Aurora is an ecosystem that offers a comprehensive range of products designed to advance Web3 and blockchain technologies. To effectively support its users, developers, and partners, the ecosystem requires a modern, streamlined communication platform that is easy to manage and fosters collaboration.
Inspired by successful examples like Apple Discussions and NEAR Foundation’s strategic shift in Q1 of 2024, which mostly moved from Telegram and Discord to Twitter, Aurora has the opportunity to implement a similar approach. By focusing on enhanced user interactions and the optimization of knowledge sharing, Aurora can strengthen its community engagement while creating a more efficient communication framework.
Aurora’s wide array of products emphasizes the need for a structured platform where community discussions can thrive. A dedicated forum emerges as an ideal solution to accommodate this requirement, serving as a centralized hub for meaningful conversations, support, and collaboration.
Currently, platforms like Telegram and Discord, though popular in crypto communities, face significant challenges. These include disorganized information, where valuable discussions are lost in threads, and repetitive questions that revolve around token prices rather than fostering meaningful feedback or product improvements. Additionally, the fragmented nature of these platforms hinders collective knowledge sharing and problem-solving. HOT token giveaways not connected to Aurora may not be the most effective approach. Engagement levels are quite low, with only about 1% of users on platforms like Telegram and Discord seeing the posts.
Aurora’s current forum has been quiet for over a year, and the absence of regular updates and activity has made it harder to maintain user trust and fully realize its potential as a vibrant community hub. Similarly, ambassador programs, while valuable in their time, often operate on limited budgets ranging from $50 to $1,000. This can lead to smaller, isolated participant groups, lower-quality content, and limited long-term impact. As Aurora continues to grow and evolve, it’s an exciting opportunity to move beyond these programs and embrace broader, more strategic initiatives to engage and empower the community.
Online communities provide immense value by offering scalable solutions for customer support, product development, and overall customer success. They can reduce support tickets by up to 50% through peer-to-peer assistance, generate substantial organic traffic (up to 51%) via a centralized knowledge base, and provide actionable feedback that shapes product roadmaps and improves user retention.
To address these challenges and unlock the full potential of its community, Aurora can implement a centralized forum as a primary channel for announcements and engagement. The forum will serve as the central hub for discussions, support, and interaction. It will offer organized and easily accessible information, seamless navigation through advanced search capabilities, and opportunities for users to earn rewards for meaningful contributions.
Twitter will complement the forum by acting as a news hub where Aurora can share product updates, community polls, AMA sessions, and host contests or giveaways. Additionally, Web3 integration can be a key feature of the forum, enabling login via Aurora Pass, token and NFT rewards for activity, and DAO-based voting for community-driven decisions.
To foster engagement, the forum will include gamification elements such as ranks and badges to recognize milestones and expertise, leaderboards to inspire friendly competition, and monthly community contests with token rewards. Regularly updated transparent metrics will track and celebrate community growth, ensuring accountability and motivation.
The forum will feature a carefully curated structure, with categories tailored to Aurora’s diverse product range and community needs. Key sections will include resources for beginners, product-specific discussions for tools like Aurora Cloud / Virtual Chain, Near Intents,
Forwarder, Aurora Engine, technical support, news and announcements, idea-sharing spaces, and developer-focused discussions. These categories will ensure comprehensive support and engagement for users at every level of experience.
To transition effectively, Aurora can implement a phased closure of its Telegram and Discord channels and actively directing users to the new forum. A dedicated user education campaign will emphasize the benefits of the forum, such as organized content, rewards, and improved navigation, while gradually reducing the team’s activity on older platforms to encourage adoption of the forum.
Continuous development of the forum will include updating its structure and content based on user feedback, as well as integrating new guides, tutorials, and FAQs to maintain relevance (significant portion has already been crafted by an exceptional team of Aurora Community moderators). A revamped incentive structure will replace regional ambassador programs with token rewards for meaningful contributions and introduce a “Super Users” program to recognize and empower top contributors.
By transitioning to this centralized community model, Aurora will achieve streamlined communication, higher-quality engagement, and community-driven growth. The implementation of a Web3-integrated forum will set a new standard for user engagement in the Web3 space, reinforcing Aurora’s position as a leader in blockchain innovation. This transformative approach will ensure long-term success, a motivated user base, and a dynamic, cohesive ecosystem.
But, considering that Aurora Labs may be focusing on NEAR Interns’ developments, I would also like to suggest an alternative approach to community development in the next post.