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thomas 2021-08-24

So, what are the best alternatives to Facebook Groups?

For many, privacy is a priority, yet the social network’s record has left users lacking trust.Facebook Groups themselves leave a lot to be desired.

As a community manager, you don’t have access to your own data, and peer to peer messaging is not permitted amongst members who aren’t Facebook friends.This limits the growth of organic meaningful connections that drive your community forward.Managers have also looked for alternatives to Facebook Groups because of how the site's features change frequently.

For example, group chats were removed with little to no notice.There are also plans to remove the “get together” function, a feature which is used to create a quick event or gathering.Not only do managers have limited control of how their community is organized, key features can be removed overnight.

Customization is another reason why community managers search for alternatives to Facebook Groups.It’s not possible to organize content with subgroups or categories, and your only other option is having pinned threads at the top of the group.

That means there’s limited options to run a paid membership, or even provide online courses.This has left many managers searching for alternatives to Facebook Groups, aiming to move their community to a platform with more options for monetization.

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thomas 2021-08-18

Coronavirus has turned the world on its head.Offices are empty, group activities are limited, and if you think you’re getting closer than two meters to a stranger, well, you’d need to think again.This ‘new normal’ that has emerged throughout the last year has changed the way we socialize, and meeting new people has become a whole new challenge.However, there are still a number of ways to meet new people during these unusual times, most of which begin online.

Joining an online community of like-minded people is just one of the solutions.It can take time to get used to new ways of socializing in an online community, but there are many ways to speed up the process of meeting new people, making connections, and feeling part of something bigger.

Join a small community Join a small community If you’re new to online communities, it’s better to start small.

While other platforms such as Panion, focus on creating more meaningful connections between members.By sharing your interests, hobbies, and memorable experiences on your profile, you can connect with members with who you’re more likely to connect with on a personal level.

Before you start messaging members, try posting an engaging and thought-provoking question in your community.As you spend more time within a community platform, you’ll start to recognize which other members engage with your posts regularly.Once you’ve exchanged a few messages in a centralized communication channel and have created rapport, it can be easier to initiate a private conversation.

Attend your community’s online events Attend your community’s online eventsAs well as staying active with the day-to-day happenings, one of the best ways to meet new people in a community is to participate in regular events.Depending on the community that you’ve joined and its hosted platform, events can range from online webinars held by industry experts to speed networking events with other community members.

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thomas 2021-08-06

Over the last ten years, a new trend has emerged amongst leading Venture Capitalists to build a community around a thriving network of entrepreneurs and investors.Prominent VC firms, including First Round, Workbench, Spark Capital, and 500 Startups, have already begun to invest time and money into developing their own communities in a bid to bring more value to their existing network.In this article, we take a look at the possible limitations of a traditional professional network and how building an online community could help VCs bring more value to their portfolio companies and their investors.

Centralized and Efficient CommunicationOnline communities give VC companies a more efficient way to facilitate communication across various network segments.

While most networks rely on the power of email, it’s all too easy for an email to get lost, deleted, or misplaced or for your message to get diverted.Newsletters and email communications certainly provide well-appreciated content and updates from your company.However, this type of unidirectional communication does not give your network a sense of belonging that could be associated with your company.As a result, members feel less engaged in events and requests for communication than if they were consistently looped into a community based on their interests.

Knowledge Exchange and MentorshipOnline communities provide the perfect environment to exchange relevant knowledge and experience.With a centralized communication platform, members of your network can collaborate, find employees, review portfolio companies, or request specific expertise, all within one searchable organized space.Your company can tailor its content in the community to encourage in-depth discussions about topics that might attract new portfolio companies, or that can develop your company’s thought leadership in a certain sector.A community for your VC firm can provide a place where experienced entrepreneurs, business specialists, and investors can offer mentorship and advice for your portfolio companies.Specialized match-making tools can make it easy to connect your portfolio companies to the right resources in your network, with very little effort from your team.

Competitive AdvantageWhile a handful of VCs are already reaping the benefits of an established community, it is still yet to become the norm.Providing access to your network in the form of an online community can be a unique selling point that could attract new founders and future LPs.An online community moves beyond a simple business transaction and gives members an added benefit: the chance to build meaningful relationships and open up a world of opportunities.Creating a space where individuals or companies with a common goal can connect with each other adds unbeatable value to your network.

Whatever your needs, you must understand your reasons for creating an online community before choosing the right platform.Consider exploring Panion, a customizable community management platform that gives you all the tools needed to build a community of investors, advisors, and/or entrepreneurs.

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thomas 2021-07-22

What are the drawbacks of using a platform like Facebook?As well as a lack of customization features and monetization options, hosting your community on traditional social media platforms gives you limited control over your community’s future.While a platform like Facebook is unlikely to disappear completely, key features are changed regularly, and there is no guarantee of what you will find on the platform from one day to the next.

