10 ways to activate your online community.

10 ways to engage, support and activate your community

Our platforms helps communities worldwide by people's combined skills, assets, ideas and passions. We've noticed different levels of involvement and activity within these community groups.

The diagram below illustrates how members typically engage on our platforms. Most members are browsing and looking for information (e.g. finding support). A smaller percentage are engaged in the sharing and exchanging of skills, time and ideas.

So what can platform owners do to nurture active participation?

At Made Open, we help our customers develop 'active' communities. There is no one size fits all approach to increasing levels of participation. The purpose, needs and characteristics of each community is different.

Our modular software caters for these differences. However, it's crucial to establish a process and engagement plan for continuous community management. This plan should adapt to evolving community needs while staying aligned with the platform's purpose and goals.

Here are 10 points for consideration when developing your community engagement plan.

1. Be clear about your purpose
   

   Define your platform's main purpose clearly. Customise your community platform to fit your community's specific needs and traits. Recognise the gaps in online services and determine how your platform can address them. For instance, if there's already a popular online volunteering platform in your region, consider emphasising member engagement through timebanking for small acts of kindness instead.
   
   

2. Learn about your network
   

   Check your Google Analytics and platform reports to understand your audience. Find out who visits, when they visit, who's most active, what interests them, where they're from, and what they want to do. Once you have this information, adjust your communications and content to better match member needs and behaviours.
   
   

3. Explain the benefits
   

   Use clear language to explain the benefits to both existing and potential new members. Why should they join and engage in community action? Appeal to their emotions and sense of altruism. Highlight the importance of helping others in the community and how their involvement can make a difference. Keep your message brief and straightforward, making the choices obvious.
   
   

4. Be human
   

   Welcome new members warmly and help them connect with others in the community. Ask about their interests and what they'd like to do. Offer assistance in getting started with the platform. Consider hosting regular webinars to explain how everything works and answer questions. This personal touch adds a human element to the online community, fostering trust and making members feel appreciated.
   
   

5. Focus on the user experience
   

   Ensure interaction is effortless. While it may seem obvious, it's often neglected. Provide simple instructions and clear calls to action so both new and returning members know what they can do and how to engage. Familiarise yourself with your platform's content management system to adjust navigation buttons or wording based on user feedback.
   
   

6. Create low barriers to entry
   

   Make joining and feeling part of the community effortless and attractive for new members. Draw them in with valuable content and prompt them to participate by taking small actions, like tagging their profile to support a campaign. After they sign up, initiate conversations and gradually increase participation levels based on their interests and preferences.
   
   

7. Incentivise your members

   Think about giving members incentives like extra time credits for referring a friend or badges for being actively involved. The Goals feature is also excellent for encouraging participation, offering support for members to achieve their goals.
   
   

8. Develop partnerships
   

   Forge partnerships with trusted community organisations. Invite them to sponsor campaigns on the platform or share positive stories through their networks. Collaborating in this way enhances trust and community awareness. Seek out partners who share your goals. Explore possibilities like sub-licensing the platform to support your community engagement strategy with their help.
   
   

9. Regular communications
   

   Keep members updated with regular (opt-in) email newsletters. Use social media to spread awareness about platform activities. Highlight and share stories of individual and collective achievements within your community.
   
   

10. Ask for feedback
    

    Collect feedback from both members and visitors to the community. Ask if they found what they needed and their thoughts on the platform. Encourage suggestions for improvement. Share the enhancements you've made to show members their input is valued.

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