What is a community connector?
A community connector works in collaboration with Made Open to develop multiple connected community platforms that are linked under 1 main parent platform.
For example, a global timebanking platform with a series of local timebanks that can be connected to the wider global network.
Or, a county platform with county-wide information and activities that creates a local platform for each of the regions within the county.
The role of a community connector is to manage the main platform and to recruit coordinators to set up their own platform which is connected to the main platform.
Community connectors have controls over every small platform they create, and every small platform will share the same core features:
- Member account types (eg individual, group or organisation)
- Search filters (eg interests or needs)
- Pages (eg help, privacy policies and core information)
Community connectors can also work one-on-one with a coordinator to make a series of small customisations. These include:
- Homepage images and logos.
- Search filters - a small platform can create their own filter (this is useful for 'locations').
- Pages - small platforms can customise the templates set by the community connector, if the community connector has given permission to do so.
- SEO settings - how the platform appears when shared online.
- Platform settings - choosing whether to accept the defaults or tweak the settings of how a platform works.
What are the responsibilities of a community connector?
Community connectors communicate directly with their platform coordinators.
community connectors are responsible for the set up and customisation of new platforms; they have access to all the controls to make changes within either their community connector control panel, or the individual Content Management System (CMS) for the community platform itself.
Community connector responsibilities
1. Maintaining your main/global platform.
Responsibilities may include:
- Recruiting new members to the platform.
- Supporting members and helping to facilitate the promotion of their activities.
- Pro-actively promote the platform's functionality.
- Create and moderate online content (help users add activities).
- Approve, manage and message community members on the platform.
- Approve activities added.
- Work with community partners to understand how the platform can help to meet their needs and the needs of community members.
- Conduct local research and develop community partnerships.
- Use the platform reporting tools to measure and evaluate impact.
2. Setting up the template for all your community platforms
- Creating a set of member types that all platforms will use.
- Creating sets of search filters and tags that all platforms can opt in/out of.
- Creating sets of pages and choosing whether or not coordinators can have access to edit them.
3. Building processes for your clients to contact you
- Writing guidance for onboarding new clients so you can set expectations.
- Consider creating a helpdesk, setting up a CRM or a set of contact forms so you can streamline the way your clients contact you.
- Create a FAQs page to put answers for questions that multiple clients ask you.
4. Creating & customising new platforms
- Recruiting new coordinators who want to run their own platform.
- Gathering information about how they want to set up their platform.
- Creating a new platform.
- Educating the coordinator about how their platform works and connects to your other platforms.
- Onboarding the coordinator and their team to the new roles & responsibilities.
- Advising new coordinators on how to get the best results out of their new platform.
- Setting expectations for how the new coordinator can contact you and how you can forward issues or feedback to Made Open.
5. Communicating and maintaining relationships with your clients
- Send regular update emails to your clients with new functionality, bug fixes and other updates.
- Share positive practise or success stories to inspire other clients.
- Set up regular question & answer calls.
- Create materials to help clients achieve success over time.
What are the main responsibilities of a platform administrator?
All of the platforms created by a strategic partner require a nominated 'administrator' who is responsible for the day to day management and smooth running of the community platform.
Depending on the nature of their platform, they may be a part-time or full time role. The platform may also have multiple admins with different levels of availability or commitment.
Here is a typical job description:
Platform administrator
Role
- Be responsible for growing and supporting the platform's community network.
- Help individuals, community groups and businesses to connect, exchange or work with each other via the platform.
Key tasks
- Recruit new members to the platform.
- Support members and help to facilitate the promotion of their activities.
- Pro-actively promote the platform's functionality.
- Create and moderate online content (help users add activities).
- Approve, manage and message community members on the platform (for timebanks).
- Approve activities added (for listings, events, volunteer opportunities).
- Work with community partners to understand how the platform can help to meet their needs and the needs of community members.
- Conduct local research and develop community partnerships.
- Use the platform reporting tools to measure and evaluate impact.
- Liase with you, the community connector regarding any bugs or issues reported.