To maintain full control over how your community interacts and to retain ownership over all of the content your community produces, you need to own the key parts of your community in a way that allows you to access your members, content, and data.Considering Facebook’s debatable data security practices, and it's not hard to understand the advantages of moving your online community to a new platform.

What are the advantages of modern community-building platforms?Modern community-building platforms offer a variety of ways in which community members can interact in a customized environment.For example, members can build rich profiles to get to know others better, and Community Managers can utilize event management features to organize in-person and online meetings.In addition, many modern community-building platforms allow you to own your member data, set your own guidelines and safety precautions.With so much choice, it can be challenging to narrow down the best platform for your community.If you’re struggling to understand the differences, be sure to check out this post on how to find the best community platform for your business.

It’s important to notify your members of your decision in advance, so you can address any concerns and feedback before the migration.Giving members the opportunity to be involved in the decision will make them feel valued and more likely to move without friction.One thing you can do to facilitate communication is to assign a point of contact that members can approach with comments and concerns.If they feel that communication channels are always open, they will feel less stressed about the moving process itself.Being upfront and open with your members about why you’ve decided to move the community is extremely important.Whether it’s because of privacy concerns, costs, or a lack of control on your current platform, clearly explaining why you’re moving allows for an opportunity to gain additional feedback from your members about how their experience could be improved.

Define what a successful migration means to youOne of the only ways to know whether you have successfully migrated your community is by defining what that success could look like ahead of time by setting specific goals and using data to track them.

Part of this process is thoroughly researching which metrics you will need to determine your success and the tools you will need to track them.For some community managers, this may be as simple as monitoring how many existing members have moved to the new community platform.

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thomas 2021-08-23

However, with recent changes in its privacy policy and its limited set of features, Community Managers are opting to move their online communities to one of the many WhatsApp alternatives.

In this article, we’ve taken some time to look into the possible drawbacks of WhatsApp as a community platform and to suggest some of the best alternatives to WhatsApp for your community.

Data Privacy WhatsApp has recently caused a stir amongst its users due to a change in its privacy policy that impacts how much information the company will share with third parties.

Personalized Adverts Until now, WhatsApp has remained a relatively ad-free environment, but with the announcement of a change in its privacy policy also came a new future addition to the application: targeted advertisements.

They are designed to work as a distraction tactic, weakening the engagement levels and even encouraging members to leave the community to follow a promoted link.

A 256 member cap, minimal customization options, and a soon-to-be ad-filled experience are just some of the constraints a Community Manager could face while using WhatsApp for community management.

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thomas 2021-08-12

This effective measure could help companies minimize risk and keep operations running as smoothly as before.However, this type of work is not easy for everyone to adapt to, and could seriously harm your productivity.

Working days are getting longer, your “to-do” list is still full and weekends do not differ much from weekdays anymore.Don’t stress out, we got you covered with some effective and proven tips on how to maintain balance and avoid burnout while working remotely.

Don’t consider grabbing your laptop in bed as a time-saver - you’ll end up scrolling your feed for hours before you know it.

Photo by Emma Matthews Digital Content Production on Unsplash Watch Yourself - And Your SmartphoneSelf-discipline is the key to setting up a remote work environment.

The ideal option is to arrange a separate workspace at your place.If you are in a one-room apartment - arrange a desk and chair to simulate an office space.

Here are some tips for video calls:Arrange weekly calls with the whole team to share results and decide on further actions;Organize informal calls - an online version of office coffee breaks.If your actions and productivity depend on other team members, implement daily stand-ups.

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thomas 2021-07-29

In fact, online communities have provided help, support, and much-needed company for those in isolation during the pandemic.Today, we’ll be exploring the myriad of health benefits that online communities provide when they’re used correctly.

However, in pre-pandemic times, these same online communities provided a comfortable social space for introverted people or those who live in more remote areas.One of the key benefits of using online communities is that they open up your social circle to a global population of like-minded individuals without any geographic limitations.Extroverts make up around 50% of the global population, which means almost half of us are either introverts or a mixture of both; ambiverts.

Even if an introvert is hesitant to seek new friendships within an online community, simply reading about other peoples’ experiences can help to validate their own thoughts and feelings.This connection and familiarity can immediately make individuals feel less alone.

Some of us may find it easier to share opinions, discuss ideas, and exchange information online, with a degree of anonymity.In an online community, expressing your opinions can be done through a variety of media such as text, photos, or even videos, which can feel less daunting than talking with family, friends, or to a room of people face-to-face.

Finding commonality between a group of people makes it easier for those inside the community to build meaningful connections and genuine friendships, and, as we explore in this article, true friendships can be an effective way to boost your emotional wellness.

Meaningful connections go beyond transactional chatting and focus on building mutually supportive relationships.

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thomas 2021-07-19

So we decided to shift our focus towards community building.

