WhatsApp introduced community groups in 2022 to provide more organization and management options for group admins. Community groups have several key features that distinguish them from regular WhatsApp groups.
Overview of WhatsApp Community Groups
A WhatsApp community is a collection of multiple WhatsApp groups united under one umbrella group. The umbrella group is the “community” while the smaller groups within it are the individual groups linked to that community.
For example, a neighborhood could have a community group with individual groups for different streets, volunteer committees, social events, etc. A company could have a community with groups for different divisions, teams, projects, etc.
The key advantage of a community is that it connects related groups, making it easier to organize discussions and announcements. Community admins can also reach all the community group members at once.
Features and Tools for Community Admins
WhatsApp designed community groups to provide more tools and controls for admins managing groups.
Announcements
Admins can send announcements to all community members at once. This lets them share important updates efficiently.
Admin-Only Groups
Along with member groups, admins can create private admin-only groups for coordinating community management.
Managing Groups
Admins can create new groups, delete existing ones, and merge multiple groups within the community.
Moderating Members
Admins can ban problematic members from the entire community at once, rather than individual groups.
Statistics
Insights like group growth and most active members help admins identify trends.
Member Features
For regular users who join community groups, the experience is similar to standard WhatsApp groups. But there are some key differences.
Information Hub
The overview tab connects all the community’s groups, serving as an information hub for members.
Umbrella Discussions
Members can post in the overall community group to contact admins or start discussions spanning all groups.
Admin Announcements
Important broadcasts from admins notify members of news relevant to the whole community.
Seamless Navigation
Members can easily switch between the community’s groups from one place.
Setting Up a Community
Communities are currently in beta testing. WhatsApp is gradually rolling them out to select users and groups.
Here are the steps to set up a community once you get access:
- Open the WhatsApp group you want to turn into a community
- Tap the 3 dots menu in the top right
- Select “Create Community”
- Give the community a name and description
- Start adding new groups to build out the community
Use Cases
Here are some examples of ways both businesses and personal groups can use WhatsApp communities:
For Businesses
| Industry | Potential Community Use Cases |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | Groups for reservations, daily specials, loyalty programs |
| Retail | Groups for new product launches, location-specific sales |
| Services | Groups for appointments, customer support, and feedback |
For Personal Use
| Group Type | Potential Community Use Cases |
|---|---|
| Neighborhoods | Groups for different streets, committees, neighborhood watch |
| Sports Teams | Groups for coaches, players, parents, schedules |
| Student Organizations | Groups for members, events, committees, projects |
Benefits
WhatsApp communities provide several benefits both for managing and participating in group chats:
For Admins
- More organized structure
- Easier to manage multiple related groups
- Tools to overview community and moderate members
- Announcement channel to reach entire community
For Members
- Central hub connects all relevant groups
- Easier to find and join new groups
- Receive announcements from community admins
- Seamlessly move between related groups
Conclusion
WhatsApp community groups provide a new way for large organizations and personal networks to improve communication and coordination across multiple chat groups. Key features like announcements and group management tools empower admins, while members benefit from a streamlined group chat experience.
As WhatsApp continues developing communities and rolling them out to more users, they have the potential to become a popular new way WhatsApp is utilized by both businesses and friends alike.