What is the Communities feature?
The Communities feature is a comprehensive tool provided by the CRM platform that enables the creation and management of online communities. It is a hub for discussion, learning, networking, and knowledge-sharing.
Key Components of the Communities Feature:
Group Creation:
Users can create multiple groups based on specific interests, topics, or industries, including the option to soft delete and restore groups for better control. These groups serve as sub-communities where members can engage in focused discussions, share insights, and collaborate on projects.
Domain Setup:
The platform allows users to set up their custom domain or use a pre-configured subdomain, providing a personalized experience for community members.
Community Customization:
Users can customize their communities, including group name, description, URL, branding (colors, logos, cover images), promotional links, and the ability to toggle the visibility of phone numbers and email addresses under the Social Media section. This allows users to create a unique and branded experience for their community members.
Group Management:
The person who creates a group becomes the owner and assumes administrative responsibilities and privileges. This feature offers different roles for group management, including admins, moderators, and members, each with its permissions and responsibilities. Enhanced filtering options enable users to sort by user status and roles, and security measures are in place to protect email visibility.
Membership Management:
Potential members can join a group by creating a community profile and signing up via the group's unique URL. Once they sign up, they can participate in any available community groups. Additional features include easy search for members and direct access to profiles from the View Members page.
Learning and Networking Opportunities:
The communities provide a platform for users to learn from various courses, participate in discussions and events, vote in polls, and connect with like-minded individuals.
Usage Cases:
E-Learning Platforms:
An organization offering various online courses could use the Communities feature to set up different groups for each course or subject. This allows learners to engage in focused discussions, share insights, ask questions, and collaborate on projects about their course. Instructors can share resources, answer questions, and facilitate discussions.
Corporate Communication:
The Communities feature could allow various departments to collaborate in a large corporation. Each department could have its group, enabling focused discussions, announcements, document sharing, and project collaboration. It could also be used for company-wide announcements and discussions.
Product Development:
Tech companies could use Communities to set up groups for beta testers of their new products. These users can share their feedback, report bugs, and suggest improvements, while the company can provide updates, answer questions, and gather valuable user insight for product enhancement.
Customer Support:
Companies can create a community where customers can join groups based on their product or service. Within these groups, customers can ask questions, share tips and tricks, and provide product feedback. On the other hand, companies can offer support, share product updates, and engage with their user base.
Professional Associations:
Associations or clubs could use the Communities feature to engage their members. They could have different groups for various activities or interests, allowing members to join the ones they are interested in. These groups can be used for sharing information, planning events, and having discussions.
Marketing Agencies:
Agencies could set up communities for their clients, with separate groups for different services or campaigns. This allows for efficient coordination and communication about project updates, performance metrics, and other relevant discussions.
Setup and Configure the Communities Feature
Setting up your Communities Domain
Please Note:If you have already configured a domain for your ClientPortal, you will not need to do so again for your Communities portal as Communities uses the same domain as the Client Portal.
To configure your domain for communities, follow these steps:
Step 1. Start by accessing the "Communities" section within the Memberships area in the sidebar.
Step 2. Head to Settings
It will automatically navigate you to Client Portal's Domain Settings, as both features use the same domain.
Please Note: At this point, you have two options available to you
step 3. To configure a custom domain for your client portal, follow these steps:
Using the left sidebar, navigate to the Sites tab then the Client Portal section. Proceed to settings and then "Domain Setup." area.
Input your desired domain name and click on add domain
Click on continue
Before you can successfully set up an A or CNAME record, you must ensure that you have already configured your domain registrar to point to the specific IP address or server provided to you. This is an essential step in ensuring that your domain correctly refers to your server, enabling it to function properly.
A Record, also known as an Address Record, maps your domain to an individual server IP address. On the other hand, a CNAME record, or Canonical Name record, is used to map your domain (or subdomain) to another domain name.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to add A records and CNAME records:
Login to your Domain Registrar's dashboard.