We shifted our focus to the world of emerging online communities,” Melanie, CEO, and Founder of Panion, comments.

By nature, communities are designed to bring together people with similar goals, values, or experiences, whether it be to rally behind a social cause, reach a specific professional goal, or support each other through a collective experience.By creating communities that mirror these types of collectivity and then helping members connect through common interests within those communities, we feel we can provide a more meaningful social experience with even more chances for valuable connection.

Whether through face-to-face friendships or online communities, we are still bringing people together to build meaningful and impactful relationships.“Three years ago, we could never have imagined we’d be so focused on community-building.

A year later, after extensive research and user testing, we are ready to go live with the Beta version of our web platform.We are taking Instagram’s approach to transition from solely a mobile app to a cross-platform solution– getting something limited yet functional out into the world, then adding new features on a rolling basis,” says Melanie.

The Future of Panion: The Leading Platform for Empathy-Driven Communities Panion is still young.

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thomas 2021-08-20

With more choices than ever before (not to mention a rapidly changing global socio-economic landscape) people are not only looking for interesting content in the communities they join, but they’re also looking to connect with like-minded people, build meaningful connections and relationships, all while having a unique, comfortable and safe online experience.But in order to achieve this for the members of your community, it’s important to unpack the common community management myths and in turn, create effective and profitable strategies.

Below, discover five common community management myths and what actions you can take today.Myth 1: If it’s available, people will followJust because the community platform is available doesn’t necessarily mean people will join.

Myth 3: All platforms are created equalWhen it comes to online communities, there are often several common outcomes community members are looking for: to connect with like-minded people, informative and valuable content, a user-friendly interface and experience, safety, and more.But the truth is that there are very few platforms that tick most of the boxes.

As your community grows, it may be important to revisit your strategy and goals to determine if the platforms being used are effectively reaching these goals, or alternatively, diluting and undermining your efforts.What to do: With your team, identify any pain points, frustrations, or other obstacles you might be facing with the platforms you’re using.Consider whether it’s time to migrate the community to a more effective platform that can deliver on more of your needs.

Myth 4: It’s all about the Community ManagerVery often when it comes to an online community, the common myth is that it all rests with the Community Manager.But to really deliver an engaging and valuable experience to members, input from the members is just as important.Different perspectives will help refine what the community stands for and what needs to be delivered, as well as create a more inclusive experience for all.What to do: Arrange regular meetings with the various members of your team and look at ways the different departments can contribute to the success of the community.

Myth 5: A community is staticCommunities will evolve in time, especially thriving ones.

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thomas 2021-08-10

We are certainly living through historical and life-changing times.

The effects of the last few months will be felt long and deep into the psyche of who we are as humans, and within our cultures long after the initial threat of the virus has passed.

I have noticed within my network of clients, that even the most introverted among us are still seeking to reach out and connect to friends, families, and co-workers in ways that have not felt necessary before.

What initially seemed like an opportunity to develop a healthier work-life balance, from remote/at home working and video calls, has also allowed us to understand the importance of our interpersonal dynamics with those around us.

During this time, we have been prohibited from the most basic forms of human contact and connection.

For many of us, we enjoyed the opportunity during the first few weeks to maintain contact by telephone calls, long messages, group and family video conferences and the drive and energy to maintain connections was at its highest.

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thomas 2021-07-27

Asking whether your community needs an app is a bit like asking whether you need a coffee in the morning - you don’t need it, but it will definitely give you a much-appreciated boost!

With a pronounced shift towards mobile in the past decade, it is becoming essential to utilize the humble community app to drive community engagement.Enabling both mobile and desktop access allows community managers to oversee their community with ease, while members can enjoy the benefits of being part of a community at their fingertips.We’ve learned that a better user experience leads to happier members, which results in higher retention rates, community growth, and longevity.

Reduce user acquisition costs by improving retention ratesIt is between four and ten times more costly to acquire new customers than it is to retain existing ones.

With this in mind, it makes sense from a Community Manager’s point of view that retention is critical when it comes to successfully running a community and monetizing it.

Your app's home screen icon can also help with service recall, acting as a constant reminder to members that they are part of your community.By having a stand-alone app, your app becomes the user’s sole focus and no longer competes with the other tabs.When someone opens up your app, it’s because they want to be there.

In communities, real-time notifications facilitate quicker message responses between members, which naturally leads to a higher level of engagement.This immediate level of response across all three communication channels also allows the Community Manager, to resolve any problems before they impact the community and helps developers to get quick feedback if something isn’t working as it should.

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thomas 2021-07-13

A new emerging trend of no-code tools can help you save time on building digital tools and products and money by not having to employ and manage an entire team of developers, giving you full control over your organizations’ tech tools without the slightest knowledge of programming.

