After you create your new Heartbeat community, you'll be able to follow our Kickstart Guide to quickly get things moving. Below, you'll find a companion checklist that you can give to your community manager or use yourself in order to set your new community up successfully.
Still thinking about your community strategy and pricing? Click here to learn how to create a successful community.
Kickstart Guide Companion Checklist
Community branding
| Tasks | Resources | Time Estimate | Why This Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Add logo and splash image Select theme colors or template |
Customizing your community theme | 3-5 minutes (if you already have the logo and splash image ready) | Professional branding builds trust and makes your community instantly recognizable, increasing member engagement and retention from day one. |
Complete your profile
| Tasks | Resources | Time Estimate | Why This Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Upload a profile picture Write a bio |
N/A | 2-5 minutes | A complete admin profile establishes credibility and helps members connect with you as the community leader, making them more likely to engage and trust your community. |
Invite your team
| Tasks | Resources | Time Estimate | Why This Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Create a Sign Up Page Send invitations to moderators or beta testers |
2-3 minutes | Having moderators and beta testers helps you identify issues before launch and ensures you have support to manage member engagement as your community grows. |
Setup Your Paywall
| Tasks | Resources | Time Estimate | Why This Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Connect Stripe with Heartbeat Create your first paid Offer |
5-10 minutes | Communities that set up payments in the first 30 days are 50% more likely to reach $200 MRR, turning your community into a sustainable revenue-generating business faster. |
(Optional) Add a custom domain
| Tasks | Resources | Time Estimate | Why This Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Set up a custom domain Verify your domain |
~ 10 minutes | A custom domain reinforces your brand, increases professional credibility, and improves member trust, leading to higher conversion rates on paid memberships. |
Customize onboarding
| Tasks | Resources | Time Estimate | Why This Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Set up onboarding questions Customize what happens when a new member signs up |
How to customize your onboarding for your new members | 5-10 minutes | Personalized onboarding helps you collect valuable member information, segment your audience effectively, and create targeted experiences that increase engagement and reduce churn. |
Invite Members
| Tasks | Resources | Time Estimate | Why This Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Send invites to members | How to invite users into your community | 2-3 minutes | Launching with an initial group of engaged members creates social proof and momentum, making your community more attractive to future members and increasing early revenue potential. |