A practical guide to managing communities on Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool. Learn the real workflows for moderation, scheduling, and automation.
If you manage a community on Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool, you know that running a thriving community takes more than just setting up the platform. It requires daily moderation, consistent content creation, member engagement, and automation to stay sane.
This guide breaks down what community managers actually do every day, the challenges they face, and the tools available to make the work sustainable.
Regardless of platform, community managers spend their time on five core activities:
What it is: Reviewing member posts and comments to ensure they follow community guidelines, removing spam, handling conflicts.
This takes 1-3 hours per day for communities with 500+ active members. You can't step away without worrying about spam, trolls, or guideline violations piling up. Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool have no built-in AI moderation.
1. OpenAI Moderation API (via Zapier)
How it works: Connect OpenAI's free moderation API through Zapier to scan posts for harmful content (hate speech, violence, sexual content, self-harm).
Pros: Free API, works with Zapier
Cons: Requires technical setup, limited to OpenAI's categories (doesn't detect spam or off-topic), doesn't understand your specific community guidelines, triggers break when platforms update
2. Perspective API by Google (via Zapier)
How it works: Google's API analyzes text for toxicity, insults, threats, and identity attacks. Connect via Zapier to scan posts.
Pros: Free tier available, multiple toxicity scores
Cons: Requires Google Cloud setup, Zapier workflows break easily, no spam detection, doesn't learn your community's context
3. Akismet (Spam Detection)
How it works: Originally built for WordPress comments, can be integrated via API for spam detection.
Pros: Excellent spam detection, affordable ($5-50/month)
Cons: Primarily for blogs/websites, requires custom integration, not designed for community platforms, no real-time alerts
4. CleanSpeak / Two Hat (Enterprise)
How it works: Enterprise-grade profanity filtering and content moderation platforms.
Pros: Comprehensive moderation, customizable
Cons: Enterprise pricing ($500-2,000+/month), complex integration, overkill for small-medium communities
5. StickyHive (Native for MN/Circle/Skool)
How it works: Built specifically for Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool. Chrome extension + dashboard monitors posts in real-time, learns your guidelines, detects spam/toxicity/off-topic.
Pros: No technical setup, native integration, learns your community context, real-time Chrome extension alerts, sentiment analysis included, $49-197/month
Cons: Only works with MN/Circle/Skool (not other platforms)
Reality Check: Most community managers on Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool try Zapier + APIs initially, get frustrated with setup and maintenance, then either hire moderators (expensive) or switch to integrated tools like StickyHive.
What it is: Writing posts, announcements, prompts, and discussion starters to keep your community active.
Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool have limited native scheduling. You can't schedule recurring posts (like "Monday Wins" or "Friday Check-In"). You can't schedule multi-post campaigns. Most managers resort to calendar reminders and manual posting, which breaks when you're sick, on vacation, or just burned out.
1. Google Sheets (Free)
How it works: Create a spreadsheet with columns for Date, Post Content, Platform, Status.
Pros: Free, simple, shareable with team, works everywhere
Cons: No automation, no reminders (unless you set them manually), still requires manual posting, gets messy with 50+ posts
Best for: Beginners, small communities (under 100 members)
2. Notion ($10-18/month)
How it works: Database with calendar view, filters, and status tracking. Many templates available.
Pros: Beautiful UI, templates, database views, team collaboration, can store content ideas alongside calendar
Cons: Still requires manual posting, no native scheduling to platforms, learning curve, can become overwhelming
Best for: Organized planners who like visual tools
3. Airtable ($20-45/month per user)
How it works: Database + spreadsheet hybrid with calendar view, automations, and integrations.
Pros: Powerful automations, calendar view, can integrate with Zapier, custom fields, great for teams
Cons: Expensive for teams, complex to set up, still no native posting to community platforms
Best for: Teams managing multiple communities with complex workflows
4. Trello (Free - $10/month)
How it works: Kanban board with cards for posts, move through "Idea → Draft → Scheduled → Posted."
Pros: Free tier is generous, visual workflow, simple, great for status tracking
Cons: No calendar view on free plan, no automation, still manual posting
Best for: Visual thinkers who like drag-and-drop
5. CoSchedule Marketing Calendar ($29-79/month)
How it works: Built for marketing teams, calendar view with scheduling to social media (but not community platforms).
Pros: Built for content marketing, integrations with social media
Cons: Doesn't work with Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool, expensive, overkill for solo managers
Best for: Marketing teams managing blogs + social, not community platforms
The Problem with All These: They help you plan content, but you still have to manually post. They're calendars, not schedulers. You set a reminder, then log in and post manually. If you're sick or busy, posts get skipped.