It almost sounds too good to be true, right?In a market that’s predicted to be worth upwards of $187 billion by 2030, there are hundreds of different types of no-code tools available that can help you with everything from building your own app, to automating your marketing communications.Most of us understand that software is built using code, which is usually a complicated and long-drawn-out process.

Using a no-code app with pre-built features and easy drag-and-drop tools saves you a huge amount of time.There’s no more worrying about coding rules for traffic routing, scalability, or security, it’s already built into the platform.Usability.

It doesn’t matter what you’re building, creating a safe environment should be paramount to any platform.

Let’s explore a few:Limited customization options.

In other words, you might have to start from scratch as many tools do not have data export options.Less control.

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thomas 2021-08-19

A new emerging trend of no-code tools can help you save time on building digital tools and products and money by not having to employ and manage an entire team of developers, giving you full control over your organizations’ tech tools without the slightest knowledge of programming.

It almost sounds too good to be true, right?In a market that’s predicted to be worth upwards of $187 billion by 2030, there are hundreds of different types of no-code tools available that can help you with everything from building your own app, to automating your marketing communications.

Using a no-code app with pre-built features and easy drag-and-drop tools saves you a huge amount of time.There’s no more worrying about coding rules for traffic routing, scalability, or security, it’s already built into the platform.

It doesn’t matter what you’re building, creating a safe environment should be paramount to any platform.

Let’s explore a few:Limited customization options.

In other words, you might have to start from scratch as many tools do not have data export options.Less control.

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thomas 2021-08-09

What is a community platform?A community platform is an online space that hosts a group of individuals who come together for a common purpose.Typically, online platforms allow members to share helpful content, interact with each other, and have open discussions about a product, service, or hot topic.

The best community platform considers what your customers want and is designed to pander to their needs.

With a discussion platform, people ask one another for tips and advice and discuss important topics around a specific topic.Discussion communities can be user-led or prompted by the business that manages the community.

This type of online community is an excellent way for companies to engage their existing and potential users and gather feedback and information about their services.

This could be anything from raising money for charity to organizing people to attend a protest.

Why do you need a community for your business?By 2019, 76% of global internet users were part of an online community.

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thomas 2021-07-26

What to look for in a modern community platformWe all know that an online community can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and even propelling your business forward.Still, the nuances of selecting the right community platform can be challenging at the beginning.In past articles, we’ve explored how to choose the best community platform for your business, but here’s an update on the latest platforms to consider in today’s market.

The platform must be easy to use for both members and community managers as well as access across different platforms.

Alternatively, recognizing the top interests amongst your members enables you to offer more relevant events and content.

There’s no point investing in a community if you can’t afford the upkeep.

PanionPanion Platform  Best community platform for mentorship, matchmaking, and promoting meaningful connectionPanion is an all-in-one online community platform that focuses on building meaningful member connections based on substance.Concentrating on rich member profiles, interest-driven connections, and member matchmaking, Panion helps large global networks generate a localized and intimate feel within their communities.Just one of the ways Panion does this is by allowing users to create multiple communities under one umbrella network, which is great for global communities that need localized groups.

A unique feature to Panion is its algorithms that match members of your community who have similar interests, hobbies, or passions and encourage them to get acquainted.As a European-based company, Panion is also one of the only platforms that enables VAT-registered billing for organizations.Panion offers these unique features while providing useful analytics and tracking, event management tools, and a sleek user-friendly interface.At the moment, Panion is continually developing and adding enhanced features to its platform, making it one of the best platforms to create an online community in 2021, especially if you want to build meaningful, lasting, and real connections between members.

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thomas 2021-06-22

The concept of creating safe spaces has existed in our society for over half a century and is even now an integral part of many college campuses.At Panion, we believe that safe spaces also need to be created within our virtual worlds, but creating a feeling of safety online does need to be approached in a somewhat different manner.

We have put together this guide on creating a safe online space to help you figure out how you can create a nurturing and supportive environment inside your online community.

At this time, safe spaces were physical spaces, like a bar, where people could go without the fear of judgment.Later on, many college campuses adopted the idea and began to build safe spaces for vulnerable students, usually from historically marginalized groups.

These were designed to be open and accepting communities where students could speak their minds without fear of discrimination.As we move forward into a more digitally forward society, safe spaces are more commonly found online, giving everyone with internet access a chance to find their place of comfort.In the same respect that physical safe space should be a psychologically sound environment for all people involved, a safe space online should also foster a positive emotional environment underpinned by mutual respect, inclusivity, open-mindedness, and supportive attitudes.

Having a support group in place to reach out to, such as an online community of people that your trust, can be a huge help in creating a sense of safety.

Make sure you respect your members’ privacyOne of the most critical first steps of creating a safe space is ensuring you’re inviting members to a community hosted on a trustworthy platform, one that respects your members’ privacy and their data.We’ve recently explored some of the reasons to look at alternatives to Facebook and WhatsApp for your online community and have looked at the repercussions of engaging on platforms that sell user data and promote advertising.

