The GroupApp Guide to Setting up Your First Community

This guide walks you through setting up your GroupApp community—from creating channels to welcoming your first members. 

How to Use This Guide

You'll get everything you need to hit the ground running, with a clear breakdown of essential features, what they do, and how to make the most of them. Plus, you’ll find links to help articles so you can explore further whenever you need.

If you prefer videos, check out our 20-minute walkthrough video below.

How to Create Your GroupApp Community in 5 Minutes

Setting up your learning community on GroupApp is quick and easy—you can do it in under five minutes!

Here’s how:

  1. Sign up for GroupApp for free and verify your account. → [Click here]

  2. Name your community. Keep it clear and memorable.

  3. Add a short description. Let members know what to expect.

  4. Choose a custom subdomain. Make it simple and easy to find.

  5. Select a currency. Make payments seamless for your members.

  6. Click on Continue.

And just like that, your learning community is set up and ready for customization!

The Admin Panel — Your Starting Point

Once you’re done, you’ll be taken straight to your Community Admin Panel and you’ll land on the People Tab. (See the image below)

This is your starting point—you’ll find all the tools and options on the left, to start building! In this guide, we’ll explore the core features of the left-side menu in the admin panel.

If you prefer learning through videos, click the Getting Started button in the top right to access a guided video checklist covering every feature in detail.

Making Your Community Look and Feel Like Yours

With GroupApp’s Branding features, you can customize your community’s look and feel to match your brand’s identity. A strong, cohesive brand builds trust and makes your space feel polished and professional.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Upload Your Community Image & Logo: Make a strong first impression with visuals that represent your brand.

  • Set a Favicon: Customize the browser tab icon for a polished, branded experience.

  • Choose Your Colors: Match your community’s look with custom brand colors or pick from ready-made themes.

  • Email White Labeling: Use your business email for all community emails, reinforcing trust and professionalism.

Your community should feel like your space—GroupApp makes it easy to make it your own.

How to access and configure branding options

  1. Go to Admin Panel.

  2. Click on Branding in the left-side menu.

  3. Configure options, and upload your community cover, logo, and favicon.

  4. Add your brand colors.

  5. Click on Save.

Personalizing Your Profile 

Your profile isn’t just a bio—it’s the first impression you make as a leader. GroupApp helps you craft a strong presence so members instantly know who you are and what your community is about.

Here’s what you can do:

  1. Add a profile picture: Let people put a face to your name.

  2. Write a strong headline and bio: Show who you are and what you’re about.

  3. Link your socials, contact details, and location: Make it easy for people to connect.

How to personalize your profile

  1. Click on the Profile Icon.

  2. Select Profile Details from the dropdown.

  3. Click on the Edit Icon and edit your details.

  4. Click on Edit Photo to upload your profile image.

  5. Click on Save Changes.

A complete profile builds trust and helps you stand out—don’t skip this step!

Customizing Your Onboarding Experience

Your onboarding process sets the tone for new members. GroupApp gives you five key features to create a smooth and welcoming onboarding experience:

About Page

Your About Page is the first thing potential members see before joining, helping them understand your community at a glance.

  • Showcase your community’s purpose with a title, tagline, and visuals.

  • Give potential members a clear reason to join before they even sign up.

  • Highlight membership plans, FAQs, and key details to attract the right members.

Welcome Screen

A personalized welcome screen helps new members feel at home and understand what to do next.

  • Greet members with a title, description, and welcome video.

  • Introduce your community’s culture, values, and key features.

  • Provide clear next steps to help members get started right away.

Profile Fields

Custom profile fields let you gather relevant details to personalize the community experience.

  • Go beyond basic fields to collect valuable member insights.

  • Encourage deeper connections by showcasing shared interests.

  • Tailor engagement based on members’ backgrounds and goals.

Introductions

Help new members introduce themselves in a dedicated channel with guided prompts.

  • Provide a welcome message with a template or key questions.

  • Encourage structured introductions that spark engagement.

  • Make it easy for members to share and connect from day one.

Emails

Customized emails set expectations and create an engaging first touchpoint.

  • Personalize welcome and invite emails to reflect your community’s tone.

  • Provide clear guidance and next steps for new members.

  • Keep the momentum going and drive early engagement.

A strong onboarding experience makes new members feel informed and ready to engage in your community.

How to access all onboarding options

  1. Go to Admin Panel.

  2. Navigate the left-side menu.

  3. Click on Onboarding.

Explore all our help articles on Member Onboarding here.

Create & Set up Your Community Channels

Think of Channels like TV channels—each one focuses on a specific topic, making it easy for members to find what interests them or what they need without getting lost in unrelated discussions. 

