About CommunityNI
What is CommunityNI?
CommunityNI is a dedicated social networking website for the voluntary and community sector. The site offers online tools for users to create their own content and organise their group activities. Users can contribute articles on behalf of their organisation or as individuals. Any content that a registered user contributes to the site is saved on their personal profile.
CommunityNI users can:
Contribute
Contribute news articles, write and comment on opinion articles, start or join groups, and have their ideas seen by thousands of people.
Advertise
Publish free job adverts and promote events.
Network
Create a profile and make connections with members of the community.
Sign up and Login
Why should I sign up?
If you want to use any of the publishing or group tools you will need to sign up for an account and create your profile. It's free!
How do I sign up?
Look for the sign up links and fill in the short form. You'll need an email address and we would prefer if you would use your real name as a username.
What happens if I forget my password to login?
If you supplied a verifiable e-mail address during registration, then head over to the "Forgot your password?" form and type in your username or e-mail address. A temporary password will be e-mailed to you to allow you to access the site and change your password. If you've forgotten your username, or the e-mail address that you created your account with, send us an e-mail at info@communityni.org and we'll assist you.
Profiles
What is a CommunityNI public profile?
A CommunityNI public profile is a summary of your details and interests. It's how people who search on CommunityNI can get to know each other on the site.
How do I fill out a public profile?
If you missed filling out your profile during the initial registration process, you can go back and edit it at any time. Just go to your personal home page and click on "Edit Profile." The more you fill out in each section, the more people will know about you and the easier it will be for us to find people, groups, and content that match your interests.
How do I set my profile image?
Click on "Edit Profile" from your home page, and then click on "Change our picture" in the "About me" section. Click "Browse" to find an image on your computer to upload to the site. Once you find the image, click "Upload." The image that appears will appear as an icon in your public profile and in other areas throughout the site.
How can I display my organisation's logo with articles I add?
Everytime you add content, such as a job advert or event details, you can select to use your profile picture or your organisation logo. Make sure you add your organisation details and logo to your profile.
User Toolbar
What is the toolbar at the top of each page when I'm logged in?
The user toolbar gives you quick acces to menus to add content, set preferences and use the community features.
What is "My Profile?"
"My profile" is where you go to manage your account details, such as changing your password, setting your privacy settings, or setting how you receive messages from CommunityNI.
What are "My Groups?"
These are groups that you created or signed up to join. You can manage those groups by following recent activity in the group and in the discussion topics within your groups. Group management also enables you to delete or leave a group. Just click the "Remove" link next to a group's details.
What is "Add Content?"
This menu provides links to allow you to add news, events, jobs, opinion etc.
Groups
What is a group?
Groups are a way for members who share a common interest to get together. Members create groups based on regions or area of interest. Any user can create a group and each group can have its own privacy and security settings. Groups can have different join settings, eg open for anyone, apply to join or invite only.
How do I join a group?
To join a group, simply click on "Join Now" next to the group's description on the "Groups Directory" or on the group's page. You will be asked to confirm if you want to join the group. In some cases you may have to apply to join or be invited to join by the group manager.
How do I start my own group?
Check that a similar group doesn't exist already. If you still want to create a group then use the top toolbar - My Groups > Create a Group.
How do I send a message to a group?
Using the top toolbar go to My Groups > Post to a group and select the group that you want to post to.
Followers
What is a follower?
A follower is somebody who would like to keep up to date with any new information you add to the website. If somebody wishes to follow you, you will receive a request and be asked to approve it.
How can I follow somebody?
If you wish to follow somebody, click on the follow request at the bottom of their profile page.
Comments
What are comments?
Comments are reactions to content on the CommunityNI site.
How do I make a comment?
To make a comment, just click on the comment link on the item you wish to comment on. Your comment will become part of the conversation, listed in chronological order, with the most recent comment made appearing at the top.
Tags
What are tags?
A tag is a keyword or term used to identify a piece of information. Tags are used on CommunityNI to group content into specific topic areas. You can use any tags to describe your content.
Topics
What are topics?
Topics are another way to describe content broadly in line with policy areas.
Categories
What are categories?
Yet another way of describing and grouping content. Broadly along practical issues such as ICT, Human Resources, Finance etc.
Notifications
What are notifications?
Notifications are system alerts that you receive from CommunityNI to tell you when someone has acted on any of the content you created, invited you to join a group or become a contact, and sent you a message, among other things.
How do I adjust my settings for the notifications that I receive?
You can go to your profile toolbar and click on "My Profile" to adjust how you receive personal messages and group messages.
