that could be brought together online.  Question was how to give Montpelier a new website plus Web 2.0 blogs, forums and events?  And how to do it all at very low cost?

The answer was actually very simple we used Terapad and it cost £5 (for half a dozen graphics from iphotostock).

You can take a sneak preview of the finished article before its official launch on Sunday.

There will be more later on our technology on a shoestring approach.

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