1. ChatGPT ($20/month for Plus)
How it works: Type "Give me 10 discussion prompts for my [niche] community" → get ideas → copy to your calendar.
Pros: Flexible, conversational, cheap, can refine ideas with follow-ups
Cons: Generic unless you provide detailed context, requires manual copy-paste to your calendar, no templates, have to re-explain your community every time
Best for: One-off brainstorming sessions
2. Claude / Gemini (Free - $20/month)
How it works: Similar to ChatGPT, ask for content ideas.
Pros: Free tiers available, good at understanding context
Cons: Same limitations as ChatGPT - generic, manual workflow, disconnected from your community
3. Jasper / Copy.ai ($49-125/month)
How it works: Marketing-focused AI tools with templates for social posts, blogs, ads.
Pros: Templates, brand voice training, team collaboration
Cons: Expensive, built for marketing copy (not community discussion prompts), still requires manual posting, overkill for community managers
Best for: Marketing teams creating ads and landing pages, not community content
4. AnswerThePublic (Free - $99/month)
How it works: Shows what questions people search for about your topic.
Pros: Real search data, good for SEO-focused content
Cons: Not designed for community prompts, requires interpretation, limited free tier
Best for: Blog content, not daily community discussions
5. StickyHive AI Content Generator (Built-in)
How it works: Learns your community pillars, generates 10+ post ideas in 30 seconds, saves directly to your content calendar, ready to schedule.
Pros: Context-aware (knows your community), integrated with scheduler (generate → schedule in one click), includes templates for common post types, learns what works based on your community
Cons: Only works with Mighty Networks, Circle, Skool (not other platforms)
Best for: Community managers who want generation + scheduling in one tool
The Workflow Reality: Most community managers use ChatGPT for brainstorming, copy ideas to Notion/Sheets, then manually post. This works but adds friction. Integrated tools like StickyHive remove the copy-paste steps - generate ideas, schedule them, done.
What it is: Understanding what content resonates, tracking engagement patterns, keeping members active.
Without tracking what content actually drives engagement, you're posting blind. Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool show basic stats, but you can't easily see which posts performed best or what topics your members care about most. For paid communities, this guesswork costs you member retention.
1. Platform Native Analytics (Free)
Mighty Networks: Shows total posts, active members, top contributors. Doesn't show which posts got most engagement or why.
Circle: Better analytics dashboard with member activity, space engagement, growth charts. Still lacks "top performing posts" view.
Skool: Gamification leaderboard shows top contributors. No content performance analytics.
Pros: Free, built-in, basic insights
Cons: Can't track content performance over time, no sentiment analysis, can't identify patterns, limited export options
Best for: Getting a general sense of community health, not detailed content strategy
2. Manual Spreadsheet Tracking (Free, Time-Intensive)
How it works: Every week, manually record: Post title | Date | Likes | Comments | Engagement rate | Topic | Notes
Pros: Free, complete control, can customize tracking to your needs
Cons: Takes 1-2 hours per week, easy to skip when busy, hard to spot patterns in spreadsheet, requires discipline
Reality: Most community managers start this with good intentions, maintain it for 3-4 weeks, then abandon it when it gets overwhelming.
3. Google Analytics + UTM Links (Free, Technical)
How it works: Add UTM parameters to links in your posts, track clicks in Google Analytics.
Pros: Free, tracks click-through behavior, works for external links
Cons: Doesn't track engagement on posts themselves (likes, comments), only external link clicks, requires technical setup, doesn't work for text-only posts
Best for: Communities that share lots of external resources, not for discussion-focused communities
4. Orbit / Common Room (Free - $1,000+/month)
How it works: Developer community tracking tools that integrate with multiple platforms.
Pros: Tracks member contributions across platforms, activity scores, contribution tracking
Cons: Built for open-source/developer communities (GitHub, Discord, Slack), doesn't integrate with Mighty Networks/Circle/Skool, expensive for small communities, overkill unless you're managing developer communities
Best for: Developer communities, open-source projects, not general membership communities
5. Mixpanel / Amplitude (Enterprise, $1,000+/month)
How it works: Product analytics platforms that track user behavior.