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thomas 2021-08-24

So, what are the best alternatives to Facebook Groups?

For many, privacy is a priority, yet the social network’s record has left users lacking trust.Facebook Groups themselves leave a lot to be desired.

As a community manager, you don’t have access to your own data, and peer to peer messaging is not permitted amongst members who aren’t Facebook friends.This limits the growth of organic meaningful connections that drive your community forward.Managers have also looked for alternatives to Facebook Groups because of how the site's features change frequently.

For example, group chats were removed with little to no notice.There are also plans to remove the “get together” function, a feature which is used to create a quick event or gathering.Not only do managers have limited control of how their community is organized, key features can be removed overnight.

Customization is another reason why community managers search for alternatives to Facebook Groups.It’s not possible to organize content with subgroups or categories, and your only other option is having pinned threads at the top of the group.

That means there’s limited options to run a paid membership, or even provide online courses.This has left many managers searching for alternatives to Facebook Groups, aiming to move their community to a platform with more options for monetization.

thomas 2021-08-20

With more choices than ever before (not to mention a rapidly changing global socio-economic landscape) people are not only looking for interesting content in the communities they join, but they’re also looking to connect with like-minded people, build meaningful connections and relationships, all while having a unique, comfortable and safe online experience.But in order to achieve this for the members of your community, it’s important to unpack the common community management myths and in turn, create effective and profitable strategies.

Below, discover five common community management myths and what actions you can take today.Myth 1: If it’s available, people will followJust because the community platform is available doesn’t necessarily mean people will join.

Myth 3: All platforms are created equalWhen it comes to online communities, there are often several common outcomes community members are looking for: to connect with like-minded people, informative and valuable content, a user-friendly interface and experience, safety, and more.But the truth is that there are very few platforms that tick most of the boxes.

As your community grows, it may be important to revisit your strategy and goals to determine if the platforms being used are effectively reaching these goals, or alternatively, diluting and undermining your efforts.What to do: With your team, identify any pain points, frustrations, or other obstacles you might be facing with the platforms you’re using.Consider whether it’s time to migrate the community to a more effective platform that can deliver on more of your needs.

Myth 4: It’s all about the Community ManagerVery often when it comes to an online community, the common myth is that it all rests with the Community Manager.But to really deliver an engaging and valuable experience to members, input from the members is just as important.Different perspectives will help refine what the community stands for and what needs to be delivered, as well as create a more inclusive experience for all.What to do: Arrange regular meetings with the various members of your team and look at ways the different departments can contribute to the success of the community.

Myth 5: A community is staticCommunities will evolve in time, especially thriving ones.

thomas 2021-08-18

Coronavirus has turned the world on its head.Offices are empty, group activities are limited, and if you think you’re getting closer than two meters to a stranger, well, you’d need to think again.This ‘new normal’ that has emerged throughout the last year has changed the way we socialize, and meeting new people has become a whole new challenge.However, there are still a number of ways to meet new people during these unusual times, most of which begin online.

Joining an online community of like-minded people is just one of the solutions.It can take time to get used to new ways of socializing in an online community, but there are many ways to speed up the process of meeting new people, making connections, and feeling part of something bigger.

Join a small community Join a small community If you’re new to online communities, it’s better to start small.

While other platforms such as Panion, focus on creating more meaningful connections between members.By sharing your interests, hobbies, and memorable experiences on your profile, you can connect with members with who you’re more likely to connect with on a personal level.

Before you start messaging members, try posting an engaging and thought-provoking question in your community.As you spend more time within a community platform, you’ll start to recognize which other members engage with your posts regularly.Once you’ve exchanged a few messages in a centralized communication channel and have created rapport, it can be easier to initiate a private conversation.

Attend your community’s online events Attend your community’s online eventsAs well as staying active with the day-to-day happenings, one of the best ways to meet new people in a community is to participate in regular events.Depending on the community that you’ve joined and its hosted platform, events can range from online webinars held by industry experts to speed networking events with other community members.

thomas 2021-08-10

We are certainly living through historical and life-changing times.

The effects of the last few months will be felt long and deep into the psyche of who we are as humans, and within our cultures long after the initial threat of the virus has passed.

I have noticed within my network of clients, that even the most introverted among us are still seeking to reach out and connect to friends, families, and co-workers in ways that have not felt necessary before.

What initially seemed like an opportunity to develop a healthier work-life balance, from remote/at home working and video calls, has also allowed us to understand the importance of our interpersonal dynamics with those around us.

During this time, we have been prohibited from the most basic forms of human contact and connection.

