How can you transition your online community to a new platform
Are you considering changing your community platform However, you are unsure of what to do? Three tips to shifting your community's online presence to a different platform.
You've put in a lot of effort to establish an online community, and it's starting to pay off.
There's just one problem: the majority of community platforms weren't designed for creators.
Running a community is hard enough on its own. Combine that with the juggling of several different tools, such as Facebook Groups to Patreon, and you've got yourself a recipe for a headache.
However the idea of moving to a brand new platform seems like it might require more laborious. It is your turn to ask, "Is it worth it?"
With that inner turmoil in the back of our heads, we've created this guide to moving your online community to the new system. Three strategies will be discussed for making your migration as easy as it can be as well as how to gain buy-in from members and retain them on board after the change.
Why creators are switching community platforms
The creation of a community offers creators the opportunity to communicate with the people they want to reach.
When we talk to creators, one common refrain is that they wish they were in control of their communities , and weren't required to keep groups in an different space from all other.
The study found that 86% of creators would like to change to a community platform.
"The whole Facebook application is enormous; it's almost a full-time job," one creator expressed. "Keeping current with all the updates and talking to anyone when something goes wrong is near impossible."
Creators struggle with their community platforms since no platform offers the variety of features or interaction that creators require. Creators often build communities of digital content through social media sites due to the there is no better option.
Most popular, Facebook Groups make it easy to log in however they do not offer freedom and control, but it's also where the benefits stop. Different platforms provide better customer support and features for branding and engagement but they're more difficult for users to sign up.
Additionally, Facebook has seen a notable decline in daily active users. The Facebook U.S. user base has fallen by 15 million from 2017 primarily because of fears about the privacy of users and personal data.
If they are using Facebook Groups, Slack, or something else entirely 65 percent of those who have surveyed do not believe their platforms are designed to support creators.
"I need to hire a full-time virtual assistant to admit members, welcome them, moderate, etc. We're using Google Sheets and separate Facebook Messenger software that costs $30/month and we're also slaves to Facebook's algorithm as well as distractions. The mess is so messed up.
And then, there's Patreon which creates more administrative work than I'm paid ($5/month per person less taxes and fees). I'd like to have an alternative that I own and where I could help people to join my classes and programs, and interact with them either as an individual or in groups."
"We are having a difficult finding members who engage with a platform like Facebook in which the majority of people know about the platform," stated one creator.
Another shared similar worries: "My main concern with migrating my community off of Facebook is that they will not be able to accept this new system. I work with women over 45 and Facebook is the place that they are comfortable and feel safe."
We get it. That's why we're sharing three tips to make your community migration as smooth as you can, starting with getting initial buy-in to keeping people engaged throughout the move.
It all starts with choosing the best platform.
3 ways to transition to a brand new platform for community development
1. Select a platform that best meets your needs
It was found that users value these three aspects the most when deciding upon a community platform:
Platform links to the remainder of my creative work (31.42%)
It's simple for members to sign in (23.57%)
Features were designed to allow users interact with one another (21.87 percent)
However, these solutions are patchwork and leave a gap between the community and the mission that it is built on. The community is yourwork.
That's why we created Community.
It's true that I'm biased when it comes to this recommendation. But the community features was developed with the the creators' needs and demands in mind.
makes it easy for you to connect your audiences as well as your mission. Community members can:
Purchase your products
Use your content to consume it
Post and take part in discussions
...all in the same place. Because they're already logged in to purchase your products or consume your content, you don't need to establish the habit of signing in to a standalone platform or using (not-so-)trusty outdated Facebook. It's better for both you andyour customers.
It is also possible to develop a wide range of posts and topics for encouraging community participation. Members can also follow the topics, comment on discussions, and create your own blog posts.
And because your community was built through your website, you own the community members' information.
If you have a account, this feature is included with any plan. If not, don't sweat it -- you can sign up for a free 14-day trial to test Community together with the other features we offer to creators.
The good news is that finally, there's a community platform that meets the needs of your fellow members and requirements. The only thing you'll need to get them to move over.
Read on to find out the process.
2. Communicate early and often
It is impossible to build a strong community online without getting the buy-in of your members. When it comes to building communities, your members are your number one stakeholders.
For any successful relationship it is crucial to communicate.
As you prepare to migrate your community from one platform to another, be transparent with your participants about the particulars. Why are you moving to a different platform? How will this change make the experience of their members better?
A way to ensure that you're on the same page with your fellow members is to invite a select number of your most active members to sign up on the platform for the first time. Request them to provide opinions on the new platform Then, adjust the setup accordingly prior to making the switch to everyone else.