Pros: Powerful event tracking, cohort analysis, funnels
Cons: Requires custom integration (Mighty Networks, Circle, Skool don't have native integrations), enterprise pricing, need developer to set up, massive overkill for community engagement tracking
Best for: SaaS products tracking user behavior, not communities
6. StickyHive Member Engagement Analytics (Built-in)
How it works: Automatically tracks post performance (engagement rates), sentiment trends, which topics resonate. Shows you what's working without manual logging.
Pros: No manual tracking, built for MN/Circle/Skool, affordable ($49-197/month), sentiment analysis included, tracks patterns over time
Cons: Only works with these three platforms (not Discord, Slack, etc.)
Best for: Community managers on MN/Circle/Skool who want automatic tracking without spreadsheets
The Gap: Most engagement tracking tools are built for SaaS products or developer communities, NOT for membership communities on Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool. That's why most community managers either track nothing (posting blind) or spend hours on manual spreadsheets (unsustainable).
1. Manual DM Outreach (Time-Intensive)
How it works: Look at your member list, identify people who haven't posted in 30+ days, send personal DMs: "Hey! Haven't seen you around. Everything okay?"
Pros: Personal touch, high response rate when done well, shows you care
Cons: Takes 2-3 hours per week for 100+ members, hard to track who you've contacted, easy to miss people, doesn't scale past 500 members
Best for: Small communities (under 200 members) where personal relationships are the core value
2. Weekly Digest Emails (Covered in Task #5)
How it works: Send weekly summary of top posts to all members, including those who haven't logged in.
Pros: Reaches members who tune out notifications, brings people back
Cons: Takes 2-4 hours per week to create manually (AI tools like StickyHive reduce this to 15 min)
3. Onboarding Sequences (Zapier or Email Tools)
How it works: New member joins → automated email sequence over 7-14 days with welcome message, key resources, prompts to introduce themselves.
Tools: ConvertKit ($29/month), Mailchimp (free-$20/month), ActiveCampaign ($49/month)
Pros: Automated, proven to increase retention, works while you sleep
Cons: Requires email list integration (Mighty Networks, Circle, Skool can trigger this via Zapier), need to write sequence upfront, not everyone reads emails
Best for: Paid communities where retention = revenue
4. Re-engagement Post Campaigns
How it works: Schedule posts specifically designed to re-engage lurkers: "Drop a 👋 if you're still here!" or "What brought you to this community?"
Pros: Low-pressure way to get people commenting again, works in-platform (no email needed), can be scheduled
Cons: Not targeted (everyone sees it, including active members), doesn't address why they went quiet
Best for: Periodic re-engagement (monthly or quarterly), not for critical retention
5. Exit Surveys (When They Cancel)
How it works: When someone cancels their membership, send survey asking why they're leaving.
Tools: Typeform ($29/month), Google Forms (free), Stripe cancellation flow
Pros: Learn why people leave, can improve for future members
Cons: Reactive (they've already decided to leave), low response rate, doesn't prevent churn - just tells you why it happened
Best for: Paid communities looking to improve retention long-term
6. Gamification & Recognition
How it works: Recognize top contributors publicly: "Member of the Month," badges, leaderboards.
Platforms: Skool has this built-in (leaderboard), Mighty Networks and Circle require manual recognition
Pros: Makes top contributors feel valued, encourages participation, creates social proof
Cons: Can create hierarchy ("not good enough" feeling for others), requires consistent effort, doesn't help lurkers (who are majority)
Best for: Communities where contribution = status (fitness challenges, learning cohorts)
What Actually Works: Combination approach. Track engagement to know who's slipping away (automated), personal outreach for high-value members (manual), digest emails for passive members (automated), onboarding sequences for new members (automated). You can't do everything manually - automate what you can, personalize what matters.
What it is: New members ask the same 10 questions over and over: "How do I access the course?" "When's the next call?" "Where's the resource library?"
Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool don't have built-in FAQ automation or saved responses. You waste time answering the same questions, or members get frustrated waiting for answers.
1. TextExpander ($40/year or $8/month)
How it works: Type a shortcut like ";;welcome" → expands to full welcome message. Works system-wide (any app).
Pros: Works everywhere (not just browser), supports variables (dynamic text like names/dates), team sharing, form fills, affordable
Cons: Mac/Windows only (not mobile), requires memorizing shortcuts, doesn't suggest responses (you have to remember to use it)
Best for: Community managers who answer repetitive questions across multiple platforms
2. Keyboard Maestro (Mac, $36 one-time)
How it works: Similar to TextExpander, but more powerful - can automate entire workflows, not just text.