For many of us, we enjoyed the opportunity during the first few weeks to maintain contact by telephone calls, long messages, group and family video conferences and the drive and energy to maintain connections was at its highest.

thomas 2021-08-06

Over the last ten years, a new trend has emerged amongst leading Venture Capitalists to build a community around a thriving network of entrepreneurs and investors.Prominent VC firms, including First Round, Workbench, Spark Capital, and 500 Startups, have already begun to invest time and money into developing their own communities in a bid to bring more value to their existing network.In this article, we take a look at the possible limitations of a traditional professional network and how building an online community could help VCs bring more value to their portfolio companies and their investors.

Centralized and Efficient CommunicationOnline communities give VC companies a more efficient way to facilitate communication across various network segments.

While most networks rely on the power of email, it’s all too easy for an email to get lost, deleted, or misplaced or for your message to get diverted.Newsletters and email communications certainly provide well-appreciated content and updates from your company.However, this type of unidirectional communication does not give your network a sense of belonging that could be associated with your company.As a result, members feel less engaged in events and requests for communication than if they were consistently looped into a community based on their interests.

Knowledge Exchange and MentorshipOnline communities provide the perfect environment to exchange relevant knowledge and experience.With a centralized communication platform, members of your network can collaborate, find employees, review portfolio companies, or request specific expertise, all within one searchable organized space.Your company can tailor its content in the community to encourage in-depth discussions about topics that might attract new portfolio companies, or that can develop your company’s thought leadership in a certain sector.A community for your VC firm can provide a place where experienced entrepreneurs, business specialists, and investors can offer mentorship and advice for your portfolio companies.Specialized match-making tools can make it easy to connect your portfolio companies to the right resources in your network, with very little effort from your team.

Competitive AdvantageWhile a handful of VCs are already reaping the benefits of an established community, it is still yet to become the norm.Providing access to your network in the form of an online community can be a unique selling point that could attract new founders and future LPs.An online community moves beyond a simple business transaction and gives members an added benefit: the chance to build meaningful relationships and open up a world of opportunities.Creating a space where individuals or companies with a common goal can connect with each other adds unbeatable value to your network.

Whatever your needs, you must understand your reasons for creating an online community before choosing the right platform.Consider exploring Panion, a customizable community management platform that gives you all the tools needed to build a community of investors, advisors, and/or entrepreneurs.

thomas 2021-07-27

Asking whether your community needs an app is a bit like asking whether you need a coffee in the morning - you don’t need it, but it will definitely give you a much-appreciated boost!

With a pronounced shift towards mobile in the past decade, it is becoming essential to utilize the humble community app to drive community engagement.Enabling both mobile and desktop access allows community managers to oversee their community with ease, while members can enjoy the benefits of being part of a community at their fingertips.We’ve learned that a better user experience leads to happier members, which results in higher retention rates, community growth, and longevity.

Reduce user acquisition costs by improving retention ratesIt is between four and ten times more costly to acquire new customers than it is to retain existing ones.

With this in mind, it makes sense from a Community Manager’s point of view that retention is critical when it comes to successfully running a community and monetizing it.

Your app's home screen icon can also help with service recall, acting as a constant reminder to members that they are part of your community.By having a stand-alone app, your app becomes the user’s sole focus and no longer competes with the other tabs.When someone opens up your app, it’s because they want to be there.

In communities, real-time notifications facilitate quicker message responses between members, which naturally leads to a higher level of engagement.This immediate level of response across all three communication channels also allows the Community Manager, to resolve any problems before they impact the community and helps developers to get quick feedback if something isn’t working as it should.

thomas 2021-07-22

What are the drawbacks of using a platform like Facebook?As well as a lack of customization features and monetization options, hosting your community on traditional social media platforms gives you limited control over your community’s future.While a platform like Facebook is unlikely to disappear completely, key features are changed regularly, and there is no guarantee of what you will find on the platform from one day to the next.

To maintain full control over how your community interacts and to retain ownership over all of the content your community produces, you need to own the key parts of your community in a way that allows you to access your members, content, and data.Considering Facebook’s debatable data security practices, and it's not hard to understand the advantages of moving your online community to a new platform.

What are the advantages of modern community-building platforms?Modern community-building platforms offer a variety of ways in which community members can interact in a customized environment.For example, members can build rich profiles to get to know others better, and Community Managers can utilize event management features to organize in-person and online meetings.In addition, many modern community-building platforms allow you to own your member data, set your own guidelines and safety precautions.With so much choice, it can be challenging to narrow down the best platform for your community.If you’re struggling to understand the differences, be sure to check out this post on how to find the best community platform for your business.

It’s important to notify your members of your decision in advance, so you can address any concerns and feedback before the migration.Giving members the opportunity to be involved in the decision will make them feel valued and more likely to move without friction.One thing you can do to facilitate communication is to assign a point of contact that members can approach with comments and concerns.If they feel that communication channels are always open, they will feel less stressed about the moving process itself.Being upfront and open with your members about why you’ve decided to move the community is extremely important.Whether it’s because of privacy concerns, costs, or a lack of control on your current platform, clearly explaining why you’re moving allows for an opportunity to gain additional feedback from your members about how their experience could be improved.

