Ideas multiply when you use an online community

An article at Chief Marketer recently caught my eye. They examine the benefits that online social communities can bring to a company as well as the power of the idea generation a group of involved, participating members can bring.
True communities bring members together, offer them a rich and varied experience and nurture ongoing participation. True communities derive power from their members' continued willingness to share opinions and work together over time.What kind of work are you doing with online communities? Have you used a specific technique to keep the quality of conversation going among your members?