Pros: One-time payment (not subscription), incredibly powerful, can automate complex tasks
Cons: Mac only, steeper learning curve, overkill if you just need text expansion
Best for: Power users who want advanced automation beyond text expansion
3. Alfred Snippets (Mac, Free - $34 one-time)
How it works: Part of Alfred app, simple text expansion with keyword triggers.
Pros: Free basic version, one-time payment for Pro, fast and lightweight
Cons: Mac only, less features than TextExpander, no team sharing
Best for: Solo Mac users who want simple, affordable text expansion
4. Phrase Express (Free for personal, $60 commercial)
How it works: Text expansion for Windows (also works on Mac).
Pros: Free for personal use, works on Windows, similar features to TextExpander
Cons: Windows-focused, interface less polished, commercial use requires payment
Best for: Windows users who need text expansion
5. Apple Notes / Google Keep / Notion (Free)
How it works: Keep common responses in notes, copy-paste when needed.
Pros: Free, simple, no learning curve, works on any device
Cons: Manual copy-paste (not automatic expansion), requires switching between apps, easy to forget which note has which answer
Best for: Beginners with only 3-5 common questions
The Reality: Text expansion tools are great for responding FASTER once you know the question. But they don't help you FIND the right answer or suggest responses. You still need to remember which shortcut to use.
1. Notion (Free - $18/month)
How it works: Create a database of FAQs, organize by category, share with team, link to members.
Pros: Beautiful, flexible, free for individuals, searchable, can share publicly
Cons: Members have to leave your community to access it, not integrated with MN/Circle/Skool, you still copy-paste answers manually
Best for: Creating a resource library that members can self-serve
2. Helpjuice ($120-499/month)
How it works: Professional knowledge base software with search, analytics, custom branding.
Pros: Powerful search, looks professional, tracks what members search for, custom domain
Cons: Expensive, overkill for small communities, requires separate site (not integrated with your community), members still have to find and read it themselves
Best for: Large communities (5,000+ members) or SaaS companies with dedicated support teams
3. Document360 ($149-599/month)
How it works: Similar to Helpjuice, knowledge base with version control, analytics, integrations.
Pros: Version control, team collaboration, good for technical documentation
Cons: Enterprise pricing, external site (not in-community), designed for product documentation (not community FAQs)
Best for: SaaS companies documenting their product, not community FAQs
4. Pinned Posts in MN/Circle/Skool (Free)
How it works: Create a comprehensive "Start Here" post with all common questions and answers, pin it to the top.
Pros: Free, in-platform (members don't leave), everyone sees it
Cons: Long posts are hard to scan, no search function within the post, members often don't read pinned posts before asking, you still answer questions manually
Reality: 80% of members will ask questions without reading the pinned post. It helps, but doesn't eliminate repetitive questions.
5. Mighty Networks "Resources" Section (Built-in)
How it works: Mighty Networks has a Resources section where you can organize files, links, FAQs.
Pros: Built-in, free, in-platform
Cons: Basic organization, members have to navigate to find it, doesn't surface answers when they ask questions, you still respond manually
The Problem with Knowledge Bases: They're great for members who WANT to search for answers. But most members just post their question in the community. Knowledge bases reduce questions by maybe 20-30% - you still answer the same questions repeatedly.
1. Intercom / Drift / Zendesk Chat (Free - $99/month per seat)
How it works: Chatbots that can answer common questions automatically using AI or pre-set flows.
Pros: Automated responses, AI can handle simple questions, great for websites
Cons: Do NOT integrate with Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool, designed for websites (not community platforms), expensive per seat, requires separate chat widget
Best for: SaaS websites with live chat, NOT for community platforms
2. ChatGPT Custom GPTs ($20/month)
How it works: Train a custom GPT with your FAQ content, query it when you need an answer.
Pros: Cheap, flexible, can be trained on your specific content
Cons: You still have to open ChatGPT, copy the question, get the answer, copy-paste back - not integrated with your community workflow
Best for: Solo managers who don't mind the extra steps
3. StickyHive FAQ Automation (Built-in)
How it works: Store FAQs in StickyHive. When moderating posts in MN/Circle/Skool, AI suggests relevant FAQ answers in real-time via Chrome extension. Click to copy, paste response.
Pros: Integrated with your workflow (no app switching), AI surfaces the right answer (don't need to search), works inside the community platforms, learns which answers work
Cons: Only works with Mighty Networks, Circle, Skool
Best for: Community managers who want FAQ suggestions without leaving their platform
The Integration Gap: Most chatbot/FAQ tools are built for websites (Intercom, Drift) or require you to switch apps (ChatGPT, Notion). Very few tools integrate directly with Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool to suggest responses IN-PLATFORM while you're moderating.