Define what a successful migration means to youOne of the only ways to know whether you have successfully migrated your community is by defining what that success could look like ahead of time by setting specific goals and using data to track them.

Part of this process is thoroughly researching which metrics you will need to determine your success and the tools you will need to track them.For some community managers, this may be as simple as monitoring how many existing members have moved to the new community platform.

thomas 2021-07-13

A new emerging trend of no-code tools can help you save time on building digital tools and products and money by not having to employ and manage an entire team of developers, giving you full control over your organizations’ tech tools without the slightest knowledge of programming.

It almost sounds too good to be true, right?In a market that’s predicted to be worth upwards of $187 billion by 2030, there are hundreds of different types of no-code tools available that can help you with everything from building your own app, to automating your marketing communications.Most of us understand that software is built using code, which is usually a complicated and long-drawn-out process.

Using a no-code app with pre-built features and easy drag-and-drop tools saves you a huge amount of time.There’s no more worrying about coding rules for traffic routing, scalability, or security, it’s already built into the platform.Usability.

It doesn’t matter what you’re building, creating a safe environment should be paramount to any platform.

Let’s explore a few:Limited customization options.

In other words, you might have to start from scratch as many tools do not have data export options.Less control.

thomas 2021-08-23

However, with recent changes in its privacy policy and its limited set of features, Community Managers are opting to move their online communities to one of the many WhatsApp alternatives.

In this article, we’ve taken some time to look into the possible drawbacks of WhatsApp as a community platform and to suggest some of the best alternatives to WhatsApp for your community.

Data Privacy WhatsApp has recently caused a stir amongst its users due to a change in its privacy policy that impacts how much information the company will share with third parties.

Personalized Adverts Until now, WhatsApp has remained a relatively ad-free environment, but with the announcement of a change in its privacy policy also came a new future addition to the application: targeted advertisements.

They are designed to work as a distraction tactic, weakening the engagement levels and even encouraging members to leave the community to follow a promoted link.

A 256 member cap, minimal customization options, and a soon-to-be ad-filled experience are just some of the constraints a Community Manager could face while using WhatsApp for community management.

thomas 2021-08-19

A new emerging trend of no-code tools can help you save time on building digital tools and products and money by not having to employ and manage an entire team of developers, giving you full control over your organizations’ tech tools without the slightest knowledge of programming.

It almost sounds too good to be true, right?In a market that’s predicted to be worth upwards of $187 billion by 2030, there are hundreds of different types of no-code tools available that can help you with everything from building your own app, to automating your marketing communications.

Using a no-code app with pre-built features and easy drag-and-drop tools saves you a huge amount of time.There’s no more worrying about coding rules for traffic routing, scalability, or security, it’s already built into the platform.

It doesn’t matter what you’re building, creating a safe environment should be paramount to any platform.

Let’s explore a few:Limited customization options.

In other words, you might have to start from scratch as many tools do not have data export options.Less control.

thomas 2021-08-12

This effective measure could help companies minimize risk and keep operations running as smoothly as before.However, this type of work is not easy for everyone to adapt to, and could seriously harm your productivity.

Working days are getting longer, your “to-do” list is still full and weekends do not differ much from weekdays anymore.Don’t stress out, we got you covered with some effective and proven tips on how to maintain balance and avoid burnout while working remotely.

Don’t consider grabbing your laptop in bed as a time-saver - you’ll end up scrolling your feed for hours before you know it.

Photo by Emma Matthews Digital Content Production on Unsplash Watch Yourself - And Your SmartphoneSelf-discipline is the key to setting up a remote work environment.

The ideal option is to arrange a separate workspace at your place.If you are in a one-room apartment - arrange a desk and chair to simulate an office space.

Here are some tips for video calls:Arrange weekly calls with the whole team to share results and decide on further actions;Organize informal calls - an online version of office coffee breaks.If your actions and productivity depend on other team members, implement daily stand-ups.

thomas 2021-08-09

What is a community platform?A community platform is an online space that hosts a group of individuals who come together for a common purpose.Typically, online platforms allow members to share helpful content, interact with each other, and have open discussions about a product, service, or hot topic.

The best community platform considers what your customers want and is designed to pander to their needs.

With a discussion platform, people ask one another for tips and advice and discuss important topics around a specific topic.Discussion communities can be user-led or prompted by the business that manages the community.

This type of online community is an excellent way for companies to engage their existing and potential users and gather feedback and information about their services.

This could be anything from raising money for charity to organizing people to attend a protest.

Why do you need a community for your business?By 2019, 76% of global internet users were part of an online community.

thomas 2021-07-29

In fact, online communities have provided help, support, and much-needed company for those in isolation during the pandemic.Today, we’ll be exploring the myriad of health benefits that online communities provide when they’re used correctly.

