Weekly Wonder: Engagement Strategies for a Thriving CUG

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Hello CUG Members!

Welcome to this week’s edition of Weekly Wonder! Today, we’re diving into all things engagement — exploring ways to keep your community active and involved. Engagement serves as the cornerstone of a successful user group. To sustain an active and involved membership, it is essential to implement a combination of strategy, creativity, and consistency. Here are some methods to ensure that your CUG remains dynamic and engaging.

Plan Interactive Meetings

As you plan your group’s inaugural meeting, invite members to introduce themselves. This practice cultivates a sense of community, enabling members to connect and discover shared interests. It is essential to maintain a safe and respectful environment for everyone, promoting kindness and inclusivity. Once your group establishes a regular meeting schedule, consider implementing smaller group discussions through breakout rooms. This strategy not only enhances networking opportunities among participants but also encourages deeper, more meaningful conversations. By allowing attendees to engage in more intimate settings, you can promote open dialogue and strengthen connections within the group.

💡 Pro tip: Mix it up and include diverse formats! Plan and organize workshops with Atlassian product experts in your company, AMA sessions, demos, or casual networking sessions to bring members together. Remember to record any virtual sessions for those who can’t attend live.

Encourage Two-Way Participation

• Consider incorporating interactive tools such as polls and Q&A, collaborative documents, task trackers, and whiteboards in your CUG meetings. These tools not only boost participant engagement but also ensure that everyone has the chance to share their thoughts and ideas.

• Encourage members to lead sessions on topics they’re passionate about, whether it’s an Atlassian tool they’ve mastered or a project they’ve completed. Invite them to help organize events and take on roles such as discussion moderators or breakout room facilitators. These opportunities make members feel valued and invested, turning passive attendees into active contributors.

• Spotlight member projects and encourage them to share their experiences and success stories to inspire and uplift the community. This creates a positive feedback loop that further drives engagement and strengthens connections among members.

• Regularly seek feedback from your community members to understand their needs and preferences. Conduct surveys to gather insights on what they like, what they want more of, and areas for improvement. Use this feedback to make informed decisions and show your community that their opinions matter.

💡 Pro tip: For a head start, check out the pre- and post-meeting surveys included in the CUG All-in-One Kit.

Consistent Communication is Key

Keeping members informed is essential for enhancing engagement. Regular communication ensures that everyone is aware of upcoming meetings, events, and important announcements.

• Consider creating a dedicated announcements channel within whichever chat platform your company uses – whether it’s Slack, Microsoft Teams, or another tool. Regularly share engaging articles, blog posts, videos, or valuable resources. Pose questions to spark discussions and encourage members to share their insights and experiences.

💡 Pro tip: If you are a workspace admin or moderator, remember to maintain an active presence within your group and respond promptly to messages and inquiries. Regularly seek feedback from members on how to improve the group and make it more engaging.

• Develop a monthly newsletter to keep members consistently informed. Include updates on Atlassian products, upcoming meeting and event dates, and feature a spotlight on one of your CUG members. This will help foster a sense of community and ensure everyone stays connected.

💡 Pro tip: Recognizing and celebrating member contributions is a great way to boost engagement. Highlight top contributors in your newsletter, feature their content, or create a "Member of the Month" spotlight. Recognition not only motivates the recognized members but also inspires others to contribute more actively.

What Strategies Have Helped You?

Remember, the more you invest in engagement, the more active and thriving your community will become. We’d love to hear your insights! What’s one specific thing you’ve done in your community to boost engagement? Was it a specific activity, a type of content, or a unique way of connecting with members? Share your experience in the comments below.