How to Start Networking with the everywoman Community
GROUPS
By creating a group, everywomanNetwork members will be able to network more selectively, through specific industries or areas of interest. Networking through groups and discussions can provide useful contacts, and will help members to contact others within the everywoman community working in similar areas. Groups also help to assemble a wealth of collective knowledge and experience, providing a rich source of support for members seeking guidance.
Creating a group has many residual benefits. Members will be able to create and participate in discussion threads, and also submit resources, including articles, blogs, and videos. Existing resources on the everywoman site can be attached to a group at any stage. Members will be able to use groups to create and advertise events.
Creating a Group
Creating a group is simple. Click on ewNetwork in the main navigation. Through your profile box (right hand column) click ‘Create’. Follow this link and select ‘Group’ - or simply click here >>
All fields with an asterisk [*] must be completed before the group will be created. The Mission Statement should describe your group and promote the benefits of joining. You may wish to consider the following:
- What is the purpose of your group?
- Who are your target members?
- Why might members of everywoman wish to join your group?
If your group has a related field, it is a good idea to select your industry. This becomes a tag for your group, allowing you to target your audience, and allowing members to find the group by interest.
Managing a Group
After the successful creation of your group, the main page displays under its default tab, ‘Home’.
The group can then be edited and managed as follows:
Edit
Members can use the ‘Edit’ tab to alter any of the details submitted during the creation of the group. It can also be used to delete the group.
Message all members
This tab enables a member to message all other members of a group. This may be useful for important announcements. But try not to misuse this feature or you could find that members begin leaving your group.
Joining/Leaving Groups
Join a group by selecting ‘Join’, which can be found beneath the group title on the group’s main page. Members can leave a group in the same way.
Administration
A group manager can appoint other members to be an administrator. Administrators have privileges to look after a group, but they cannot delete it.
Deleting a Group / Transferring Ownership
A group can be deleted by its owner through the ‘Edit’ tab. Group owners who no longer wish to manage a group, but would prefer not to delete it, can transfer their management rights to one of the administrators by Contacting Us.
Populating Groups
It is important for all members that groups become populated with relevant resources and events. This will ensure that posted material can reach the right audience, and it will make networking with the everywoman community a more fulfilling and worthwhile activity. See more on Creating Resources, and more on Participating to help make the most of the groups facility.
DISCUSSIONS
Discussions are ideal for everywoman members to network more selectively. Threads can be created to discuss any topic of relevance, from business issues and events to recommendations for goods and services. Participating in discussions will help members to develop contacts within the everywoman community, and it can prove hugely beneficial in sharing knowledge, best practice, and experience.
There are different types of discussions: discussions in the general forum, which relate to broad categories (for example, Finance and Funding); and discussions which are attached to specific groups. You must become a member of a group to take part in any discussions attached there.
Creating Discussion Threads
There are three ways to create a discussion thread:
1. Through the ‘ewNetwork’ tab on the main menu, and the sub-menu ‘Discussions’. You will see a link below the list of discussions to create a discussion topic.
2. Through your profile box when in the everywomanNetwork (right-hand column). Click ‘Create’, followed by ‘Discussion topic’.
3. Through a group. The ‘Group Discussions’ panel is in the bottom left column. Select ‘Add new discussion topic’.
Or to make things easy - create your discussion here >>
Give your discussion thread a strong, descriptive title, which will encourage other members to follow your thread and participate. Forum participants appreciate the ability to recognise through a thread title whether or not it will be of interest and whether or not they can contribute.
Where to Post Your Discussion
Members should consider carefully where they locate their discussion thread. This will help to keep the discussion area tidy, efficient, and easy to navigate. The majority of topics will fit within existing forum categories, such as ‘Finance and Funding’ or ‘Business and Development Skills’. You can ensure that your thread is categorised correctly in the following ways:
- By visiting the relevant forum category [e.g. Finance and Funding] and selecting ‘Post new Discussion topic’. This will automatically locate your thread within that category.
- By selecting the relevant category when creating a thread using the ‘Discussion’ tab.
- By creating a discussion thread via a group. This will automatically locate your thread within that group.
Contributing to Discussion
If you wish to reply to a current discussion thread, you do not need to create a new discussion thread. Instead, create your reply as a comment to an existing thread. Your comment will be listed below as the most recent contribution to that discussion.
For help on other aspects of the site, you might like to read our other helpful guides: