Design a simple, member-centric community structure aligned to your goals and personas.
Reference Previous Worksheets
Use your:
- Persona Development Worksheet
- Community Goal Planning Worksheet
to guide your structure decisions.
SECTION 1: Define the Purpose of Your Structure
Your community structure should help members:
- find value quickly
- get support easily
- stay engaged over time
Before planning categories or groups, define what your structure needs to support.
What should your community structure help members accomplish?
What should members be able to find quickly?
What would make the experience feel simple and intuitive?
SECTION 2: Review Your Key Personas
Review the personas you identified previously.
What does each persona need most when entering the community?
Persona | What Do They Need First? | What Type of Space or Content Would Help Most? |
|---|
Newbie Nora | Clear onboarding guidance | Start Here hub |
SECTION 3: Identify Your Core Structure Elements
Most communities are built using a combination of:
- Knowledge Base
- Categories
- Groups
Define the purpose of each area before building it.
Structure Element | Purpose | Who Is It For? |
|---|
Knowledge Base | Tutorials and support resources | All Members |
SECTION 4: Map Structure to Member Needs
Structure your community around:
- member questions
- goals
- support needs
NOT:
- internal departments
- org charts
- product teams
Member Need or Goal | Recommended Community Space | Why This Helps |
|---|
Learn how to get started | Start Here category | Reduces onboarding friction |
SECTION 5: Plan Your Starting Experience
When a new member joins, where should they go first?
Starting Point for New Members
What content or actions should appear first?
How will members understand where to go next?
SECTION 6: Simplify Before Launch
Structure Review Checklist
Review your draft structure for common issues.
Question | Yes | Needs Review |
|---|
Is the structure easy to understand? | ☐ | ☐ |
Are category names member-friendly? | ☐ | ☐ |
Is important content easy to find? | ☐ | ☐ |
Are there too many categories or spaces? | ☐ | ☐ |
Does each area have a clear purpose? | ☐ | ☐ |
Is there a clear starting point for new members? | ☐ | ☐ |
SECTION 7: Launch Small & Expand Intentionally
You do not need to launch with every possible category or program.
Identify the minimum structure needed to support members effectively at launch.
What is essential for launch?
What could wait until later?
What feedback would help you improve the structure over time?
SECTION 8: Draft Your Community Structure
Sketch or Outline Your Initial Structure
Include:
- Main categories
- Key groups
- Knowledge Base areas
- New member starting point
SECTION 9: Reflection & Next Steps
Which part of your structure feels strongest?
Where might members still experience friction?
What part of the experience should be improved first after launch?
Does your structure support the member journey effectively?
Download the worksheet and get started!