👥 Groups

💡 Introduction

The Groups module enables the creation of "sub-networks" within a platform, facilitating collaboration among users. It offers features such as document sharing, group chats, specific events, marketplaces, and news tailored to each group's interests. Users can either manage consortia or join specialized interest groups. This fosters increased interaction on the platform, adding significant value for users by enhancing engagement and facilitating meaningful connections.

💼 Usage (Group Admin)

Create a Group

Navigate to the “Groups” section. If you can't find it in your navigation, check your Navigation settings to ensure that the Groups module is enabled.

Once you're in the Groups module, click “+Group”.

Add a relevant image for the Group's purpose or theme, along with a descriptive group title and description, and select from the dropdown menu for the “industry focus”.

If you want to create a hidden Group where participants can only join via a link, select the “Hidden Group” option.

If you require members to apply for access to the Group, select “Access after approval”. Applications will need to be confirmed by a Group admin.

Click “Create Group”.

Choose from further content blocks or video by clicking “+Add another content block”.

Invite Members to a Group

Navigate to “Members Management” in the Navigation bar.

Next, navigate to “Group Invitation Center” in the top Navigation bar.

Select how you would like to invite members to your Group, either by e-mail address or by name.

Communication within Groups

Under the communication section of the Group, you can create Group chatrooms to have general discussions or discuss topics related to the Group. To create a chatroom:

Click the “+” icon.

Select “Create chat room”.

Name the chat room to provide users with an idea of its purpose.

Search for people to add to the chat room.

Optionally, enable threaded replies if you wish to use them.

Organizations, News, and Events within Groups

The Organizations section displays all organizations to which the Group members belong. Additionally, News and Events associated with the Group are showcased in their respective sections if they were selected and linked to the Group during the creation process.

Upload of Documents in a Group

In this section, you can upload documents and files. Additionally, you can create one or multiple folders to categorize and organize your documents efficiently.

Add Organizers to a Group

After creating the Group, navigate to Admin Settings > Members Management and click on "Members Overview". Here, you'll see a list of all individuals who have joined your Group. Click the "star" button next to the person you wish to appoint as a Group admin. This action will designate both of you as admins of the Group. If you need to remove yourself as an admin, request the other admin to deselect the star next to your name.

Marketplace in a Group

The marketplace serves as a centralized platform where Group members can view a list of Offers and Requests shared by other members. This streamlined approach enables users to easily explore available Offers and Requests, facilitating seamless interaction and collaboration within the Group.

Admin Settings

Edit Group Information

You can edit the Group information at any time after it has been saved. This includes adding new content blocks or modifying existing Group details to keep the information up-to-date and relevant.

General Settings

In the General Settings, you can configure various accessibility and module selection settings for the Group. Some of these settings include:

Access only as Business User: This setting requires users to verify their affiliation with an organization before joining the Group.

Access with filled organization profile only: Users must complete their organization profile before joining the Group.

Access after approval: Members must apply to join the Group, and their application requires approval from a Group admin. You can enable an application form with specific questions for users to answer.

Show members and organizations to non-members: Allows non-members to access the list of members and organizations in the Group.

Hidden Group: This makes the Group not publicly listed, and members must be invited or sent a link to join.

Block your group: Select "Blocked" and specify the reason for blocking the group in the new window.

Enable members to upload documents: Allows members to upload documents to the Group.

Additionally, the Module Selection section enables you to modify the order of modules within the Group and disable modules according to your preference. Once a module is disabled, it will no longer appear in the view.

Members Management

Members Overview:

In this section, you can efficiently manage your Group members, membership requests, and invitations.

The Members Overview section provides a comprehensive view of current members, showcasing their respective organizations and the duration of their membership within the Group.

Membership Requests:

Here, you'll find a list of all membership applications, encompassing open, approved, and rejected requests.

If desired, you can implement an application form for prospective members to complete before gaining Group access. Upon reviewing their submissions, you have the authority to approve or reject their membership applications. To activate this feature, ensure that both the "Access after approval" and "Enable Application Form" options are enabled in the Admin settings.

Once users apply for membership, the subsequent step involves filling out the membership form. After submitting their application, you'll receive an e-mail notification prompting you to review and either approve or reject their membership request.

The form filled out by users will be accessible in the Forms section of the navigation menu. From there, you can review their responses and make an informed decision regarding their membership request by either approving or rejecting it.

Delete a Group

Add a Custom Module to a Group

Enable Group Organizers to link a Custom Module to their Group. Choose the desired Custom Module, go to “Settings” in the header menu, and activate the toggle for “Allow Group Connections”.

Navigate to your Group, open General Settings, and select “Group Navigation”. Click on “+Module” and add the desired module to your Group navigation.

👋 Usage (Users)

How can I join a group?

If you've received a group invitation via e-mail, simply follow the instructions provided in the e-mail to accept it. Alternatively, you can accept the invitation by visiting the Invitation and Verification Center. To do so, open the navigation menu located in the top right corner and click on "Invitation Center". Then, navigate to "Groups" and approve the relevant invitation.

If you wish to join a Group without receiving an invitation, you can do so by accessing the Groups overview. Search for the desired Group, and if it's a Group with open access, you can join directly. For Groups with restricted access, such as those requiring approval from the Group administrator, you'll need to apply for membership.

Keep in mind that some Groups may be hidden and won't appear in the Groups overview.

❓ FAQs (User)

I can’t add any News or Events to my Groups, why?

Currently, only Group administrators have the privilege to add News and Events to a Group.

What size and format should the Group cover image be?

The image should be in PNG or JPG format, 1130 x 400 px not exceeding 5MB in size.

❓ FAQs (Group Admin)

Can I have Group-specific Events?

Yes, this is possible when you create an Event. You cannot add this setting after the creation of an Event.

Go to Events and create a new Event.

During the last step of the Event set up, select the desired Group and turn the toggle on for “list Event only in selected Group”.

Publish your Event.

For integrating external Event providers like Eventbrite, choose the "External Event" option during Event creation and paste the link of your external Event.

Can I have Group-specific News?

News can be assigned to one specific Group. To do so, click “News” in the respective Group's navigation. Click "My News" and either select an already published News article or add a new one. Scroll down to "Groups News", select the box on the right, and click “save” at the bottom of the page.

Can I have Group-specific Offers?

No, Offers displayed within a Group are all Offers published by the Group's users.

How can group members with permission to write in the "Group Events" database set up an Event exclusively for their Group?

To create a Group-specific Event, members must have administrative privileges for the Group. Follow these steps:

Go to the Events section within the navigation of the selected Group.

Click on "My Events" to either choose an existing Event or create a new one.

While creating or editing the Event, scroll to the "Groups Event" section.

Check the box next to the Group you want to associate the Event with.

Click "Save" at the bottom of the page to confirm your changes.