#101 How To Structure Your Community For Success

This week I built out an SOP (standard operating procedure) for my membership/program audit projects so they are a more repeatable and scalable offer within the business. (Ahem – please reply to nerd out on agency SOPs because I am in deeeeeep right now).

Here are the high level categories we audit:

1. Onboarding Flow

2. Structure (Architecture / Organization)

3. Programming (Events / Content Drops)

4. Forum & Engagement

Then there's lots of optional sections depending what the client asks for review of, and what we notice as an opportunity area: pricing, funnel, sales page, platform, content, etc.

I recently wrote one of my most popular articles to date – ​How To Design An Incredible Onboarding Experience​.

So today I'm digging into the next most important category – how to structure your community for success.

Let’s get into it –

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One of the most overlooked aspects of a membership or program is its structure – the way everything is organized, labeled, and navigated.

A well-structured community reduces friction, increases engagement, and makes it easier for members to find what they need.

Poor structure leads to confusion, frustration, and ultimately, bad engagement or cancellations. If people don’t know where to go or what to do, they’re less likely to participate.

#1 Rule? Keep It Simple!

A common mistake in community design is overcomplicating the layout. More spaces, categories, and sections don’t necessarily mean better organization. In fact, too much clutter can create decision fatigue and overwhelm members before they even get started.

When evaluating your community’s structure, ask yourself:

• Is it easy to navigate?

• Can a member quickly find where things are?

• Is it clear where to start? (This ties directly to ​onboarding​.)

• Does the information architecture (IA) feel overwhelming, or does it guide members intuitively?

• Is there a mobile-friendly version? Is it just as functional as the desktop experience?

If the answer to any of these is “no” or “I’m not sure,” there’s room to simplify and optimize.

5 Strategies To Improve Your Structure

(1) Reduce clicks

The fewer clicks it takes for someone to get to where they need to be, the better. If an important section is buried three or four clicks deep, most members won’t bother looking for it. Keep key areas no more than two clicks away from the main landing page.

(2) Use clear labels

Avoid clever or vague names for your spaces. “The Lounge” might sound fun, but if it’s meant to be a Q&A space, just call it “Q&A.” When in doubt, prioritize clarity over creativity.

(3) Establish a “Start Here” section

I covered this in depth when we talked about ​onboarding​. Your structure should immediately guide members to their first steps. Whether it’s a pinned post, a dedicated welcome space, or an onboarding mini-course, make it obvious where they should begin.

(4) Create logical categories

Every section should serve a clear purpose. Here’s an example of a clean, simple structure for a community:

• Welcome & Onboarding – A clear “Start Here” guide.

• Community Discussions – A general discussion area, meet-ups space, and place to get help and feedback.

• Events & Programming – Upcoming live sessions, replays, or ongoing challenges.

• Resources & Content – Access to important guides, templates, or member-exclusive content.

If your community is content-heavy, take careful consideration with the folders you use, and search filter labels. There is a fine line between a library of helpful resources, and an overwhelming list to sift through.

(5) Optimize for Mobile

Many members will access your community from their phones. Test your structure on mobile to ensure that navigation is just as intuitive as it is on desktop. If you build on Circle you can customize your mobile navigation versus your desktop navigation.

Final Check: Audit Your Structure

Before finalizing your community’s layout, do a quick audit:

• Can someone new find what they need in less than 10 seconds?

• Does every section have a clear, distinct purpose?

• Have you removed any unnecessary categories or sections?

• Is the mobile experience seamless?

• Have you clearly directed members to their first steps?

The goal is to make your community feel effortless to navigate so that members can focus on engaging, not figuring out where to go.

Here’s your action steps – 

If you already have a community, take 15 minutes to review your structure today. Identify one or two small changes you can make to simplify the experience. If you’re just getting started, use this guide as a framework to build a strong foundation.

A well-structured community doesn’t just look good, it makes participation easy, reduces churn, and enhances the overall member experience.

Want my eyes on your community structure? Reach out for details about Affinity's audit service!

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