Leveraging your existing websites with “teaser” content from newly launched social communities is a powerful way to attract new members. In this post, we’ll explore how some of our customers are successfully using ThePort Network’s “sneak peek” to attract new members to their communities.

The idea with Sneak Peak technology is that casual visitors get a glimpse of social media activity taking place in a community which they have yet to join. One click on an enticing blog headline, intriguing photo, or member profile photo and the visitor will have landed in your linked community with a call to action. In most cases, registering for the community is one or two clicks away.

The sneak peek modules could be recent video upload, blog entry, event posting, latest members or even a wedding announcement. For example, the Lee Enterprises media group in Iowa launched Quadsville, a companion social community to its Quad City Times online newspaper. On the front page of the Times, they feature two stacked sneak peek modules...a “Latest Video” module topped by a “Latest Blog” module. Both are linked back to the Quadsville community, where they exist simultaneously.

Along with “Latest” Blog entry, Video, Event, Member or Tag, the more innovative social networking software providers offer sneak peek modules that sort through content with a ratings system. The result is “Most Popular” Blog entry, Video, Event, Member or Tag.

Non-profit organizations are also making smart use of sneak peak modules on their traditional corporate sites. Worldwide humanitarian aid sponsor CARE places remote links in high-traffic areas of Care.org to pull visitors into CARE’s social networking community, CARE Connections. Active blog modules pull curious corporate site browsers directly into the socially-active side of the organization with one click on a headline. Along with shared blogs, CARE.org features links to Events, Groups and even RSS news feeds on CARE Connections.

Speaking of RSS feeds, leading SaaS vendors offer a sneak peek module based on a library of live, aggregated RSS news or blogs. These feed “rolls” have added appeal because they provide a continuous stream of topical content. In addition, a feed roll requires very little upkeep—frequent, labor-intensive content updates are not necessary.

In Wisconsin, The Journal Times promotes a feed roll module top right on their local news front page. All of the content within the module directs visitors to a one-click view of the newspaper’s social media community, My Journal Times. The cleverly conceived module has tabs that let viewers choose between content...latest blogs, most popular blogs and/or “social groupings” by Neighborhood. Once a reader clicks, they enter a socially-energized community where they can immediately begin taking action.

One major reason why these social networking additions are flourishing is because of the “sneak peek” content strategically positioned on the original, well-established website. Whether the enterprise is for-profit media, industry association or non-profit philanthropy, traffic to recently launched online communities is boosted by adopting a sneak peek remote module solution.

Please comment if you have thoughts about sneak peek remote modules or other game-changing social media tools.