Navigate to the DNS settings.
Here, you will find an option to add a new record.
Select the type of record you want to add (A or CNAME).
Enter the details - for an A record, this would be the IP address 162.159.140.166
; for a CNAME record, this would be the target domain app.clientclub.net
Save your changes.
Different registrars might have slight variations in the procedure, so here are some specific guides for popular registrars:
Please note: It's important to replace the "designated IP address or server" placeholder with your actual IP address or server information in the record. Make sure to fill out this field accurately, as it's essential to correctly configure your domain settings.
Once you have entered the DNS records in your Domain registrar, give it a reasonable time to propagate them (depending on your domain registrar), and hit Update Domain.
Please note: While the following resources provide a good general overview, the exact time of DNS propagation can vary due to several factors, such as the TTL set for the DNS record, your ISP's update frequency, and geographical factors. Typically, it is suggested to allow between 24 to 48 hours for DNS propagation.
Setting up Groups
After setting up your domain, you will have the ability to create groups within a community. Please note that the domain setup process is separate from creating community groups. Now, with enhanced features, you can create, delete, and restore groups, allowing for more robust management.
In communities, groups refer to specific spaces or subdomains where members can connect.
You can create multiple groups, allowing for more focused discussions and collaboration within specific areas of interest.
To initiate the creation of a group, access the "Communities" section of the platform.
1. Head to "Groups".
2. Locate and click the "Create Group" option.
Here, you will be presented with a form or settings page to fill in the necessary details for your group.
3. Fill in the necessary details
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. 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."
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."
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.
5. Once you have filled in the required details, create the group using the provided options or buttons.
Please Note: The individual who initiates the group creation process automatically becomes the owner of that group, assuming administrative responsibilities and privileges within the group.
Customizing your Groups
You can personalize and customize your community groups to align with your brand and community objectives. The initial customization you performed in Step 2 sets the default for your group, but additional options are available to refine your group's appearance and functionality further. Here's a comprehensive guide:
To Start, login to your group and click on the settings button to proceed
Details:
Group Name and Description:
You can choose a suitable name for your group that aligns with its purpose.
Add a descriptive group description to provide information and context to potential members.
2. Group URL:
Customize the group's URL to make it more relevant or memorable for your audience.
Each Community Group is initially assigned a default URL, but you can personalize it according to your preferences.
Please Note: You can only modify the group URL once, so it's crucial to double-check your desired URL before saving the changes, ensure you have added the custom domain in the community settings
Access the group settings by clicking on the settings icon at the top of the page.
In the left menu, locate and click on the "Details" section.
You will find the option to change the group URL within the Details section.
Once you have made the necessary adjustments, save the changes.
Congratulations! Your group now has a customized URL. To confirm the update, you can revisit the settings modal and ensure that your current URL reflects the newly set one.
By following these steps, you can customize your Community group's URL. Please review your changes before finalizing them, as there is a one-time limitation on modifying the group URL.
Branding:
1. Primary Color: Choose a color that mirrors your brand, providing consistency throughout the group.
2. Group Logo: Upload a logo that will appear in the group switcher for easy identification.
3. Cover Image: Add a visually appealing image that resonates with your group's theme or branding.
4. Favicon: Include a small icon for browser tabs, reinforcing your group's visual identity.
Promotional Links:
Integration: Incorporate promotional links within your group, adding a title and corresponding URL.
Visibility: These links can be seen by your community members, facilitating the sharing of relevant resources or announcements.
By leveraging these customization options, you can tailor your community group to create a unique and branded experience for your members.
Subscriptions
you can make your community group a paid one so members pay a certain price to join the group
click on the add new price button and enter the neccessary details and add price
Membership Questions
Add a membership question to be asked whenever a person wants to join the group
Click on the add question button to add your required question
Choose between a textbox, multiple select or single select option to configure how you want the question to be answered, ensure you add your question and click on the save button
Head back and toggle on the membership questions button
