How To Set Up And Configure Communities

Table of Contents:

Step 1: Your Team/Account Users Inside Community Groups

Step 2: Set Up Your Communities Domain

Step 3: Setting Up And Customizing Groups

Step 1: Your Team/Account Users Inside Community Groups

Understanding how user roles are established is the first step. Please note, the account admin/user whom creates a group in your Community is automatically established as the group owner. If you want to change the group owner, the current owner would need to transfer owner ship to you, by following the steps here: How to Change the Owner of a Community Group

Creation Of Community Group

All user levels in your account (users and admins) have the ability to create a community group.

Ownership

Upon creating a group, the user becomes the owner of that particular group. It's crucial to note that once ownership is established, it cannot be transferred to another individual.

Admin Privileges

Account admins are automatically granted admin rights within the community when they access it via the platform. These privileges enable them to oversee and manage various aspects of the community group.

Moderator Role

In contrast, account users (that are not admins) are assigned the role of group moderators when they log in from the builder platform. This role permits them to handle day-to-day moderation tasks within the group.

Effective Management

This hierarchy and distinction of roles ensure that the community group is effectively managed and moderated. Admins have broader control, while moderators focus on maintaining a positive community environment.

User Participation

Through these role assignments, account admins, and users can all actively engage in and oversee the community groups within the platform, each according to their specific permissions and responsibilities.

Step 2: Set Up Your Communities Domain

Please Note: If you have already configured a domain for your Client Portal, you will not need to do so again for your Communities portal as Communities uses the same domain as the Client Portal.

If you do not yet have a domain set up, head to Memberships > Communities > Settings. This will navigate you to the Client Portal Domain Settings page, as both Communities and Client Portal use the same domain.

At this point, you can either use the pre-configured subdomain (under "clientclub.net"), or add a custom domain (recommended).

If you want to use the pre-configured domain, you will still need to scroll down and hit "Update Domain" to get this to work.

To set up a custom domain, follow the steps in the video in this article here: Client Portal | How to Connect Your Custom Domain / Subdomain

Step 3: Setting Up And Customizing Groups

After setting up your domain, you will have the ability to create groups within a community.

In communities, groups refer to specific spaces where members can connect.

You can create multiple groups, allowing for more focused discussions and collaboration within specific areas of interest.

Here is an overview of the details you can customize about your group:

Group Name: This field is where you provide a unique name for your group, which will serve as the main identifier for your community. This should be related to the group's purpose or topic. For example, if you're creating a group about digital marketing, you might name it "Digital Marketing Enthusiasts."

Group URL (Group Slug): This is the unique web address where your group will be located. Each Community Group is initially assigned a default URL, but you can personalize it according to your preferences. It should be easy to remember and share. Typically, it might be a simplified or abbreviated version of your group name, such as "digital-marketing," if your group name is "Digital Marketing Enthusiasts."

Please Note: You can only modify the group URL once, so it's crucial to double-check your desired URL before saving the changes.

Group Description: This section should briefly outline what your group is about, the kind of discussions that will take place, and what members can expect from being a part of the group. For instance, you might describe the Digital Marketing Enthusiasts group as "A community for digital marketing professionals and enthusiasts to share strategies, tools, and trends in the industry."

Please Note: The group description is required.

Brand Color: Choose a color that represents your group or your brand. This color will be used in your group's design to provide a consistent look and feel.

Favicon: This small icon will appear in the browser tab when someone is viewing your group. Ideally, It should be a small version of your logo or a symbol representing your group.

Cover Image: The main image will appear at the top of your group's page. It should be visually appealing and relevant to your group's topic. The recommended aspect ratio is 16:9, and the image should be clear at a resolution of 200x200 pixels.

Logo: This is the main logo for your group, which will appear in various places, such as the group switcher. It should ideally be square, with a 1:1 aspect ratio, and clear at a resolution of 200x200 pixels.

Group Type: You can select whether you want a group to be public or private. You can also select if you want your group to be visible to non group members in the switcher.

Public group content can be viewed without logging in to the group. Login is still required to interact/engage with the group.
Private group content can only be viewed by members of the group once they have logged in.

Promotional Links: You can add promotional links to your group that members can see and engage with. For each link you can enter a description and URL.

Check out the video below for a walkthrough of how to create your first group and customize the group's settings and branding:

Step 4: Adding Members To The Group

To enable members to join your group, you can provide them with a unique URL specific to the group within your community. This URL will direct them to a customized page where they can sign up and create a profile shared across all the groups within the community.

Invite Potential Members: You can send personalized invitations via email, SMS, or other communication platforms, providing potential members with the group's unique URL.
Joining the Group: Members can click on the provided URL, leading them to a dedicated page where they can join the group.

Here are support support articles going over the diffrent ways to add people to your community group: