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ONLINE COMMUNITY - Setup Options

During the setup of an Online Community, the community's owner/administrator determines both Community Access and Community Type. Community Access determines how people, including members, will access the community. Community Type determines how people join the community. These settings may be changed at any time.

QUICK KEY
Access	Means	Type	Means
Restricted:	Login required to access	Subscription:	Membership fee required to join
Private:	Anyone with link can access	Gated:	Manager approval required to join
		Open:	Anyone can join for free

Community Access

A private community's web address (link) is not listed nor published anywhere on WebHelps.com. The only way for someone to get the link to your community is if you give it to them, such as by putting the link on your web site.

You would setup a private community if you want your community to be accessible to visitors *without login*. All features of the community (for which you have placed links on your community pages) will be accessible to visitors, but visitors will not be able to participate in any community activities that you have designated as "members only." Nor will visitors have any use of the free services members receiving upon joining your community (web site, email/webmail, instant messenger, address book, and photo album).

A restricted community is only accessible to members, who must login to access the community's homepage.

You would setup a restricted community if you do *not* want your community to be accessible by visitors. A members-only community has navigational benefits for members that a private community does not. Members need only login once to enter the community and then may navigate throughout the community and their free services without having to login again to access restricted areas.

Community Type:

With an open community, anyone may join for free

You would setup an open community if you want a wide variety of people you probably do not know, and who do not know eachother, to join your community

With a subscription community, the *only* criteria for membership is the payment of a membership fee and once the the fee has been paid the prospective member is automatically accepted. [How This Works]

You would setup a subscription community if people must pay a membership fee to join, and that is the only membership requirement. If there are additional membership requirements, (e.g. members must belong to an organization; members must be over a certain age) you would setup a gated community (see next)

With a gated community, new members must be approved by the community's administrator/manager. Generally, there are specific criteria for membership, including, or in addition to, the payment of a membership fee. However, such criteria is optional, and acceptance for membership may be in the administrator's sole discretion. [How This Works]

You would setup a gated community if you want to control who is allowed to join.