Can you believe it’s November already? I thought it would be fun to share some inspiration and ideas for ending 2013 on a high note in your online community.

• Does your community celebrate Thanksgiving? Consider setting up a contest, a game, or a great thread to share recipes and traditions. You can do the same thing with other end of the year holidays, like Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.
• Think about rounding up great content from the first 3/4 of the year and highlighting posts that had special meaning for the community. You don’t have to wait until December 31 to recognize great contributions.
• How about choosing a charity to support? Lots of communities bond over a shared giving goal.
• Is your community approaching any anniversary dates? Be sure to recognize milestones for both your members and your site in general.
• Now is the time to start planning ahead for 2014. Do you have a roadmap for your community in the long term? Don’t wait until the end of December to get that action plan together.
• Do some research and see what your past statistics say about the holiday time in your community. Is it a quiet period, when you need to take extra steps to keep your members participating? Or is it a super active period, when you might need extra moderation support to keep up with new posts? Now is the time to get ready for any changes the end of the year brings for you.
• Make your members feel special.

How are you preparing for the end of 2013? Did you accomplish your goals this year? Bragging is totally allowed here.

Image via Flickr CC: Steve A Johnson