In the world of associations and professional networks, keeping members connected, informed, and engaged is critical to being successful. Expanding on the benefits provided by early listservs, online communities have become the go-to solution for capturing members' attention amid the overwhelming number of platforms and communication tools they already navigate.

However, creating a truly engaging experience requires more than just offering a digital space for members to interact. Breezio takes member engagement a step further by introducing collaboration as a core element of community building. This not only encourages more active participation but also consolidates communication into fewer channels, helping members stay focused and connected.

Below, we’ll explore some impactful use cases that leverage our collaborative features to drive engagement. These approaches can apply to most platforms, but Breezio’s unique features make implementing them especially effective.

Using the Community as a Home for Committees

Committees are the backbone of many associations, responsible for shaping policies, planning events, and driving key initiatives. By utilizing the community as a dedicated space for committee work, members can:

• Access essential resources and reference materials in one centralized location.
• Contribute documents they’ve created and work collaboratively with other committee members in real time.
• Participate in discussions, share insights, and make decisions without the need for lengthy email threads or scattered communications.
  
  

It's important to note that not all community platforms will come with easy categorization tools, like folders or the ability to label posts/resources. If you plan on giving committee members a space to connect in your community, it is important to not only vet that the community can accommodate your collaboration needs, but also make it easy to find relevant content.

Breezio’s "Collections" feature is a great example of a resource categorization tool. Collections give select users the ability to create folders or learning paths for other members. In this use case, creating a collection to help categorize documents within a committee would help members of that committee find what they need in an easier manner.

Establishing the Community as the Central Hub for Collaboration Opportunities

Many professionals seek opportunities to collaborate on research, projects, and initiatives but lack a structured way to find the right partners. By positioning the online community as the go-to place for collaboration requests, organizations can:

• Enable members to post project ideas, research proposals, or partnership requests in a visible, structured way.
• Foster an environment where members can browse opportunities and easily connect with like-minded individuals.
• Reduce the friction of external networking by making the community the first stop for professional collaboration.
  
  

Breezio's extensive reach into STEM and medical associations means we have seen this use case play out in many client sites! One of the largest professional scientific organizations uses Breezio for this exact purpose, pushing members to post collaboration opportunities in the community. This client has even gone a step further by categorizing these requests using our tagging feature, so anyone looking for collaboration requests can click this tag when searching for posts to see all opportunities available to them.

Co-Authoring Blogs and Resources with Staff Members

Content creation is a major component of member engagement, but it can be challenging to manage contributions across multiple team members. Breezio’s co-authoring feature simplifies the process by allowing multiple collaborators to:

• Edit and refine resources together in real time.
• Add sections, provide feedback, and iterate without the need for constant email exchanges.
• Create a dynamic repository of knowledge that can be easily accessed and expanded over time.
  
  

By integrating this feature into the community, organizations can encourage more active participation from staff members, making it easier to produce high-quality blogs, whitepapers, and other valuable resources. This not only drives staff engagement but also provides members with continuously updated, relevant content.

Conclusion

Collaboration is the key to fostering an engaged and thriving online community. Whether through committees, collaboration requests, or co-authored resources, creating an interactive and connected experience strengthens relationships and drives meaningful engagement. Breezio’s robust collaboration features make it easier than ever to bring members together, streamline communication, and maximize the impact of your online community.

If you'd like to learn more about how Breezio can help drive engagement between your members, reach out to us and we can explore how we can help!