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Managing Club and Challenge Members

Effective member management is key to running successful book clubs and reading challenges. This guide covers how to manage participants, assign roles, and maintain a positive community environment.

Viewing Members​

Club Members​

To view your club's members:

  1. Navigate to your club's page
  2. Select the Members tab
  3. View the complete member list with roles

Member information displayed:

  • Member name and username
  • Profile picture
  • Role (Owner, Moderator, Member)
  • Join date (when available)

Challenge Participants​

To view challenge participants:

  1. Navigate to your challenge's page
  2. View participant count and list
  3. See participation status and progress

Participant information:

  • Participant name
  • Books completed (if tracking)
  • Join date

Member Roles​

Club Roles​

Book clubs support three member roles:

Owner​

The club creator has full control:

  • Edit club details and settings
  • Add and remove books
  • Manage all members
  • Assign and remove moderators
  • Delete the club
  • Cannot be changed (always the creator)

Moderator​

Trusted members who help manage the club:

  • Monitor and moderate discussions
  • Pin important posts
  • Remove inappropriate content
  • Help answer member questions
  • Cannot: Remove members or delete club

Moderators are ideal for:

  • Active community members
  • Store staff assisting with management
  • Co-hosts or book club leaders

Member​

Regular participants:

  • Join and leave the club
  • Participate in discussions
  • View books and member list
  • React to and reply to posts

Challenge Roles​

Reading challenges have simpler role structures:

  • Creator: You, the challenge organizer
  • Participant: Anyone who joins the challenge

Challenges focus on participation rather than hierarchical management.

Assigning Moderators​

When to Assign Moderators​

Consider adding moderators when:

  • Your club grows beyond 20-30 active members
  • You need help monitoring discussions
  • You have trusted staff or community members
  • Time zones make 24/7 moderation difficult
  • You run multiple clubs and need help

How to Assign a Moderator​

  1. Go to your club's page
  2. Tap the Members tab
  3. Find the member you want to promote
  4. Tap their profile
  5. Select Make Moderator
  6. Confirm the action

Choosing Good Moderators​

Look for members who:

  • Participate regularly and constructively
  • Show good judgment
  • Are respectful to other members
  • Understand your club's culture
  • Have time to help moderate
  • Align with your store's values

Removing Moderator Status​

If needed, you can remove moderator privileges:

  1. Navigate to the Members tab
  2. Find the moderator
  3. Tap their profile
  4. Select Remove Moderator Role
  5. Confirm (they remain a regular member)

Managing Member Behavior​

Community Guidelines​

Establish clear expectations:

Recommended guidelines:

  • Be respectful of all members
  • Stay on topic (books and reading)
  • No spam or self-promotion
  • Respect spoiler policies
  • Constructive criticism only
  • No harassment or hate speech

Post guidelines in:

  • Club description
  • Pinned announcement
  • Store website
  • Welcome messages

Handling Issues​

Minor Issues​

For small infractions (off-topic posts, mild disagreements):

  1. Gentle reminder: Post a friendly note about guidelines
  2. Private message: Reach out directly if possible
  3. Give benefit of doubt: Assume good intentions
  4. Redirect: Steer conversation back on track

Moderate Issues​

For repeated violations or disruptive behavior:

  1. Direct conversation: Explain the concern privately
  2. Clear warning: Let them know next steps
  3. Temporary moderation: Watch their posts closely
  4. Involve moderators: Get help managing the situation

Serious Issues​

For harassment, hate speech, or severe violations:

  1. Remove content: Delete inappropriate posts immediately
  2. Remove member: Use the removal feature
  3. Document: Keep records of serious violations
  4. Report: Use platform reporting for severe abuse

Removing Members​

When removal is necessary:

  1. Go to your club's Members tab
  2. Find the member to remove
  3. Tap their profile
  4. Select Remove from Club
  5. Confirm the action

Note: Only club owners can remove members. Removed members:

  • Lose access to the club immediately
  • Cannot rejoin without a new invitation (private clubs)
  • Can rejoin public clubs (consider making private if needed)

