Getting started with setting up Groups
Before creating your group, we suggest you read through the following tips to help you think through the things to be considered and how the platform features can help you to create and run a successful group.
To start a group, click on the '+' button in the header menu. When you create a group, you automatically become the group manager. A group manager can add or remove members, change the role of members into group manager or normal group member and email members.
Start by posting a proposal for your group as a discussion
First, we recommend you post a new discussion in the General Discussion Group asking the members of the community if there are others that are interested in starting a group of the same kind. (example: starting a soccer group). If there is already one or more groups of a similar nature, explain why yours is helpfully different (e.g different location, different focus area, etc).
This will give you an indication of whether there is enough interest in the idea or not! After all, groups have a much higher chance of success if you have multiple people involved. Get a sense of how much demand from other community members there is for the group.
Find people to help you run the group
Find a number of other community members keen to help you organise the group. By starting a group with friends/others, it gives you a solid starting base: from that starting group, find at least one other person to help you run it. This will give you strength in managing the group: online as a group moderator, but offline too.
Set up the basics
Pick a clear and compelling name: It needs to be appropriate (e.g. no profanity or sexism etc: Check our Terms & Conditions.
To make sure your group features well in listings, you should include a nice, interesting group image (see our guide on tips for community images). This appears in the group header behind the group name, both on the group page itself and in searches for groups.
You also need to give a description. The description should include a simple introduction and basic information about your group. You can also embed some images or videos in the description.
Think about the key words, content tags and other information that will help potential members to find your group (see Tips for setting your location and social tags) Got all that? These are the basic elements you need to create your group.
Types of groups
There are three different types of groups you can create.
- Public: groups and their content are visible to everyone, including those that aren't logged in. However, people can only post or comment on group content or enroll in group events after logging in and joining the group.
- Open: community members (those that are logged in) can join without permission from the group manager. All posts, events and topics in the group are visible to other platform users. However, only group members can contribute to the group.
- Closed: community members can only join by invitation from one of the group managers. Group content is not visible to non-group members (except for the about page, group manager and member names).
Your first post - make it a welcome & open for business post
Create a news/ blog post to announce the group. Build excitement and interest. What calls-to-action do you have? What do you need potential group members to do? Share that on other social media channels that you think potential group members might frequent. (check out the writing tips here!)
Create a welcome discussion within the group
Create an "Introduce Yourself" discussion, and invite group members to introduce themselves to each other. Ask them to say what they most likely about the group topic and something interesting about themselves.
Handling FAQ’s
Create a question or FAQ discussion within the group
What questions do you have of your group? What questions do the group members have of you / other group members? What do you need from the group and vice versa?
Create an FAQ post
Do you have answers to questions you get frequently asked about your group or its focus area? Make a FAQ (frequently asked questions) post. This can help reduce the need to answer the questions many times.
Plan your first event
What would it be focused on: an ice-breaker activity? A planning session? Where will you hold it? What day/ time of week?
Using these features will help you create and grow your group
Once it comes time to set up your group, make a note to come back and follow these instructions.
Check out the groups in the online community for some inspiration.