Customers would like to be able to share their opinions with them. 77% of consumers are more enthusiastic perception of brands who are willing to receive and respect comments from customers.
In order to make the process as simple as possible for your members make sure you provide all the tools they require to transition. Here are some ways to achieve this:
Find out what your users' main concerns are about this move. Then, create an FAQ article and put it on a pin on your current platform.
Conduct a live Q&A within a few minutes of announcing the move.
Create a survey asking members which features they would like to see you keep or add with the brand new platform.
Use tools like Apowersoft's Free Online Screen Recorder to make a short video that guides members through the registration and login procedure. Loom is another great option.
"Easy to sign in is crucial because there are so many websites to keep track of these days with so many different passwords," one creator told us. "How can people get it all straight? Even as a community leader, I forget where all my communities, courses and community groups I have bought are all situated."
If members have access to the content and services on your website, then using it as your community platform will make onboarding a non-issue.
All they need to do is log into their existing account through your website, and voila, they're in.
The last thing to mention is If you're moving away from Facebook to a different community-based platform, you shouldn't erase your Facebook group as soon as your new community launches.
Leave time for stragglers (and Skeptics) to switch. In the meantime, you can change your settings for groups in Facebook to only allow posts from administrator members of your group .
This way, you won't be competing with two different communities for attention.
After the technical details are removed It's now time to dive involved in the fun aspects -- getting your employees enthusiastic about the new system.
3. Create excitement and stimulate engagement
Do not be scared to test different marketing techniques to convince your members to change to new platforms.
To incentivize the move and to keep people engaged with the new site, consider the reasons individuals join online communities in the first place. For the industry of travel, for example, brand communities value :
Offers and discounts
Invitations for exclusive events
Exclusive online content
Receive exclusive items
All of these benefits to inspire your members to move between platforms.
Take musician Luke Bryan's subscription-only application to his crowd of faithful fans. The members of the community get the exclusive right to participate in contests and backstage livestreams, making the app worth it for those who are new to install the app and sign frequently.
You don't have to be a prestigious country music star to create your own application to get your customers onto a different platform.
The trick is to build the impression that you are exclusive. Make exciting new features or create content exclusive to users that join the brand new platform.
People loveexclusivity From members-only livestreams as well as Q&A sessions, to exclusive discount codes.
Consider offering members a discount code for one of your digital products or even the membership they have However, don't give away the discount code until members move into your brand new community website and leave a comment or post for the first time.
This is a great method to motivate new and existing members to get involved with one others on your brand new site.
89 percent of Americans say that an exclusive offer would make them likely to shop with a brand. 48% say that an exclusive deal will make them purchase sooner.
Offering a discount works best if you regularly release new products , or have subscribers who renew their subscriptions month-over-month.
If your students don't have anything to buy from you, like if the vast majority of them have already purchased and completed your flagship course -- a discount isn't an effective incentive.
Instead, provide exclusive content for new members as well as perks only offered at your new community's place of residence.
Create What Matters is a group of creators who want to make relevant content as well as communicate with one another and so having the opportunity to discuss and read Jay's blog posts is an important advantage. Communities allow Jay's users to maximize the benefits of membership.
Beyond the forums for the community, Jay also offers exclusive benefits of membership: Live events and early access to the latest products, and a one-on-one conversation to Jay himself.
The bottom line is:
For you to move your community's online presence to the brand new platform, it is essential to get buy-in from your members. The most effective way to secure the buy-in you need is to select an option that will make their user experience superior to the previous and then make it simple and enjoyable for all members to make the switch.
Make changes to community platforms and provide an improved experience for members
The majority of creators do not believe that their community platform was made with the needs of creators in mind. In addition, 86% of creators are looking to switch community platforms. If you're one you're in the right place to make a change.
Moving your community platform may appear like a daunting process, however it shouldn't be. In case you're wondering, here's three ways to make moving as easy as possible for you and your fellow community members.
Choose a platform that makes your members' experience even superior. With 's new community feature, members can purchase products from you, browse your content, as well as join discussions on only one place, using a single login.
Engage your users early and often. Get a group of users to use the new platform, then take their comments and suggestions to create improvements. Provide your users with all the tools they require to make the transition a success.
Make the new platform appealing and attractive with special offers and exclusive content. Provide discounts, exclusive content for members, and prizes in exchange for moving to and engaging with the new platform.
If you're looking to expand your community to , we're here to help . We can't wait to see your community grow and prosper.