
Social Media
Everything You Want To Know About Community Platforms
By TechDogs Editorial Team

Overview
After all, the digital age is all about staying connected - virtually, at least. That's where Community Platforms are literally connecting the world. Community Platforms enable people all over the world to virtually meet up online using a computer, mobile phone, or other devices.
In the professional landscape, platforms like Slack, Teamwork and Trello facilitate communication between distributed teams (e.g., people working from various locations) and help employees communicate better even if they're all working from the same place.
Quite frankly, you would be more left out than Boyle if it were not for Community Platforms. It is only fair to get to know all Community Platforms and what they have in store for us.
So, what are you waiting for? Read on.
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For a basic understanding of how Community Platforms work, look no further than Disney. Their 2012 movie, Wreck-It Ralph, is set in an imaginary world of video games whose characters are connected via a virtual Grand Central Station.
Characters from different games can pass through Grand Central where they can chat, congregate and even visit each other's games. There are also separate rooms where people can gather in small, private groups, as with Ralph's villain support group, Bad-Anon.
Of course, you probably don't need Disney to help you understand what a Community Platform is. If you've used Facebook, LinkedIn, Slack, Teamwork, Dropbox, or similar tools, then you get it. In any case, we will spell it out for you in our #TechDogsTribe style!
What Are Community Platforms?
Community Platforms help people collaborate, share data and interact. Platforms connect people who are geographically separated, by enabling them to virtually meet up online, using a computer, smartphone, or other mobile devices. They also facilitate communication for employees working in the same location. Businesses use Community Platforms because they provide an easy (and secure) way for staff to share information, store files, track projects, manage email and chat. Higher Logic, a Community Platform provider, found that 63% of communities empower their members frequently or all the time by enabling them to ask questions, provide solutions, connect and be seen and heard.
Community Platforms also enable businesses to connect with customers. Branded online community engagement helps build trust with an organization's customers and community members, provide centrally located interventions, handle customer service inquiries and act as a stored knowledge base for all brand-related issues. Platforms like Slack, Teamwork and Trello are project-oriented and are designed for businesses. They facilitate communication and help employees manage projects regardless of their location.

In Wreck-It Ralph's world, characters can mingle and share resources via the Community Platform (read: Grand Central Station). In the real world, Community Platforms have a variety of functions and utilities. It's helpful to understand the origin of these platforms before delving into exactly how and where they're used.
A Brief Evolution Of Community Platforms
Community Platforms emerged early in the lifecycle of the internet. Before Wi-Fi and 5G, you needed a telephone and modem to connect computers to community networks. #90sKidsRemember
Raise your hand if you remember the 1983 movie Wargames. (Side note: We are a bunch of oldies!) Anyway, there's a scene in Wargames where the main character, David Light, uses the telephone in his bedroom to dial into his school's computer network so he can change his girlfriend's grades.