The "Copy-Paste from Notes" Method (Most Common)
1. Keep 10-15 common answers in Apple Notes / Google Docs
2. See question in community
3. Open Notes app
4. Find the right answer (hope you remember which note it's in)
5. Copy-paste to community
6. Repeat 5-10 times per day
Time cost: 30-60 seconds per response × 5-10 times/day = 5-10 minutes daily
The "Text Expander Power User" Method
1. Set up TextExpander with shortcuts (;;welcome, ;;course, ;;call, etc.)
2. See question in community
3. Type shortcut → instant expansion
4. Personalize if needed (add member's name)
5. Post
Time cost: 10-15 seconds per response (5x faster than copy-paste)
Setup cost: 2-3 hours to set up all shortcuts initially
The "Send Them to the Pinned Post" Method
1. Create comprehensive FAQ pinned post
2. When members ask common questions, reply: "Great question! Check the pinned post for details: [link]"
3. Members feel like you're brushing them off
4. Some read it, most ask follow-up questions
Reality: Works for 30% of members. The other 70% want a direct answer, not homework.
The "Hybrid: TextExpander + Personal Touch" Method (Best Practice)
1. Use TextExpander for the core answer
2. Add personal touch: "Hi Sarah! Great to see you here. ;;welcome"
3. Expands to full answer with personal greeting
4. Fast + personal
Time cost: 15-20 seconds per response (fast + doesn't feel robotic)
What Works Best: Text expansion (TextExpander, Alfred) for speed + personal touches for warmth. Knowledge bases (pinned posts, Notion) reduce questions by 20-30% but don't eliminate them. Integrated FAQ tools (like StickyHive) meet you in your workflow - no app switching.
What it is: Creating weekly summaries of community activity to keep members engaged and informed - especially those who don't check in daily.
Creating weekly digests manually takes 2-4 hours every week. Most community managers skip it because it's too time-consuming - but digests are one of the best retention tools for members who can't check in daily.
1. Mailchimp (Free - $350/month)
How it works: Upload member emails, create digest email, schedule or send.
Pros: Free up to 500 contacts, familiar UI, templates, analytics (open rates, clicks), automation workflows
Cons: Doesn't create the digest content (you still write it), pricing jumps quickly as list grows, templates are basic
Best for: Communities under 500 members who already have digest content
Pricing: Free (up to 500), $13/month (500-1k), $35/month (1k-2.5k), scales up
2. ConvertKit ($29-59/month)
How it works: Email platform designed for creators, visual automation builder, tagging, broadcasts.
Pros: Creator-focused, clean templates, good deliverability, easy automation, fair pricing
Cons: Doesn't write digest content for you, no free tier, learning curve for automations
Best for: Course creators, coaches who already use ConvertKit for marketing
Pricing: $29/month (up to 1k), $49/month (1k-3k), scales with subscribers
3. Beehiiv ($49-99/month)
How it works: Modern newsletter platform with beautiful templates, monetization, referrals.
Pros: Gorgeous templates, growth tools, website included, modern interface, good for public newsletters
Cons: More expensive, built for public newsletters (not private community digests), doesn't create content
Best for: Communities that want a public-facing newsletter alongside private digest
Pricing: Free (up to 2.5k), $49/month (2.5k-10k), $99/month (10k-100k)
4. Substack (Free + 10% fee on paid)
How it works: Newsletter platform with built-in payments, public by default.
Pros: Free to start, built-in audience discovery, simple, no upfront cost
Cons: Public newsletters (not private community digests), takes 10% of revenue, less control over branding, doesn't help create digest content
Best for: Public newsletters, not for private community digests
5. Native Platform Email (Mighty Networks, Circle)
How it works: Mighty Networks and Circle can send emails to members directly from the platform.
Pros: Free (included), no separate tool, reaches all members
Cons: Basic templates, limited analytics, you still have to write the digest content manually, Skool doesn't have this feature
Best for: Quick updates, not for polished weekly digests
Important: These email platforms only SEND your digest. They don't CREATE the digest content. You still have to manually: scroll through all posts, pick the best ones, write summaries, format everything. That's the 2-4 hour bottleneck.
The Friday Afternoon Reality:
Total time: 2.5-4 hours
And you have to do this every single week. Miss one Friday and you break the habit. Members notice. Engagement drops.
