Creating an engaging space

Shifting to new technology and creating an engaging online space takes some time and effort. In order to build an engaged digital community where members start sharing, collaborating, and contributing requires consistency and intention in the beginning. Regular participation and contributions from both community leaders and members are essential for maintaining momentum over time. Whether it's through starting discussions, sharing valuable resources, or participating in events, consistent involvement keeps the community active and evolving. Here are our best practices to get started!

Defining purpose

Engagement often starts small but grows as members build trust and form deeper connections with each other and the platform. By defining the space’s purpose and customizing it early on, you ensure that the platform becomes a meaningful, engaging, and supportive environment where users feel empowered and purposeful in their interactions. Here are some tips how to get started:

• Messaging and communication: Once you have decided using Acter, make sure people start and stick communicating through Acter. This way your communication does not get mixed across multiple apps and different platforms. It's common that people fall to their old habits and continue communicating through other less secure channels. At this stage it might be beneficial to remind people about the importance of digital security again.
• Choosing Acter community leads: choosing 1-2 people in your community that are committed driving the space is essential in the beginning. The ideal lead should be capable of creating updates and fostering collaboration between members and ensuring that continuous feedback from members is received. We also encourage shared responsibility, some of the community members to become further moderators or admins.
• Spaces & descriptions: Be intentional with the spaces and chats you create, by adding the description of each space on the ‘About’ section. Name chats so that people understand what to discuss in each chat.
• Introduce sub spaces or local chapters: Focus on creating dedicated spaces where members with shared projects, causes, or goals can interact freely. People often engage more when they feel they’re part of a smaller, more relevant community. Create opportunities for users to join local chapters or specific project groups, allowing them to interact with peers who share geographic, specific or goal-oriented connections.
• Using pins function: If you have a more defined digital guideline for your community, add that to as a pins on top of the space. In that way people can access further information. You can also change the color and icons of the pins by clicking the pin icon.
• Logos/images: Remember to add logos/icons to the spaces and chats to make it more engaging and colorful.