The community network, in this case, is the school's computer system. David can only access this system by connecting his remote machine (the large cardboard-box-looking thing in his bedroom), to the school's network via his telephone line. He gains access by using a password he stole from the principal's desk. This brings us to another characteristic of Community Platforms - they're gated. You need a password and/or user profile to gain access.
Here's a rough timeline of how Community Platforms, including social media, evolved:
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Virtual Bulletin board systems (BBSs) were the first iteration of Community Platforms. They began popping up as early as the 1970s. These were very rudimentary versions of what we consider Community Platforms, with only one person being able to access the BBS at a time.
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Online platforms like CompuServe, Prodigy and Genie emerged in the mid-eighties and early nineties. In 1988, AOL rose to prominence, combining a variety of functions into one insight community platform including internet access, email, instant messaging and chatrooms/groups.
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Internet Chat Relays (IRCs) appeared in the late 1980s. They enabled users to chat in groups called channels and exchange files and links.
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Dating websites, forums and peer-to-peer chat programs (e.g., AOL Instant Messenger) that required users to create profiles preceded the earliest Community Platforms but only barely.
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In 1997, Six Degrees was launched. It was the first social network where users could create profiles and connect with people.
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LiveJournal, a network launched in 1999, added community functionality including the ability to create groups, status updates and blog posts.
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Modern Community Platforms came next, including the now-defunct Friendster and MySpace (in 2002 and 2003) and Facebook in 2004. LinkedIn, a platform aimed at business professionals, launched in 2002.
The above tools, services and platforms formed the bones of what we've come to regard as the modern Community Platform.
How Do Community Platforms Work?
Community Platforms bring people together in a gated, virtual environment. Most platforms require users to create a profile before they can access the network (the way young David gained access to his school's platform). Community Platforms for business use aren't quite the same as social media platforms, though they employ similar tools.
While social media facilities groups and one-on-one communication, it's filled with distraction (ads, games, memes, etc.) There's also the issue of privacy and functionality. While you can share files on platforms like Facebook, the question is - should you? Also, it's not clear who owns the content that's posted to a Facebook group.
Community Platform software that's designed for businesses is secure and gives businesses ownership over their data and content. Features include:
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A Simple User Interface
it's easy to use and facilitates customer support or employee engagement that makes it easy to exchange and share information.
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Multi-channel Functionality
It's easy to access regardless of the user's device or operating system. A mobile app is essential.
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Integrations
It integrates with business tools like Google Drive, Microsoft Office and Trello.
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Group Collaboration Tools
Users can create projects, assign tasks, share files and notes and chat within the community tool's interface. Tools like group calendars, planning boards/flowcharts and master lists of contacts or files add even more functionality.
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Secure Login/Profiles
As with social media platforms, community platforms for businesses require that users create a login or profile within the platform. This facilitates security and allows for added functionality (e.g., assigning access levels to different users).
Types Of Community Platforms
There are several types of Community Platforms to serve businesses. These include marketing, enterprise and online communities. Here's a breakdown of all three.
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Marketing Platforms
connect their small businesses with their customers in a secure, gated environment and facilitate collaboration between brand community managers, customers and internal teams using tools like bulletin boards, chat, file sharing/storage and project timelines.
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Enterprise Platforms
are all about internal operations. They facilitate business processes with tools like content storage/sharing, discussion boards, event management and membership features. Most include chat/messaging/forum functionality too. Tools in this category include Hivebrite, Disciple and Vanilla.
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Online Community Platforms
like Slack strengthen business and personal communities by focusing on communication (think "chat" on steroids). These tools enable people to meet individually and in groups in real-time via video conferencing, instant messaging and web conferencing. Tools include Microsoft Teams, Cisco Jabber and Skype.
Why Do We Need Community Platforms?
The way we work and live is becoming increasingly virtual. Platforms with built-in functionalities that include chat, conferencing/meeting applications, file sharing and planning tools are the best way for remote workers and distributed teams to communicate. Community Platforms have revolutionized communication. Advances in technology have propelled us way past the days when we could only connect to communities and networks via a landline (or in-person). Now, all you need is a phone or a computer to be part of an online community
These critical tools help us avoid business disruptions, bring distributed teams together and foster secure collaboration.
Some of the benefits include:
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Streamlined communications
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Collaboration in a secure environment
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A centrally located and accessible knowledge archive
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Access to an online community from any location
The Future Of Community Platforms Is Bright!
Community Platform adoption will continue to grow as businesses and consumers embrace digital transformation and become even more comfortable with using social media and insight to connect. A study by Microsoft found that 33% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 have reached out to a company with a customer service question via social media and 55% have praised a brand community over a positive social media customer loyalty experience.
Digital natives like millennials who currently make up more than 50% of the workforce and Gen Z are comfortable collaborating online. Both groups have high expectations for the way companies use community software technology and have grown up using social media. They'll expect the companies they work for and interact with to provide robust collaboration tools.
Finally, as user expectations grow and our understanding and implementation of Community Platforms increases, the technology will continue to adapt and advance, adding functionality, integrations and features that make these tools essential for modern life.
In The End
In today's day and age, staying connected is key to making business functions seamless and efficient - Community Platforms are crucial for that. In fact, Community Platforms are more than just software that helps in real-time messaging, file sharing and communication and collaboration. They are the channels for making analytics-driven teamwork work for teams that are not in the same vicinity.
Community Platforms is not the only technology that's becoming extremely important for teams, there are innumerable others too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Community Platforms, and how do they benefit businesses?
Community Platforms are online tools designed to facilitate collaboration, data sharing, and interaction among individuals or groups, whether they are geographically separated or located in the same workspace. These platforms provide a secure environment for employees to communicate, share information, store files, track projects, and manage email and chat. They empower members by enabling them to ask questions, provide solutions, and connect with others. For businesses, Community Platforms foster internal communication, enhance productivity, and streamline operations. Moreover, they allow organizations to engage with customers, build trust, handle customer inquiries, and serve as a centralized knowledge base, ultimately enhancing brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.
How have Community Platforms evolved over time?
Community Platforms have undergone significant evolution since their inception. They originated with virtual bulletin board systems (BBSs) in the 1970s and expanded with the emergence of online platforms like AOL, CompuServe, and Prodigy in the 1980s and 1990s. The introduction of internet chat relays (IRCs) enabled group communication and file sharing. Social networks like Six Degrees and LiveJournal introduced profile creation and community features, paving the way for modern Community Platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Today, Community Platforms offer a wide range of functionalities tailored to businesses, including secure user profiles, group collaboration tools, and integrations with essential business software.
What types of Community Platforms are available for businesses?
Businesses can choose from various types of Community Platforms to suit their specific needs. Marketing Platforms focus on connecting businesses with customers, fostering collaboration, and providing tools for brand community management. Enterprise Platforms are designed for internal operations, facilitating business processes, content storage, and discussion among employees. Online Community Platforms, such as Slack and Microsoft Teams, emphasize real-time communication and collaboration, enabling individuals and groups to interact via video conferencing, instant messaging, and web conferencing. Each type offers distinct features and benefits, catering to different organizational requirements and objectives.
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