Why Most Managers Stop: Week 1-2: Exciting! Week 3-4: Doable. Week 5-8: Starting to feel like homework. Week 9+: "I'll skip this week..." → Never do it again.
1. ChatGPT + Manual Export ($20/month)
How it works: Copy-paste top posts into ChatGPT, ask it to write summaries, copy results back.
Workflow:
1. Manually curate top 10 posts (45 min)
2. Copy each post into ChatGPT: "Summarize this community post in 2-3 engaging sentences"
3. Copy summaries back to doc (30 min)
4. Ask ChatGPT to write intro/outro (10 min)
5. Format in email platform (30 min)
Time saved: Cuts writing time by 50%, but you still manually curate and format. Total: 2 hours instead of 4.
Pros: Cheap, flexible, improves writing quality
Cons: Still requires 2+ hours of manual work, lots of copy-pasting, disconnected workflow
2. Claude Projects ($20/month)
How it works: Similar to ChatGPT, but can maintain context across conversations (remembers your community).
Pros: Better at maintaining community context, can upload guidelines
Cons: Same copy-paste workflow as ChatGPT, doesn't integrate with your community platform
3. Notion AI ($10/month on top of Notion)
How it works: If you track posts in Notion, use Notion AI to summarize them.
Pros: Works where your data lives (if you use Notion)
Cons: Requires you to manually log posts in Notion first (extra step), AI summaries are hit-or-miss, still need to format for email
The DIY AI Approach: Helps with writing, but you still manually curate posts and copy-paste between 3-4 different apps (community platform → ChatGPT → doc → email platform). Cuts time from 4 hours to 2 hours. Better, but still unsustainable long-term.
1. Zapier RSS Digest (Free - $20/month)
How it works: If your community has an RSS feed, Zapier can compile it into email digest.
Pros: Fully automated, cheap
Cons: Only works if platform has RSS (most don't), no curation (sends ALL posts, not top posts), no summaries (just raw post text), formatting is terrible, can't identify top posts by engagement
Reality: Doesn't work for Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool (no public RSS feeds)
2. Reddit-style "Best of" Posts (Manual)
How it works: Instead of email digest, create a weekly post IN the community: "Best of This Week."
Pros: Keeps activity in-platform, members can comment, no email tool needed
Cons: Doesn't reach members who haven't logged in (defeats the purpose), you still manually curate and write
Best for: Supplement to email digest, not replacement
3. StickyHive AI Digest Generator ($49-197/month)
How it works: Connects to your Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool. AI automatically identifies top posts by engagement, writes summaries, generates intro/insights, formats beautifully. You review and send.
Workflow:
1. Click "Generate Digest" (30 seconds)
2. AI curates top posts automatically (instant)
3. AI writes summaries + intro + insights (2-3 min)
4. Review, edit if needed (10 min)
5. Copy to email platform or export HTML (2 min)
Total time: 15 minutes (vs 4 hours manual)
Pros: 95% time savings, consistent quality, learns your style, built for MN/Circle/Skool specifically, includes sentiment insights
Cons: Costs money (but saves 3.5+ hours per week = $50-150 value), only works with these three platforms
ROI Reality: If your time is worth $30/hour, manual digests cost you $120/week in time ($480/month). StickyHive at $49-197/month saves you $250-400/month in time. Plus you actually do it consistently (retention value: priceless).
Small Communities (under 200 members):
"I create a simple 'Best of' post in the community every Monday morning. Takes 20 minutes, keeps people engaged. Not fancy, but it works." - Coaching community, 150 members
Medium Communities (200-1,000 members) - Manual Approach:
"I tried weekly digests for 8 weeks. Took 3 hours every Friday. Week 9 I was sick and skipped it. Never started again. The guilt isn't worth it." - Course creator, 600 members
Medium Communities (200-1,000 members) - AI Assisted:
"I use ChatGPT to help write summaries. Still takes 2 hours, but the quality is better. I can sustain this." - Membership site, 450 members
Large Communities (1,000+ members) - Automated:
"Switched to StickyHive's digest generator. 15 minutes every Sunday, consistent quality, members love it. Can't imagine going back to manual." - Mighty Networks host, 2,200 members
The Pattern: Everyone starts with good intentions. Manual digests work for 4-8 weeks, then life happens. AI-assisted helps but still takes 2 hours. Automated tools are the only way to maintain consistency long-term - which is what actually drives retention.
