TopChatStart a community people want to return to
Define a clear purpose, explain the rules and make your first group useful from day one.
Make the promise specific
Give your group a name and description that explain who it serves and what belongs there. A campus group might cover announcements and student questions; a hobby group might focus on recommendations and discussions. Avoid promising coverage or response times you cannot maintain.
Choose access and posting settings carefully
Decide whether people should join freely or request access to a private group. Then decide whether every member can post or only admins. An announcement channel and a discussion group serve different needs. Explain your choice in the description so new members know what to expect.
Prepare a useful starting point
Add a welcome message, a few relevant resources and clear rules before inviting people. Give source links for information that members need to verify. If you enable TopChat updates, describe the kind of information you want the service to find and publish. Review the resulting content for relevance.
Build habits rather than volume
Ask a useful question, keep important information current and respond to early members. Consistent relevance is more valuable than filling the group with repeated links. Report spam, respect other communities’ promotion rules and invite people because the group meets a need they have expressed.