Getting into the ‘Metcalf Eric’ Thing
So, I found myself working on this little side project a while back. It was supposed to be a community thing, sharing resources, that sort of stuff. But man, it was dead in the water. Just a few people showing up, barely talking. Felt like shouting into the void, you know?
I was scratching my head, really wondering how to get things moving. Then I remembered a chat I had ages ago with this guy, Eric. We were talking about how some things just take off when enough people get involved, but not just more people, but people connecting with each other. He had this way of explaining it… let’s just call it the ‘Metcalf Eric’ idea he was rambling about. It stuck with me.
So, I thought, what the heck, let’s try applying that thinking. Instead of just pushing stuff out myself, I shifted focus. Here’s what I did:
- First step: I stopped trying to be the main attraction. Put my effort into making it easier for the few members we did have to actually connect.
- Next up: I built a really basic message board. Super simple, nothing fancy. Just a place for them to start threads and reply.
- Then: Added a feature where they could easily invite someone else they knew directly into our little space. Made it personal, not just a generic link.
- Also important: Whenever someone helped someone else, or a good discussion popped up, I made sure to highlight it. Showed that interacting was the point.
How it Played Out
Honestly, it was slow going at first. Took a bit for people to warm up to the idea. They were used to just consuming, not participating much. But then, something clicked. A few folks started using the board regularly. Then they invited a friend or two. Suddenly, there were actual conversations happening that I wasn’t even part of!
The real kicker? The value just exploded. It wasn’t just me putting stuff out there anymore. People were sharing their own things, asking questions, getting answers from each other. The whole thing felt alive, finally. It grew faster in those few months than it had in the previous year.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, mind you. Keeping the conversations on track took a bit more effort. And the initial tools I built were pretty rough. But the core idea, focusing on those connections, that ‘Metcalf Eric’ angle my old contact was on about? It absolutely worked for this project.
Looking back, it seems obvious. More connections mean way more value than just more bodies. Simple, but easy to forget when you’re just trying to boost numbers. Definitely something I keep in mind now when building anything community-focused.