Just like you wouldn’t expect to find a cooking show on a sports channel, GroupApp Channels help you create dedicated spaces for different conversations, resources, and interactions. Whether it’s a Q&A space, a course discussion, or an exclusive members-only chat, Channels keep everything structured and engaging.

Your community starts with three default channels:

  1. Discussions: For general conversations and sharing insights.

  2. Introductions: A space for new members to introduce themselves.

  3. Ask for Help: Where members can seek advice and support.

You have full control over your channels:

How to create a new channel

  1. Go to Admin Panel.

  2. Navigate the left-side menu.

  3. Click on Channels.

  4. Click on the Create New button.

  5. Add channel name, description, and cover image.

  6. Set access level, channel layout, and visibility.

  7. Configure all options.

  8. Click on the Save Channel Button.

Tip: We don’t recommend adding too many channels upfront. Start with what’s essential and expand gradually based on your community’s needs.

Learn how to configure access for Channels

Configuring Your Home Page

Your home page sets the tone for your community. It’s the first thing members see, so make it count! 

Here’s what you can set up:

  1. Cover Image: Set the visual tone for your community.

  2. Announcements: Share community-wide announcements and make resources easily accessible for members.

  3. Suggested Content: Highlight the most important and latest resources.

  4. Upcoming Events: Keep members informed about what’s coming up.

  5. New Members: Showcase recent members to encourage connections.

How to configure your community home page

  1. Go to Admin Panel.

  2. Click on Homepage in the left-side menu.

  3. Upload the homepage cover image and add the announcement card.

  4. Configure suggested content, new member mentions, and upcoming events to be displayed on the homepage.

  5. Toggle each to activate or deactivate.

  6. Click the Save button.

Learn more about Community Home Page Configuration.

Creating Events & Managing Events

Keep your learners engaged by running events directly within your community. 

With built-in event management, you can:

  1. Keep members informed with a clear event calendar.

  2. Ensure attendees never miss a session with RSVPs and reminders.

  3. Make scheduling easy with confirmations and an “Add to Calendar” option.

  4. Extend engagement with post-event discussions and key takeaways.

  5. Set event access as free, paid, one-time, or limited to specific plans and segments.

How You Can Use Events

  • Run live training sessions and workshops.

  • Host weekly office hours for member support.

  • Organize virtual conferences or summits.

  • Manage registrations for in-person events.

Seamlessly plan, execute, and keep the momentum going!

How to create a new event

  1. Go to Admin Panel.

  2. Click on Events in the left-side menu.

  3. Click on Create New Event.

  4. Enter an event name and click on Next.

  5. Provide the date and time.

  6. Upload the event cover image and add a description.

  7. Set access level and add reminder emails.

  8. Add a price (if any)

  9. Configure remaining options.

  10. Click Save and Publish.

Find out all our Help Articles on Events here.

Creating Your Online Courses

GroupApp’s course builder lets you create structured, interactive learning experiences that keep members engaged.

What You Can Do:

  1. Structured Learning: Organize content into modules and sections for a smooth learning flow.

  2. Multiple Lesson Type: Use videos, web links, text, PDFs, and downloadable resources for a richer learning experience.

  3. Interactive Assignments & Quizzes: Add assignments, enforce submissions, and track learner progress.

  4. Flexible Pricing & Access: Set up multiple pricing tiers and control who gets access.

  5. Expert-Led Content: Add presenters to bring more value to your courses.

  6. Seamless Community Integration: Link courses to discussion channels for deeper engagement.

  7. Resource Sharing: Attach downloadable files to each lesson for extra support.

How You Can Use GroupApp Courses:

  • Community-Based Learning: Create interactive, member-driven courses.

  • Self-Paced Training: Design engaging courses learners can complete at their own pace.

  • Certification Programs: Build structured programs with completion tracking.

  • Cohort-Based Learning: Run time-bound, group-based learning experiences.

  • Corporate Training: Manage internal training programs for teams.

Check out our help articles on creating and launching your course.

Uploading & Organizing Your Resource Library

The Resource Library lets you store, organize, and share learning materials—all in one place. 

  1. Keeps Resources Accessible: Members can find and revisit key materials anytime.

  2. Simplifies Organization: Neatly categorize PDFs, videos, and worksheets for easy discovery.

  3. Enhances Learning: Provide structured content that supports courses and events.

  4. Strengthens Engagement: Offer reference materials to keep discussions and training active.

  5. Generates Revenue: Sell premium resources with controlled access options.

How to create a new library resource

  1. Go to Admin Panel.

  2. Click on Library in the left-side menu.

  3. Click on Create New.

  4. Enter a name for the resource and select the type.

  5. Upload a thumbnail image and enter a description.

  6. Set access level and visibility.

  7. Click on Save and then Publish.

Check out our help articles on Resource Library.