When community managers first search for automation, Zapier seems like the obvious solution. It promises to connect any app to any other app. But for Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool specifically, here's why it rarely works out:
The Workflow People Try:
What Actually Happens:
Real Story: "I spent 6 hours setting up Zapier moderation. It worked for 2 weeks, then Circle updated their API and everything broke. Went back to manual moderation until I found StickyHive." - Community Manager, 2,000-member Circle
The Workflows People Try:
Platform-Specific Problems:
Technical Limitations:
Real Story: "I spent $100 on a freelancer to set up Zapier posting to Circle. Worked for 3 weeks, then Circle updated their API and nothing posted. Lost a whole week of content and had to refund members." - Course Creator, 1,200-member Circle
Zapier works great for:
Zapier struggles with:
Bottom Line: Zapier is great for connecting apps and moving data between them. But for core community management tasks (moderation, scheduling, engagement) on Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool, you need tools built specifically for these platforms. That's why StickyHive exists.
Each platform has its own quirks that affect how you manage your community:
| Feature | Mighty Networks | Circle | Skool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native Scheduling | Very limited, no recurring posts | Basic scheduling, no multi-step campaigns | No native scheduling |
| AI Moderation | None | None | None |
| AI Content Generation | None | None | None |
| FAQ Automation | None | None | None |
| Digest Generation | Manual only | Manual only | Manual only |
| Sentiment Tracking | None | None | None |
| Multi-Community Dashboard | One community per account | One community per account | One community per account |
Key Takeaway: Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool are excellent hosting platforms, but they lack the management tools you need to run your community efficiently at scale. That's why most community managers use additional software to fill the gaps.
Here's what most community managers on Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool actually use day-to-day:
Tool: Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool
Cost: $39-199/month
Purpose: Where your members live, post, interact
Common Options:
Common Options:
Common Options:
Common Tools:
When evaluating tools to add to your stack, ask these questions:
Zapier workarounds break. Browser extensions are clunky. Native integrations work reliably. For Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool, this means tools built specifically for these platforms.
Some tools promise automation but require so much setup that you're better off doing it manually. Good tools save time from day one.
Free trials let you test before committing. Avoid tools that lock you into annual contracts upfront.
All-in-one tools (like StickyHive) are usually better value than paying for 5 separate subscriptions.
Here's what a typical day looks like for a community manager running a 1,000-member Mighty Networks community:
Result: Constantly interrupted, can't step away, burned out.
Result: Batch work, consistent output, freedom to focus on strategy and member care.
"I'll just post consistently" works for 2 weeks. Then you get sick, go on vacation, or burn out. Automation isn't lazy - it's sustainable.
Buffer and Hootsuite don't work with Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool. Zapier is fragile. Use tools built for your platform.
By the time you notice engagement is dropping, you've already lost momentum. Track weekly, adjust monthly.
If you answer the same question 3+ times per week, you need a saved response system.
Don't try to fix everything at once. Pick the biggest pain point:
Once one area is automated, move to the next. Build your stack over time, not overnight.
If you're looking for a tool that works natively with these platforms, here's what's available:
What it does: All-in-one community management software for Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool.
Key Features:
Best for: Community managers who want one tool instead of five subscriptions. Works across multiple platforms if you run communities on more than one.
Pricing: Starting at $49/month • 14-day free trial • No credit card required
Try StickyHive Free →For communities with 500+ active members: 1-3 hours per day on manual moderation. AI moderation can reduce this to 15-30 minutes per day.
Mighty Networks has very limited native scheduling (no recurring posts, no multi-step campaigns). Tools like StickyHive add full scheduling capabilities natively.
For planning: Notion ($10/month) for visual thinkers, Google Sheets (free) for simplicity, Airtable ($20/month) for teams. BUT remember: these are calendars, not schedulers - you still post manually. For actual automated posting to Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool, you need native scheduling tools like StickyHive since Buffer/Hootsuite don't support these platforms.
Yes! ChatGPT ($20/month) is great for brainstorming. Ask "Give me 10 discussion prompts for my [niche] community." The downside: it's generic unless you provide detailed context every time, and you still have to copy-paste to your calendar and post manually. Integrated tools like StickyHive generate ideas + schedule them in one workflow, but standalone AI tools work if you don't mind the extra steps.
Mighty Networks has no official Zapier posting integration. Circle's integration breaks often and loses formatting. Skool has zero Zapier integration. Even when it technically works, formatting breaks (paragraphs become one line), images don't upload properly, and workflows break when platforms update. Zapier is great for simple app connections, but not for community platform posting.
