Members join but do not understand what the community is really for
When new members join your community but seem lost, unsure what to post, or confused about what the group is for, it signals a lack of clarity around your community's purpose. You may notice new joiners lurking without participating, asking basic questions about what the space is for, or even posting unrelated content. As a community manager, it is frustrating to see enthusiasm fizzle simply because members do not have a clear sense of direction.
Common symptoms include members rarely introducing themselves, off-topic discussions, repeated questions about the group's aims, and little organic engagement. Over time, this confusion can lead to a disengaged community where your most valuable contributors lose interest.
This problem often stems from unclear community positioning and messaging. When your onboarding materials, welcome messages, or group descriptions are vague or generic, members cannot easily understand the value they will get or what they are expected to contribute. Psychologically, people seek belonging and want to align with a group's purpose before investing energy.
Common mistakes include using jargon, failing to set specific goals, or assuming everyone already knows the backstory. Platform limitations may also contribute if your welcome area or pinned posts are hard to find or not customizable, making it tough to highlight your mission and guidelines upfront.
If this issue is not fixed, your community will struggle to grow or become a ghost town. Members who do not see the value or purpose will quietly leave or become inactive, making it harder to build momentum. For businesses, this means missed opportunities for advocacy, feedback, and customer loyalty. For community health, the lack of engagement can turn away even your most enthusiastic early adopters.
To solve this, start by deeply clarifying your community’s purpose and positioning. Craft a one-sentence mission statement and ensure it is highly visible in your group description, onboarding flows, and welcome messages. Create a pinned post or welcome guide that clearly explains who the community is for, what members can expect, and how to get involved.
Use clear, jargon-free language and provide concrete examples of ideal posts and discussions. Reinforce this clarity by highlighting member stories that align with your purpose and regularly reminding the group of your shared goals. Consistent and transparent communication is key.
Best practices include a clear FAQ, regular purpose reminders, and using visuals or videos to explain your mission. Encourage leaders and ambassadors to model purposeful engagement, so new joiners see the community’s values in action.
StickyHive makes it easy to clarify your community’s purpose with customizable onboarding flows, welcome banners, and pinned posts that always stay at the top. Our templated welcome guides help you set clear expectations from the start, while our announcement and featured content tools ensure your mission is always front and center.
StickyHive saves you time by automating welcome messages and providing analytics to see which onboarding steps are most effective. Ready to make your community’s purpose crystal clear? Try StickyHive today and see the difference in engagement.
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