However, in pre-pandemic times, these same online communities provided a comfortable social space for introverted people or those who live in more remote areas.One of the key benefits of using online communities is that they open up your social circle to a global population of like-minded individuals without any geographic limitations.Extroverts make up around 50% of the global population, which means almost half of us are either introverts or a mixture of both; ambiverts.

Even if an introvert is hesitant to seek new friendships within an online community, simply reading about other peoples’ experiences can help to validate their own thoughts and feelings.This connection and familiarity can immediately make individuals feel less alone.

Some of us may find it easier to share opinions, discuss ideas, and exchange information online, with a degree of anonymity.In an online community, expressing your opinions can be done through a variety of media such as text, photos, or even videos, which can feel less daunting than talking with family, friends, or to a room of people face-to-face.

Finding commonality between a group of people makes it easier for those inside the community to build meaningful connections and genuine friendships, and, as we explore in this article, true friendships can be an effective way to boost your emotional wellness.

Meaningful connections go beyond transactional chatting and focus on building mutually supportive relationships.

thomas 2021-07-26

What to look for in a modern community platformWe all know that an online community can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and even propelling your business forward.Still, the nuances of selecting the right community platform can be challenging at the beginning.In past articles, we’ve explored how to choose the best community platform for your business, but here’s an update on the latest platforms to consider in today’s market.

The platform must be easy to use for both members and community managers as well as access across different platforms.

Alternatively, recognizing the top interests amongst your members enables you to offer more relevant events and content.

There’s no point investing in a community if you can’t afford the upkeep.

PanionPanion Platform  Best community platform for mentorship, matchmaking, and promoting meaningful connectionPanion is an all-in-one online community platform that focuses on building meaningful member connections based on substance.Concentrating on rich member profiles, interest-driven connections, and member matchmaking, Panion helps large global networks generate a localized and intimate feel within their communities.Just one of the ways Panion does this is by allowing users to create multiple communities under one umbrella network, which is great for global communities that need localized groups.

A unique feature to Panion is its algorithms that match members of your community who have similar interests, hobbies, or passions and encourage them to get acquainted.As a European-based company, Panion is also one of the only platforms that enables VAT-registered billing for organizations.Panion offers these unique features while providing useful analytics and tracking, event management tools, and a sleek user-friendly interface.At the moment, Panion is continually developing and adding enhanced features to its platform, making it one of the best platforms to create an online community in 2021, especially if you want to build meaningful, lasting, and real connections between members.

thomas 2021-07-19

So we decided to shift our focus towards community building.

We shifted our focus to the world of emerging online communities,” Melanie, CEO, and Founder of Panion, comments.

By nature, communities are designed to bring together people with similar goals, values, or experiences, whether it be to rally behind a social cause, reach a specific professional goal, or support each other through a collective experience.By creating communities that mirror these types of collectivity and then helping members connect through common interests within those communities, we feel we can provide a more meaningful social experience with even more chances for valuable connection.

Whether through face-to-face friendships or online communities, we are still bringing people together to build meaningful and impactful relationships.“Three years ago, we could never have imagined we’d be so focused on community-building.

A year later, after extensive research and user testing, we are ready to go live with the Beta version of our web platform.We are taking Instagram’s approach to transition from solely a mobile app to a cross-platform solution– getting something limited yet functional out into the world, then adding new features on a rolling basis,” says Melanie.

The Future of Panion: The Leading Platform for Empathy-Driven Communities Panion is still young.

thomas 2021-06-22

The concept of creating safe spaces has existed in our society for over half a century and is even now an integral part of many college campuses.At Panion, we believe that safe spaces also need to be created within our virtual worlds, but creating a feeling of safety online does need to be approached in a somewhat different manner.

We have put together this guide on creating a safe online space to help you figure out how you can create a nurturing and supportive environment inside your online community.

At this time, safe spaces were physical spaces, like a bar, where people could go without the fear of judgment.Later on, many college campuses adopted the idea and began to build safe spaces for vulnerable students, usually from historically marginalized groups.

These were designed to be open and accepting communities where students could speak their minds without fear of discrimination.As we move forward into a more digitally forward society, safe spaces are more commonly found online, giving everyone with internet access a chance to find their place of comfort.In the same respect that physical safe space should be a psychologically sound environment for all people involved, a safe space online should also foster a positive emotional environment underpinned by mutual respect, inclusivity, open-mindedness, and supportive attitudes.

Having a support group in place to reach out to, such as an online community of people that your trust, can be a huge help in creating a sense of safety.

Make sure you respect your members’ privacyOne of the most critical first steps of creating a safe space is ensuring you’re inviting members to a community hosted on a trustworthy platform, one that respects your members’ privacy and their data.We’ve recently explored some of the reasons to look at alternatives to Facebook and WhatsApp for your online community and have looked at the repercussions of engaging on platforms that sell user data and promote advertising.