Volunteering 4.0: Which Content You should Share in the Member Portal in the Future

1. The workaround

First, share only a link in the members’ portal that refers to the website where the magazine can be found. This is because the complete transfer of all association content into the members’ portal is too abrupt for many members. It may unsettle them if the members’ magazine suddenly cannot be found in its previous location. To avoid such confusion, this workaround is recommended in the members’ portal. Members gradually get used to the fact that they can also find their magazine in the members’ portal. This also leaves enough time to ensure that all members are reached and informed about the changeover.

2. As a file

Another way to transfer your members’ magazine into the members’ portal is to upload the magazine as a file. If you upload the magazine as a PDF, for example, you can maintain the design you used for the former print or web version. This preserves the structure of the magazine as your members know it – even though it is now only found in the members’ portal. After uploading, the magazine can be found in the files module. Members can not only access it at any time here, but also download it and view it offline. In addition, a members’ portal allows you to share the magazine as a post with your members. This ensures that as many members as possible are reached.

3. As its own group

You can also bring your members’ magazine into the members’ portal by creating a dedicated group. Here you share posts that would otherwise appear as articles in the members’ magazine. The comments function provides a new kind of participation: members become active participants instead of passive readers. With this option, you move furthest away from the classic members’ magazine. However, it brings a significant added value. Through the option to respond in detail to individual posts, to comment and to criticise, the magazine becomes an interactive experience. You gain greater insight into what interests your members and which content is well received. If you allow your members to react to the magazine in this way, a certain amount of additional community management is required. Your task is to ensure that discussions do not get out of hand or that netiquette and other guidelines are not ignored.

4. As its own page

If you do not want your members’ magazine to become an interactive element within the association, a members’ portal offers another option. Here you can create your own page, also known as a page, for your magazine. You can then update this regularly. This is similar to a CEO blog that can be read by all members but cannot be commented on.