Although communities are mainly about people and relationships, online communities are also about tools. In fact, choosing the wrong tools or features can prevent the community from growing and being successful. For this reason, facilitators have to be fully aware of the platform technologies and its overall structure and must be prepared to answer the members’ questions.
Therefore, it is recommended that they are familiar with the following pages: “A to Z”, “Help” and “FAQ”. Facilitators are advised to stay in close contact with Joinup support in case of questions and difficulties.

Choosing the channels

The Joinup platform offers a range of features that are designed to effectively communicate with members. Naturally, each facilitator has his/her own favourite ones. However, it is important to test and experiment all the features and ask its members to choose which channels they prefer.
Sometimes, what we believe is the most effective and efficient choice is not the one preferred by the community. Thus, facilitators should never miss the opportunity to introduce members to the use of the different platform features; from the private messaging feature to the newsletter and mailing list. After a trial phase, it should be easy to identify the most efficient ones. One should not hesitate to ask members directly about their feedback. Sharing is part of the community spirit and Joinup.

Support from the Joinup team and the community of facilitators

There is a dedicated community on Joinup which is managed by the Joinup community building team; the community of facilitators. This is a community in which facilitators can exchange tips and best practices regarding the management and administration of their community. They are always welcome to ask questions they might have and share suggestions regarding the improvement of their communities.
As already indicated, if a facilitator would like to raise the awareness of important updates, news items, case studies or events, they can reach out to the community building team who will further accompany them in this process.