Moderation Best Practices​

Be Proactive​

Prevent issues before they start:

  • Set clear guidelines from day one
  • Welcome new members warmly
  • Model the behavior you want to see
  • Address small issues before they escalate
  • Keep discussions active and on-track

Be Consistent​

Apply rules fairly:

  • Treat all members equally
  • Don't play favorites
  • Follow your own guidelines
  • Be predictable in responses
  • Document serious issues

Be Responsive​

Stay engaged with your community:

  • Check in daily (or assign moderators)
  • Respond to questions promptly
  • Address concerns quickly
  • Thank helpful members
  • Acknowledge good contributions

Be Transparent​

Communicate openly:

  • Explain moderation decisions when appropriate
  • Update members on club changes
  • Share the reasoning behind rules
  • Admit mistakes if they happen
  • Keep members informed

Growing Your Community​

Welcoming New Members​

Make newcomers feel included:

  • Post welcome messages
  • Introduce them to current discussions
  • Explain club culture and norms
  • Assign a "buddy" or mentor
  • Feature new member introductions

Encouraging Participation​

Get members engaged:

  • Ask open-ended questions
  • Tag members in relevant discussions
  • Create regular prompts or themes
  • Recognize active contributors
  • Make it easy to participate (polls, quick questions)

Recognizing Contributions​

Celebrate your community:

  • Thank active members publicly
  • Feature insightful comments
  • Create "Member Spotlights"
  • Offer store perks for super-fans
  • Build relationships beyond the app

Special Situations​

Inactive Clubs​

If your club becomes inactive:

  • Post to gauge interest in continuing
  • Consider changing the format or focus
  • Merge with another club
  • Close gracefully if needed
  • Start fresh with a new club

Dealing with Conflict​

When members disagree:

  • Stay neutral as moderator
  • Allow respectful debate
  • Step in if it gets personal
  • Remind everyone of guidelines
  • Take heated discussions offline if needed

Privacy Concerns​

Respect member privacy:

  • Don't share member information
  • Keep private clubs truly private
  • Moderate direct message concerns
  • Report abuse through proper channels
  • Protect minors extra carefully (if applicable)

Seasonal Fluctuations​

Account for natural ebbs and flows:

  • Summer may be slower (or busier!)
  • Holidays affect participation
  • Back-to-school impacts availability
  • Plan around known slow periods
  • Use challenges to boost engagement

Moderator Tools​

Discussion Moderation​

Available actions:

  • Delete posts: Remove inappropriate content
  • Pin posts: Highlight important announcements
  • Edit books: Update reading list (owner only)

Communication​

Ways to reach members:

  • Post in the club discussion
  • Pin important announcements
  • Use platform messaging (if available)
  • Email through your store's mailing list
  • In-store announcements

Reporting​

If you encounter serious issues:

  • Use the platform's report feature
  • Document violations
  • Contact BookWish support if needed
  • Remove harmful members promptly

Analytics and Insights​

Track Engagement​

Monitor your club's health:

  • Member count over time
  • Discussion activity levels
  • Most active members
  • Completion rates (for challenges)
  • Book popularity

See Customer Insights for detailed analytics.

Use Data to Improve​

Learn from metrics:

  • Which books generate most discussion?
  • When are members most active?
  • What types of posts get engagement?
  • Are members completing challenges?
  • Which incentives work best?

Getting Help​

From Your Community​

Leverage your members:

  • Ask for moderator volunteers
  • Create member polls for decisions
  • Get book recommendations from the group
  • Let members lead discussions
  • Build co-ownership of the community

From BookWish​

Platform support:

  • Report serious abuse
  • Get technical help
  • Request features
  • Share feedback
  • Access best practice resources

From Your Store​

Integrate with store operations:

  • Train staff on moderation
  • Create in-store club support
  • Offer staff picks and guidance
  • Host events for clubs
  • Provide resources and materials

Next Steps​

Building Community

The best clubs and challenges are member-driven. Your role is to facilitate, guide, and protect the community—not to control every aspect. Empower your members and they'll create something special.