Hosting platforms (Mighty Networks, Circle, Skool) provide the space where your community lives. Management tools (like StickyHive) help you run that community efficiently - moderation, scheduling, analytics, automation.
Under 100 members: Probably not. 100-500 members: Scheduling helps. 500+ members: AI moderation becomes essential. 1,000+ members: You need a full management stack to avoid burnout.
You can try, but Zapier workflows for moderation are fragile. They break when platforms update, require 3-5 hours of technical setup, and poll every 15 minutes (not real-time). For simple automations like posting to multiple platforms, Zapier works. For complex workflows like moderation, native tools are more reliable. Most managers try Zapier first, get frustrated, then switch to integrated solutions.
OpenAI Moderation API (free, detects hate/violence/sexual), Perspective API by Google (free tier, toxicity detection), and Akismet (spam detection, $5-50/month). All require technical setup, don't learn your specific guidelines, and need manual alert handling. They're better than nothing but not purpose-built for community platforms like Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool.
Modern AI moderation (like StickyHive) catches 95%+ of spam, toxicity, and guideline violations. It's far more consistent than manual review, especially when you're tired, distracted, or unavailable.
Creating a quality weekly digest manually takes 2-4 hours (curating posts, writing summaries, formatting). AI-powered tools like StickyHive can reduce this to 15 minutes by auto-curating and writing the content for you.
Three options: 1) Manual spreadsheet tracking (free but takes 1-2 hours/week), 2) Platform native analytics (free but limited - shows totals, not patterns), or 3) Automated tracking tools like StickyHive that log engagement automatically and show you trends. Most managers start with spreadsheets, realize it's unsustainable, then either stop tracking (posting blind) or get automated tools.
Combination approach: 1) Automated onboarding sequence (ConvertKit, Mailchimp) for first 2 weeks, 2) Weekly digest emails to keep passive members engaged, 3) Track engagement patterns to identify quiet members early (before they decide to leave), 4) Personal DM outreach for high-value members who go quiet. The key is catching disengagement BEFORE they cancel - reactive exit surveys are too late.
Depends on your needs. Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool provide basic stats (total posts, active members). If you want to know which CONTENT performs best or track sentiment trends, you need either manual spreadsheet tracking (time-consuming) or dedicated tools. Enterprise analytics like Mixpanel don't integrate with these platforms and cost $1,000+/month (overkill). Most community managers use integrated tools like StickyHive that combine engagement tracking with scheduling and moderation.
Three-part approach: 1) Create a pinned "Start Here" post with FAQs (reduces questions by 20-30%), 2) Use text expansion app like TextExpander ($40/year) to respond faster when questions still come up, 3) Add personal touches so responses don't feel robotic. For integrated workflow, tools like StickyHive suggest FAQ answers while you're moderating (no app switching). Most managers use TextExpander + pinned posts combination.
Knowledge bases help but don't eliminate repetitive questions. They work for the 20-30% of members who actively search for answers. Most members will still post questions in the community without checking. Use knowledge bases as a resource library (good for onboarding), but still plan to answer the same questions repeatedly. Text expansion tools are more practical for day-to-day responses.
No. Intercom, Drift, and Zendesk Chat are designed for websites with live chat widgets. They don't integrate with Mighty Networks, Circle, or Skool. You'd need custom development (expensive and fragile). These tools are built for SaaS support, not community platforms. For communities, you're better off with text expansion tools or integrated FAQ suggestions like StickyHive.
For small communities: Mailchimp (free up to 500 subscribers). For creators: ConvertKit ($29/month, better templates). For public newsletters: Beehiiv ($49/month, gorgeous design). But remember: these only SEND the digest - you still have to CREATE the content (2-4 hours per week manually). If you want to skip the creation work, use AI digest generators like StickyHive that auto-curate and write the digest for you.
Yes, but it's still manual work. You have to: 1) Curate top posts manually (45 min), 2) Copy each post to ChatGPT for summaries (30 min), 3) Copy results back (10 min), 4) Format in email platform (30 min). Total: ~2 hours instead of 4 hours. Better than fully manual, but still requires significant weekly time commitment. Most managers do this for a few months, then stop because it's still too much work.
They start with good intentions, but 2-4 hours every Friday is unsustainable. Weeks 1-4: doable. Weeks 5-8: feeling like homework. Week 9: Skip once due to vacation/illness, feel guilty, never restart. The only way to maintain consistency is automation - either AI-assisted (ChatGPT, cuts to 2 hours) or fully automated (StickyHive, cuts to 15 min). Consistency matters more than perfection.