Moderating the user-generated content submitted to your website is part of your duty as the business owner, so why should visitors and submitters take part in the moderation practices? Open Access BPO explains the benefits of having a participative online community.
There are several ways to involve the members of your online community in your content moderation process, but are you well aware of why you should encourage them to abide by the posting rules and be vigilant in reporting questionable content? You may know the obvious benefits in keeping both the website and brand’s image untarnished, but other than these, the involvement of site members can help your business in the following ways:

•   Brings more opportunities to engage with your market

To encourage the public to participate in moderating content, you should entice them with rewards and educate them about what posts are acceptable and which ones could subject them to penalties. These interactions are opportunities for you to engage with users, which also pave way for you to let others know that your community is an active one. Since site activity is one determinant for onsite promotions, you can attract not just new members but also more advertisers.

•   Collect valuable feedback

Community exchanges are two-way interactions, and this means that your moderators are not the only ones who are getting their voice heard. Relaying the rules enables submitters to ask questions and make comments, which are useful when considering product development and design, and in shaping the brand’s overall identity.

•   Improve customer experience

What follows after pulsing your market? You can now have a clearer idea about what works for your members. This allows you to align the site functionalities and interface with the needs and preferences of the users.

Do they find one submission guideline too strict? You might consider tweaking it a bit. Did they see a flaw in the moderation process, or can they suggest a rule that’s fairer for all? You can review the weak areas they pointed out and discuss if these should be modified. Addressing the community concerns you gathered through interaction and feedback collection will help you improve your online community, which would then enhance user experience and increase customer satisfaction.

Indeed, community involvement is more than just a way for businesses to keep their website free from unwanted content. What other advantages did you reap from getting your members to participate in your moderating practices?