How can you use online communities to build strong relationships with parents and stakeholders?

1 Define your purpose and audience

Before you start an online community, you need to have a clear vision of why you want to create it and who you want to serve. What are the main objectives of your community? How will it support your school's mission, vision, and values? Who are the potential members of your community? What are their needs, preferences, and expectations? How will you reach out to them and invite them to join? Having a well-defined purpose and audience will help you design, promote, and sustain your online community.

2 Choose your platform and tools

The next step is to decide what platform and tools you will use to host and facilitate your online community. There are many options available, such as social media networks, online forums, blogs, podcasts, webinars, newsletters, or learning management systems. You should consider the following factors when choosing your platform and tools: the size and diversity of your community, the level of interaction and engagement you want to foster, the type of content and activities you want to offer, the budget and resources you have, and the privacy and security issues you need to address.

3 Establish your guidelines and norms

Once you have your platform and tools ready, you need to set up some guidelines and norms for your online community. These are the rules and expectations that will shape the culture and behavior of your community members. They should reflect your school's values and policies, as well as the specific goals and needs of your community. Some examples of guidelines and norms are: how to register and create a profile, what topics and language are appropriate and inappropriate, how to give and receive feedback, how to resolve conflicts and report problems, and how to acknowledge and reward contributions.

4 Create and curate valuable content

Content is the core of any online community. It is what attracts, informs, and engages your community members. As an educational leader, you need to create and curate valuable content that meets the needs and interests of your community. You can use different formats and media, such as text, images, audio, video, or interactive elements. You can also invite guest speakers, experts, or influencers to share their insights and experiences. The key is to provide relevant, useful, and timely content that sparks curiosity, discussion, and action.

6 Evaluate and improve your community

The final step is to evaluate and improve your online community. You need to monitor and measure the performance and impact of your community, and use the data and feedback to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. You can use different methods and tools, such as surveys, polls, analytics, testimonials, or case studies. You should also seek input and suggestions from your community members, and involve them in the decision-making and improvement process. The goal is to continuously enhance the quality and value of your online community, and adapt to the changing needs and expectations of your community members.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?