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A community management platform is a digital tool that enables organizations to build, manage, and engage with online communities. These platforms provide features for member communication, content sharing, event organization, analytics, and moderation. Examples include Higher Logic, Khoros, Verint, and Salesforce Experience Cloud, which allow for seamless management of member activities and interactions.
The purpose of a community platform is to foster engagement and interaction among members around shared interests or goals. It facilitates communication, collaboration, and content sharing, allowing organizations to build strong relationships with their audience. Community platforms also support knowledge sharing, customer support, and networking while providing valuable insights through analytics and member feedback.
To choose a community platform, assess your community's specific needs, such as the type of interactions (forums, real-time chat, content sharing) and required features (moderation tools, analytics, integrations). Consider scalability, customization options, ease of use, and the ability to integrate with existing software like CRMs or marketing platforms. Additionally, evaluate platform costs and available support, ensuring the platform can accommodate your community's growth and future needs.
A community platform RFP (Request for Proposal) should include:
• Overview of your organization and the goals of the community
• Specific features required, such as user engagement tools, analytics, integrations, and security
• Questions about vendor experience and past projects related to similar communities
• Scalability and customization capabilities to ensure the platform can grow with your community
• Implementation timeline and process
• Support and training provided by the vendor
• Budget details and a request for a cost breakdown
• Evaluation criteria for selecting the platform
When evaluating a community platform, consider the following key factors:
• User experience: How intuitive and user-friendly the platform is for both members and administrators
• Feature set: Ensure the platform offers the necessary tools, such as content sharing, communication channels, and moderation capabilities
• Integration: Check whether the platform integrates with your existing systems, like CRMs or marketing tools
• Scalability: Make sure the platform can grow with your community’s size and complexity
• Analytics: Look for detailed insights into member engagement, content performance, and overall community health
• Support and training: Assess the quality of the vendor’s support and the availability of resources to help your team use the platform effectively
• Cost: Evaluate the pricing model and ensure it fits your budget while delivering the features and scalability you need.
