Online Communities: Lowering the Barriers to Digital Connection

Online communities are indispensable sources of connection, data and growth for associations. Community engagement is pivotal as members seek to maintain connections online and stay informed. Members have come to rely on being able to participate in events, meetings, and social and professional interactions online. Access to your online community may be instrumental to your members in any number of ways, including topical discussions, asking and answering questions, professional mentoring and committee work.

The idea of having an online community to build connections is not new, but the progress of those spaces varies widely. In many cases, communities have been allowed to grow up rather organically, at a leisurely pace. Today, there is an urgent need to accelerate the digital community.