Creating Stronger Communities – One Chapter at a Time
As communities scale, the sense of intimacy and belonging that once defined them can quickly fade away. The question becomes:
How do we maintain a sense of belonging and structure on such a grand scale?
In thriving communities, we often see the formation of chapters–essentially mini-communities within the larger whole that serve as ways to foster deeper connections and provide members with a sense of shared purpose. However, creating these sub-communities requires a significant time investment. This is why we've taken the initiative to expand Bevy's page builder technology to chapter pages, featuring enhanced capabilities and customizable options to help you construct and manage your chapters, ultimately providing your community with the structure it needs to scale.
So what exactly are chapters, you ask? Allow us to break it down for you:
Understanding Chapters in Community
Think of chapters as little neighborhoods within a community. They can be based on interests, location, profession, or any other common thread that brings people together. It's like finding your niche within a niche, and let's face it, who doesn't love feeling like they belong to something greater than themselves?
But the benefits of having chapters go beyond just a sense of belonging. For starters, it allows for a more localized experience. Members can connect with others living in their area and attend local events, building meaningful connections beyond the virtual space. Chapters can also provide specialized areas of interest, such as a sub-community dedicated to sustainability or social justice issues, allowing members to find like-minded individuals who share their passions.
What does a successful chapter structure look like? Let's take a look at the CMX Community Structure. At CMX, we've developed a structure that includes local chapters worldwide, with each chapter having its own leadership team and events calendar. This has allowed our community to scale while still maintaining a personal touch. Our members can attend events in their local chapter or connect with members from other chapters when they travel. It's an awesome example of how chapters can foster a true sense of community and bring people together.
Chapter Page Builder: What Is It?
Simply put, Chapter Page Builder is a game-changing extension of the Event Page Builder that allows you to easily create, edit, and manage your chapter pages.
Say you're running a chapter with its distinct character and values. With Chapter Page Builder, you can create a tailor-made experience that truly represents your sub-community. Whether it's changing the template for all chapters or updating a single chapter page, you have the control to make your chapter stand out from the rest. And when you create a new chapter, the latest template is applied without any fuss.
But what really sets Chapter Page Builder apart is its unmatched flexibility. You, as the HQ admin, have complete control over each chapter's page, so you can ensure that it aligns with the unique vibe and values of your community. And here's the best part: once you've made your changes, they won't be affected by any future updates to the template. Your chapter will always look and feel just the way you want it to, reflecting the character and values of your community.
Understanding the Differences: Chapter Page Builder vs. Event Page Builder
If Event Page Builder is the stage where communities present themselves to the world, Chapter Page Builder is where they get to fine-tune their performance. While Event Page Builder provides an excellent platform to showcase events, Chapter Page Builder takes it to the next level by offering a tailored experience for each chapter.
So, what's the difference between these two tools? Let's break it down:
Expanded Capabilities of Chapter Page Builder
Components
When it comes to enhancing the experience, Components are the way to go. Now, users have even more control and flexibility to customize the layout and style of each Component. From past and upcoming events to blog posts, local sponsors, and partners, HQ admins can choose from a range of fully customizable Components to design and display their content to truly reflect their community. Each Component comes with dynamic text sources that can be tailored to specific needs, giving HQ admins complete creative freedom.
Take, for example, the Past Events Component. With this feature, HQ admins can easily communicate previous events held by their chapter, adding to the page's rich and engaging content. Similarly, the Upcoming Events Component lets HQ admins promote upcoming events to keep their community informed. The Local Sponsors and Partners Components allow HQ admins to highlight the organizations supporting their chapter. And let's not forget about the Blog Component, which can be used to promote recent content. It's these kinds of personal touches that can make all the difference in creating a chapter page that truly reflects the identity of your community.
Brand Management
Maintaining a consistent brand identity can be challenging for communities with multiple chapters. That's where Chapter Page Builder steps in, offering brand management at scale. With the tool, HQ admins can establish color defaults and other brand elements at the highest level, which trickle down seamlessly to each individual chapter's page. This means that you can maintain a cohesive look and feel across all chapters without the hassle of micromanaging every last detail of each chapter's page.
Creating User-Friendly Chapter Pages
It's not enough to just have a nice design when it comes to creating chapter pages. The goal should be to create content that's not only engaging but also accessible to all users. That's why the Chapter Page Builder's latest updates focus on improving accessibility and readability.
We've taken care to ensure that the chapter banner layout complies with accessibility guidelines, with text overlays removed for better readability. Additionally, the process of joining your event has been streamlined into a single button to make it simpler for users to join your events. The list of upcoming events has also been updated with a modern, user-friendly design that makes it simple to share and access more information.
At the end of the day, creating a chapter page that's accessible isn't just about ticking boxes. It's about ensuring that all users, regardless of their needs or preferences, can engage with your community and events. With the Chapter Page Builder's latest updates, we've made it easier than ever to create a page welcoming to all.
Sharing is Caring
We've also added a powerful new feature to the Chapter Page Builder: Social Sharing. Now, chapter members can easily share chapter pages on various social media platforms, allowing them to do their part in promoting your community.
Integrating social sharing into your chapter page design is very simple - just select the settings tab and choose the platforms you want members to share on. The platforms currently supported include Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, email, and copy links. And for mobile devices, there's even an SMS option.
By incorporating social sharing into your chapter page design, you're giving members the power to spread the word about your community to a broader audience. So, why not take advantage of this feature and let your members help grow your community?
Grow Your Community with Chapter Page Builder
Chapter Page Builder is more than just a tool for creating visually appealing pages. It's a solution that empowers communities to connect with their members in more meaningful and effective ways. By prioritizing accessibility, readability, and social sharing, Chapter Page Builder allows you to create a community that's inclusive, engaging, and sustainable.
So why not take advantage of this powerful tool and see what Chapter Page Builder can do for your community? Book a demo today and discover how easy it is to create awesome chapter pages that reflect your community's values and drive community growth.