Welcome to today's article! I'm excited to guide you through the process of creating a school community using School, a versatile platform perfect for hosting paid or free communities, courses, and coaching programs. Whether you're starting from scratch or enhancing an existing community, we'll cover essential steps from initial setup and branding to managing memberships and engaging content. Let's dive into the tutorial!
Step 1: Create Your School Account
First, click the link in the description to sign up for School and enjoy a 14-day free trial. On the homepage, click the menu button on the right and select "Create a Community." Enter your group's name (e.g., Fashion Tips) and your payment information to start your free trial.
Step 2: Set Up Your Community
Choose whether your community will be private or public by clicking on the community icon and then the gear icon. In the membership settings, decide if you want a members-only or public community. Customize your group's homepage by adding a cover photo, profile icon, and relevant branding elements. Remember to update settings to save changes.
Step 3: Manage Your Dashboard
In your dashboard, view a summary of subscriptions, paid members, and monthly recurring revenue (MRR). To start receiving payments, navigate to Subscriptions, add a price, and link your bank account using Stripe. Set the price for your community (e.g., $100 per month) and save.
Step 4: Create Discussion Categories
Under the Subscriptions panel, go to Categories and add a new category (e.g., Color Theory). Provide a description and set permissions for who can post and view. Repeat this process to create various discussion categories tailored to your community's needs.
Step 5: Add Plugins for Enhanced Functionality
In settings, navigate to Plugins. Enable membership questions to screen new members by clicking "Add Questions" and entering relevant queries. Enable auto-DM to send automated welcome messages to new members. Utilize apps like Zapier for automation to streamline community management.
Step 6: Implement Gamification
Boost engagement with gamification by creating a reward system. In settings, click on Gamification and modify each level (e.g., Noob for beginners). Higher levels can unlock additional access and privileges, incentivizing members to engage more.
Step 7: Integrate Social Media and Digital Products
Add links to your social media profiles (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, YouTube) and digital products in the Links section. This integration makes it easy for members to find and interact with your content.
Step 8: Create and Manage Courses
In the Classroom section, click "New Course" and name your course (e.g., Color Theory Explained). Add a course description, select which members can access the course, and upload an image. Create modules for your course content, such as videos and descriptions, and save each module.
Step 9: Set Up Your Calendar
In the Calendar section, add events by clicking the plus icon. Enter event details like title, date, time, duration, location, and description. Specify who can attend and set up recurring events if necessary.
Step 10: Customize the About Page
The About section is crucial for attracting new members. Add engaging media, images, and videos to showcase what your community is about. Include a detailed description to highlight the benefits and features of your community.
Step 11: Preview Your Community
To see what your community looks like to others, open an incognito window and paste your community link. This allows you to view and test the user experience as a new member.
Final Tips for Success
The success of your community depends on ongoing engagement and the value you provide. Experiment with different features and customization options to make your community more vibrant and welcoming. Regularly host events, update content, and interact with members to keep the community active and engaging.
Thank you for joining this tutorial on setting up your community on School. If you're serious about creating an online community, click the link in the description to sign up for School and explore its features with a 14-day free trial. Have a wonderful day ahead!
No comments