First: Is This Migration Right for You?
Be honest: Discord is real-time chat. Skool is organized forums with courses. If your community thrives on spontaneous voice calls, screen sharing, and constant chat, they might hate Skool.
Move to Skool if: You want to charge for access, host course content, have organized discussions that don't get buried in chat, and don't need real-time voice/video. Otherwise, keep Discord.
Why People Actually Make This Move
They Want to Monetize
Discord is free, Skool has payment processing built in. Easy transition from free community to paid membership.
They Have Course Content
Discord can't host video courses. Skool has course hosting built in. No need for separate Teachable/Kajabi.
Chat is Too Chaotic
Important messages get buried in Discord. Skool's forum format keeps discussions organized and searchable.
They Want Professional Look
Discord feels like gaming. Skool feels like education. Better for business/coaching communities.
The Big Challenge: Chat vs Forum
| Aspect | Discord (What You Have) | Skool (What You're Moving To) |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Style | Real-time chat, constant flow | Forum posts, deliberate discussions |
| Content Lifespan | Messages disappear in chat history | Posts stay visible and searchable |
| Member Behavior | Quick messages, casual hanging out | Thoughtful posts, structured Q&A |
| Voice/Video | Built-in, heavily used | None - this will be missed |
| Notification Style | Constant pings | Less frequent, more intentional |
⚠️ Warning: Your Community Will Feel Different
This isn't like moving from Facebook to Skool where the format is similar. Discord members are used to chatting constantly. Skool is more like Reddit. Some members will struggle with the change. That's normal.
What Content Actually Transfers
Here's the reality: most Discord chat doesn't need to move. Here's what matters.
✓ Transfer This: Important Guides and Resources
Where it lives in Discord: Pinned messages, resources channel, FAQ channel
How to transfer: Copy/paste into Skool posts in relevant categories. Add better formatting, headers, and organization. This content actually gets better on Skool.
✓ Transfer This: Best Discussions
Where it lives in Discord: Long threads in channels, valuable Q&A
How to transfer: Screenshot or copy the key exchanges and create Skool posts. Format as Q&A. Give credit to original posters. You don't need everything, just the gold.
✓ Transfer This: Community Guidelines
Where it lives in Discord: Rules channel, welcome channel
How to transfer: Rewrite for Skool format as a pinned welcome post. Simplify if possible. Make it clearer.
✗ Don't Transfer: Daily Chat
Why: Casual chat doesn't translate to forums. "Hey what's everyone working on today?" makes sense in Discord, not Skool. Let it go.
✗ Don't Transfer: Old Announcements
Why: Past announcements are archived content. No one needs to see your December 2023 update. Start fresh on Skool.
? Maybe Transfer: Memes and Inside Jokes
Consider: If you have legendary memes or inside jokes that define your culture, create one fun "Community Highlights" post. But don't overdo it. You're building something new.
The Migration Checklist
Follow this order. Don't skip steps.
1. Set Up Skool Community
Create account, configure categories, add branding, write welcome post. Don't announce anything yet.
2. Transfer Key Content
Move your top 10-15 most valuable resources, guides, and discussions. Make Skool look lived-in.
3. Set Up Pricing (If Monetizing)
Connect Stripe, set pricing tiers, decide on free vs paid access. Test the payment flow yourself.
4. Upload Courses (If Applicable)
If you have video content, upload it to Skool's course section. Organize into modules. Test video playback.
5. Create Tutorial Video
Record 3-minute Loom showing how to join Skool. Show every click. Address the "it's different from Discord" concern upfront.
6. Schedule Initial Content
Schedule 5-7 posts to go live in Skool during week 1. Make it feel active. Use StickyHive to schedule ahead.
7. Announce in Discord
Make a clear announcement explaining why you're moving and what's different. Be honest about Skool not having voice chat.
8. Invite Early Adopters
DM your 20 most active Discord members. Get them on Skool first to create momentum.
9. Post Skool Link Publicly
Share in Discord multiple times. Discord suppresses links, so post it as text, in images, and spoken in voice channels.
10. Run Both for 2-3 Weeks
Stay active in Discord while building Skool momentum. Gradually shift focus to Skool.
11. Decide on Discord's Future
Keep it for voice calls? Make it read-only? Close it completely? Choose based on your community's needs.
Realistic Timeline
Setup & Content Transfer
- Create Skool community
- Transfer key content
- Set up courses/pricing
- Schedule initial posts
Announce & Early Access
- Announce in Discord
- Share tutorial video
- Invite top members
- Answer questions
Public Launch
- Post Skool link widely
- Welcome new members
- Stay active in both
- Address concerns
Transition Complete
- Reduce Discord activity
- Focus on Skool growth
- Decide Discord's fate
- Celebrate the switch
Should You Keep Discord?
Keep Discord Active If:
- ✓ Your community loves voice calls and that's not negotiable
- ✓ You want a free tier on Discord and paid tier on Skool
- ✓ Real-time chat is essential for your use case
Common setup: Skool for courses and organized Q&A, Discord for casual chat and voice calls. Members get both when they join.
Close Discord If:
- ✗ You want everyone focused in one place
- ✗ Managing two communities is too much work
- ✗ Skool's forum format works better for your content
Middle ground: Make Discord read-only. Keep it archived so people can reference old content but all new activity happens on Skool.
What Community Managers Actually Say
"Had 800 people on Discord, moved 300 to Skool. The other 500? They wanted to hang out and chat, not pay for courses. That's fine. The 300 who moved are my actual customers now, paying $49/month. Best business decision I made."
— Ryan K., Course Creator
"Kept both running. Discord for daily voice coworking sessions, Skool for course content and structured discussions. Members love having both options. It's extra work but the engagement is worth it."
— Maya P., Productivity Community
"The hardest part was getting people to post thoughtfully instead of just dropping quick messages. Took about 3 weeks before the culture shifted. Scheduling posts with StickyHive before launch helped a lot."
— Carlos M., Business Coaching
Common Migration Mistakes
❌ Mistake: Trying to Replicate Discord
Creating a category for every Discord channel. Skool isn't Discord. Start simple with 3-5 categories. You can always add more later.
❌ Mistake: Empty Skool on Launch
Inviting everyone to Skool when it has zero posts. Looks dead. Schedule 5-10 posts before you announce the migration. Make it look alive.
❌ Mistake: Not Addressing the Voice Chat Loss
Pretending Skool has everything Discord has. It doesn't. Address this upfront or keep Discord for voice. Don't ignore the elephant in the room.
❌ Mistake: Moving Too Fast
Announcing on Monday, closing Discord on Friday. Give people 3-4 weeks minimum. Change is hard.
Schedule Posts Before You Migrate
Set up your Skool content calendar before announcing the move. Schedule welcome posts, discussion prompts, and key content so Skool feels active from day one.
✓ Schedule posts across Skool, Discord, and other platforms
✓ Automated welcome sequences for new Skool members
✓ AI moderation to maintain quality discussions
✓ Member analytics to track engagement
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