Choosing the right visibility settings

<h1>Choosing the Right Visibility Settings</h1> <h2>Overview</h2> <p>Your community's visibility settings control who can discover your community and how new members join. Zakaya offers three visibility options: public, private, and invitation-only. Each option provides different levels of accessibility and control, allowing you to create the right environment for your community's specific needs.</p> <h2>Understanding Visibility Options</h2> <h3>Public Communities</h3> <p>Public communities are discoverable by anyone using Zakaya. They appear in search results and community directories.</p> <p><strong>Key characteristics:</strong><br /> - Visible to all Zakaya users<br /> - Anyone can request to join<br /> - Community name, description, and member count are publicly visible<br /> - Admins can still approve membership requests</p> <p><strong>Best for:</strong><br /> - Building large, open communities<br /> - Maximizing growth and reach<br /> - Communities focused on general topics or interests<br /> - Organizations wanting to increase brand awareness</p> <h3>Private Communities</h3> <p>Private communities offer a middle ground between public accessibility and restricted access.</p> <p><strong>Key characteristics:</strong><br /> - Visible in search results and directories<br /> - Name and description are visible to non-members<br /> - Content and conversations remain hidden until joined<br /> - Requires admin approval to join</p> <p><strong>Best for:</strong><br /> - Communities that want to be discoverable but need to vet members<br /> - Professional networks or industry groups<br /> - Communities with sensitive but not confidential discussions<br /> - Groups that want controlled growth</p> <h3>Invitation-Only Communities</h3> <p>Invitation-only communities provide the highest level of privacy and exclusivity.</p> <p><strong>Key characteristics:</strong><br /> - Not discoverable in search results or directories<br /> - New members can only join via direct invitation from existing members<br /> - Community details are hidden from non-members<br /> - Maximum control over community membership</p> <p><strong>Best for:</strong><br /> - Close-knit groups or teams<br /> - Communities discussing sensitive or confidential information<br /> - Premium or exclusive membership groups<br /> - Internal company communities</p> <h2>How to Choose the Right Setting</h2> <p>When selecting your community's visibility, consider these factors:</p> <h3>1. Community Purpose</h3> <p>What is your community's primary goal?</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Growth-focused:</strong> If you're looking to build a large community and reach as many people as possible, public visibility will help maximize your discovery.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Quality-focused:</strong> If meaningful interactions among the right people matter more than quantity, private or invitation-only settings may be more appropriate.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Support-oriented:</strong> For customer support communities, public visibility allows customers to easily find help, while private settings can ensure only verified customers gain access.</p> </li> </ul> <h3>2. Content Sensitivity</h3> <p>Consider the nature of discussions in your community:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>General topics:</strong> Public communities work well for discussions about general interests, hobbies, or publicly available information.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Professional or industry-specific:</strong> Private communities are ideal for professional networking or industry discussions that aren't strictly confidential but benefit from some level of vetting.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Confidential or sensitive:</strong> Invitation-only is best for communities discussing proprietary information, personal matters, or anything requiring strict confidentiality.</p> </li> </ul> <h3>3. Growth Strategy</h3> <p>How do you want your community to grow?</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Organic growth:</strong> Public communities grow more organically through discovery and word-of-mouth.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Controlled expansion:</strong> Private communities allow for steady growth while maintaining quality through the approval process.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Curated membership:</strong> Invitation-only ensures each new member is personally vouched for by an existing member.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>Examples of Effective Visibility Settings</h2> <h3>Example 1: Public Community</h3> <p><strong>Community type:</strong> Photography enthusiasts club</p> <p><strong>Why public works:</strong> A photography club benefits from being discoverable to anyone interested in photography. New members bring fresh perspectives and content, and discussions about photography techniques are generally not sensitive in nature.</p> <p><strong>Growth approach:</strong> The community grows through search discovery and members inviting fellow photography enthusiasts.</p> <h3>Example 2: Private Community</h3> <p><strong>Community type:</strong> Professional marketing network</p> <p><strong>Why private works:</strong> Marketing professionals want to connect with peers but need some vetting to ensure members are actually in the industry. Discussions may include campaign strategies that aren't strictly confidential but aren't meant for competitors or the general public.</p> <p><strong>Growth approach:</strong> Admins review join requests to verify professional credentials while still allowing the community to be discoverable to other marketers searching for professional groups.</p> <h3>Example 3: Invitation-Only Community</h3> <p><strong>Community type:</strong> Executive leadership forum</p> <p><strong>Why invitation-only works:</strong> A group for C-suite executives discussing business challenges needs strict privacy. Conversations may include confidential business strategies, and membership quality is more important than quantity.</p> <p><strong>Growth approach:</strong> Existing members personally invite trusted colleagues, ensuring the community remains exclusive and confidential.</p> <h2>Changing Visibility Settings</h2> <p>You're not locked into your initial choice. As your community evolves, you can adjust visibility settings to match your changing needs:</p> <ol> <li>Navigate to <strong>Community Settings</strong> &gt; <strong>Visibility</strong></li> <li>Select your desired visibility option</li> <li>Confirm the change when prompted</li> </ol> <p><strong>Note:</strong> When changing from a more open to a more restricted setting (e.g., public to private), existing members will remain in the community. When moving to a more open setting, you'll have the option to review current membership first.</p> <h2>Best Practices</h2> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Start more restricted:</strong> If unsure, begin with a more restricted setting. It's easier to open up access later than to restrict it after sensitive content has been shared.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Communicate clearly:</strong> Whatever visibility you choose, clearly communicate it in your community description so potential members understand how to join.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Review regularly:</strong> As your community grows, periodically reassess whether your current visibility setting still aligns with your community's goals.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Use additional tools:</strong> Remember that visibility settings work alongside other tools like membership approval processes and content moderation to create your ideal community environment.</p> </li> </ul> <p>By thoughtfully selecting your visibility settings, you'll create the right foundation for your community to thrive while maintaining the appropriate level of privacy and control.</p>