Monetizing Your Community And Content

Turn your knowledge and community engagement into a sustainable revenue stream. With flexible pricing options, you can charge for access to exclusive content, events, and learning experiences.

What You Can Do:

  1. Create Membership Subscriptions: Offer paid tiers with exclusive perks to build a thriving, high-value community.

  2. Sell Courses, Events & Resources: Monetize your expertise by offering paid access to courses, premium events, and valuable resources.

  3. Customize Pricing: Set up one-time payments, subscriptions, or tiered plans to match your audience’s needs.

  4. Attract & Retain Members: Use coupons and special offers to encourage sign-ups and long-term engagement.

Learn more:

Managing Your Community Members

Keep your community organized and running smoothly with powerful member management tools using:

People Tab

The People section gives you a complete overview of your members, including their email, profile photo, name, member type, and subscription status.

What You Can Do:

  • Remove, cancel subscriptions, or block multiple members at once.

  • Access individual member records.

  • Add or remove members from courses, channels, segments, or library content.

  • Manage invitations for potential members.

Learn more about member management here.

Segments

Segments help you categorize members within your community, allowing you to personalize their experience and control access to content.

What You Can Do:

  • Tag members based on interests, activity, or membership level.

  • Control access to specific courses, channels, and library content.

  • Use segments to personalize communication and engagement strategies.

  • Easily update or modify segment assignments as your community evolves.

How to create a new segment

  1. Go to Admin Panel.

  2. Click on Segments in the left-side menu

  3. Click on the Create Segments button.

  4. Enter a name and description.

  5. Click on Create Segment.

Learn how to add members to a segment and more.

Invite Your First Members

Easily grow your community by bringing in your first members with flexible invite options. Whether you're inviting a few individuals or onboarding large groups, you can control access, roles, and permissions for a seamless experience.

Three Invite Options & When to Use Them

  1. Individual Invite by Email: Best for inviting a small number of members manually. Enter up to 10 emails at a time to send personalized invitations.

  2. Bulk CSV Upload: Ideal for inviting larger groups at once. Upload a CSV file with member details. You can invite up to 50 members per day using this method.

  3. Invite by Link: Create pre-configured, reusable invite links that grant specific access levels to coaching groups, course cohorts, or subscription-based members.

Tip: Set up invite permissions in advance to ensure new members get the right access from the start. This saves time, streamlines onboarding, and keeps your community organized.

How to access and configure invite options

  1. Go to Admin Panel.

  2. Click on People in the left-side menu.

  3. Click on the Invite Member button.

  4. Choose your preferred invite option and configure it.

  5. Click on Send Invite.

Learn More:

How to invite members through invite links

How to invite members through email

How to Bulk CSV Invite Members

Customize Your Community’s Core Settings

Your community, your rules. The Community Settings panel lets you control key aspects of how your space operates.

Here’s what you can do:

  1. Set Privacy: Choose between an Open or Closed community.

  2. Define Currency & Time Zone: Ensure pricing and events align with your audience.

  3. Customize Navigation: Hide or edit menus for a cleaner experience.

  4. Add Community Links: Make important resources easily accessible.

  5. Manage Notifications: Configure how members receive updates.

  6. Control Sign-Ups: Open or close new member registrations anytime.

  7. Enable or Disable Direct Messaging: Choose if members can message each other.

Fine-tune these settings to shape the experience you want for your community.

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More Tools to Power Your Community

GroupApp has even more features to help you grow, engage, and monetize your community. Beyond the essentials, here’s what you can explore next:

  • Workflows: Automate repetitive tasks, save time, and focus on community growth.

  • Landing Page Builder: Create no-code sales pages for your courses, coaching programs, and memberships that convert.

  • Integrations & Webhooks: Sync your community data with your favorite tools.

  • Analytics: Track community growth, engagement, content performance, and much more.

  • Branding: Customize your community’s look and feel.

  • Certificates: Issue certificates for completed courses and programs.

  • Moderation: Create a safe space with member roles and post approvals.

Keep building and growing—there’s plenty more to discover inside GroupApp! 

Next Steps

How to Get Help

If at any point you need help, simply click the blue help icon in the bottom right corner while logged in on the web, and a GroupApp team member will be there to assist you.

Want to figure things out on your own? Dive into our Help Center—it’s packed with articles on everything you need to know.

Your setup is complete—now, it’s time to grow and engage!

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