Tips for Online Communities Tips for Online Communities Table of contents How to create high-engagement communities ........................ 40 1. Think mobile first when designing activities ................... 42 Online 2. Create personas when recruiting .................................... 43 3. Brainstorm recruitment sources ...................................... 44 4. Create a positive first impression .................................... 45 Communities 5. Design engaging messaging when recruiting .................. 46 6. Explain the community purpose when recruiting ........... 48 7. Set expectations from the beginning............................... 49 8. Encourage a sense of community membership .............. 50 Tips 9. Encourage a sense of community influence .................... 51 10. Create an engaging member portal ................................. 52 11. Stop repeating yourself .................................................... 53 12. Keep it interesting ............................................................ 54 13. Show gratitude ................................................................. 56 14. The shorter the better when designing activities ........... 57 15. Share back to members ................................................... 58 How to create high- 16. Keep the conversation going ........................................... 60 engagement communities 17. Encourage storytelling ..................................................... 61 18. Create the right farewell message ................................... 62 19. Share back results when sunsetting your community .... 64 20. Be careful when rebranding or changing a community experience ........................................................................ 65 21. Be respectful when members unsubscribe ..................... 66 22. Use member health metrics ............................................. 67 © 2017 GRBN Participant Engagement Handbook | 39 © 2017 GRBN Participant Engagement Handbook | 1