Remember the good ol' days of online forums? You might recall those early iterations of "online communities" – perhaps a clunky support forum for a software product or a niche message board for industry professionals. Fast forward to today we've gone through multiple software "phases" - cloud, SaaS, social, gamification, to AI. All of these evolutionary changes have found their way into online community platforms as well.
In today's super-connected world, having a strong, active member community is a complete game-changer for any organization wanting to grow and make a real impact. A solid member community platform isn't just nice to have; it's a smart move that can completely change how your members link up, work together, and really get value from being part of your organization.
By now, most associations recognize that a robust online community isn’t a luxury, it’s a must-have. Whether your members are craving more meaningful connections, better collaboration tools, or streamlined access to resources, the right platform can make all the difference. But choosing the “right” platform? That’s where it gets tricky.
If engagement is the goal, then creative content is the path to reaching it. Yet for many associations, consistently generating meaningful, relevant, and interactive content for members can feel like an uphill battle. The question isn’t whether content matters, it’s how to create experiences that invite participation, foster knowledge-sharing, and deepen relationships among members.
Last week we had the pleasure of sponsoring the Association Platform Power Conference (APP25), held April 1–2 at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Virginia. This two-day event brought together users of Fonteva and Protech, two of the leading association management systems, for hands-on learning, networking, and discovery of tools that can amplify the impact of their organizations. With a strong turnout of association professionals eager to explore new ways to future-proof their operations, APP25 delivered on its promise to be a hub of innovation and inspiration.
The importance of a good mentor is no secret. As someone new in the association space half a decade ago, I leaned heavily on the connections I made both within Breezio and across the association space to familiarize myself with the industry. Building connections within your industry is one of the best ways to advance in your profession, and as an association, you can act as the home for building these connections between your members!
Moving your online community to a new platform? Here's a comprehensive guide on what to consider and how to make the transition smoothly:
During this time where many of us are working from home, there is a heightened need for online presence in order to attract people to your organization. Community outreach is an important aspect to all businesses, and we wanted to share some pro-tips we have learned through building an online community platform. Here are some tips for connecting with people as business moves online!
1. Search hashtags and keywords
If you want to access people who are posting and interested in a certain topic, search for keyword hashtags on social media. By doing this, you are narrowing down your target audience to those who could be potential partners in your business or members of your organization. The hashtag feature is used widely on the Breezio platform in order to categorize posts and discussions by topic and key words.
We are thinking of all those affected by the novel coronavirus and sending huge “thank you’s” to those essential workers who are working tirelessly to keep our communities safe and healthy. It is the responsibility of individuals to be cautious and thoughtful of others during this time so that we can work to “flatten the curve” and prevent future devastations.