How can you create an accessible and user-friendly community organizing platform?

1 Define your purpose

Before you choose or create a platform, you need to define the purpose of your community organizing project. What is the problem you want to solve, the change you want to make, or the vision you want to realize? Who are your target audience, allies, and opponents? How do you plan to engage, mobilize, and sustain your community? Having a clear and specific purpose will help you determine the features, functions, and design of your platform.

2 Choose your tools

Depending on your purpose, budget, and preferences, you can either use existing tools or create your own platform. There are many tools available online that can help you with different aspects of community organizing, such as communication, collaboration, data management, outreach, education, advocacy, and fundraising. Some examples are Slack, Google Docs, Airtable, Mailchimp, WordPress, Zoom, and Canva. However, if you want to have more control and customization over your platform, you can also build your own using code or no-code solutions. For example, you can use WordPress to create a website, Glide to create an app, or Bubble to create a web app.

3 Design for accessibility

Accessibility means that your platform can be used by anyone, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or preferences. Accessibility is not only a legal requirement, but also a moral responsibility and a strategic advantage. By designing for accessibility, you can ensure that your platform is inclusive, diverse, and respectful of your community's needs and rights. Some ways to design for accessibility are using clear and simple language, providing alternative text for images, using captions and transcripts for audio and video, using contrast and color schemes that are easy to read, and testing your platform with different devices and browsers.

4 Optimize for user-friendliness

User-friendliness means that your platform can be used easily, intuitively, and enjoyably by your community. User-friendliness is not only a technical issue, but also a social and emotional one. By optimizing for user-friendliness, you can ensure that your platform is engaging, interactive, and supportive of your community's goals and values. Some ways to optimize for user-friendliness are using consistent and familiar navigation, providing feedback and guidance, offering options and customization, creating a sense of community and belonging, and soliciting feedback and improvement.

5 Promote your platform

Once you have created your platform, you need to promote it to your community and beyond. Promotion is not only a marketing tactic, but also a mobilization strategy. By promoting your platform, you can attract, inform, and inspire your potential and existing members, as well as raise awareness and influence about your cause. Some ways to promote your platform are using social media, email, word-of-mouth, events, media, and partnerships.

6 Evaluate your platform

Finally, you need to evaluate your platform to measure its impact, effectiveness, and satisfaction. Evaluation is not only a data collection method, but also a learning opportunity. By evaluating your platform, you can assess its strengths and weaknesses, identify its opportunities and threats, and discover its best practices and lessons learned. Some ways to evaluate your platform are using surveys, interviews, analytics, testimonials, and case studies.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?