this will be next level duno :-D
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CommentFrom duno
Guide
How to start an online community that stays active
Updated · by the duno team
Short answer
Start with a clear purpose and a small group of people who already know each other, choose a platform that matches how they communicate (a post-based network like duno for news, questions and photos; chat apps like Discord or WhatsApp for live conversation), write three to five simple rules, and invite your first 10 to 20 members personally. In the first 30 days, post regularly, ask easy questions, reply to every first post and appoint a moderator. Most communities fail from silence, not from too few members.
The technology is the easy part. What makes a community last is a clear reason to come back and a few people who start conversations. Use this checklist whatever platform you choose.
Step by step
Write your purpose in one sentence
"A place for ___ to ___." If you can't finish the sentence, members won't know why to post.
Pick posts or chat
Posts keep information organised and easy to find later (announcements, questions, photos, events). Chat is better for fast back-and-forth. Many communities use a post-based network as their home and keep a chat for quick coordination.
Choose the platform
Free and ad-free with your own address: duno. Everyone already on Facebook: a Facebook Group. Live chat and voice: Discord. Paid memberships: Mighty Networks, Circle or Skool.
Set three to five rules
Short and specific: what belongs here, what doesn't, how to disagree, and what happens if someone breaks a rule.
Seed it before inviting anyone
Write a welcome post, an introduction thread ("Tell us who you are and why you joined") and two or three useful posts, so the first visitors see life.
Invite the first 20 personally
A personal message beats a public announcement. Ask each person to post one thing in their first week.
Appoint moderators early
One or two trusted members who approve posts and welcome newcomers.
Run a weekly rhythm
A recurring post (Monday wins, Friday questions, monthly meetup) gives people a reason to return.
Turn on notifications
Ask members to allow notifications so replies and messages reach them. Conversations die when people don't see answers.
Measure what matters
Count people who post or comment each week, not total members.
About duno
duno lets anyone create a free, ad-free social network at duno.com/net/your-name, with its own logo and rules, public, private or hidden, where the creator approves members, appoints moderators and decides who can post. Members also get messages, groups with live chat and events, a jobs board, community Q&A and a local marketplace, all free and without ads in the feed.
Create your network — freeFrequently asked questions
How many members do I need to start?
Ten to twenty people who know each other is enough. A small active group attracts more members than a large silent one.
What is the best free platform to start an online community?
If you want a free, ad-free space with approval-based joining and your own address, a duno network. If your members live in a chat app, start there and add a network for anything that should stay findable.
How do I keep an online community active?
Post regularly yourself, ask questions that are easy to answer, reply to every first post within a day, recognise active members and keep a weekly rhythm.