Real-world examples of creating a community board that actually brings people together

Real examples of creating a community board for social media

Let’s start with practical, modern examples of creating a community board on platforms you’re probably already using—Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. These aren’t theoretical; they’re patterns you can copy and adapt.

One of the best examples is the “feature Friday” style board on Instagram. A local coffee shop might create a weekly post or Story highlight called “Our Regulars”. Every Friday, they share a photo or short reel of a customer, tag them, and include a short quote about their favorite drink or how long they’ve been visiting. Over time, this becomes a living community board: customers check back to see who’s been featured, tag friends to get them included, and even submit their own photos in DMs.

Another strong example of creating a community board is a TikTok creator who dedicates one weekly video to “Comment Corner.” They screenshot comments from previous videos, read them out loud, react, and pin a top comment. The comments section under that video becomes a board in itself—viewers compete to be featured next time, share stories, and answer each other’s questions without the creator needing to drive every interaction.

On Facebook, neighborhood groups often show some of the best examples of community boards: pinned “Introduce Yourself” threads, weekly “Help Needed / Help Offered” posts, and recurring “Local Events This Week” posts. Each of these acts as a board where members know exactly where to go to share and to look.

The pattern across all these examples of examples of creating a community board is simple: pick a recurring format, give it a clear name, and train your audience to show up there consistently.

Examples of examples of creating a community board for local businesses

Local businesses are quietly running some of the best examples of community boards—both offline and online.

A classic, low-tech example of creating a community board is the corkboard near the entrance of a neighborhood grocery store or gym. But the modern twist is where it gets interesting. One independent gym in the U.S. maintains a physical “Member Wins” wall where people can pin handwritten notes about milestones: “Ran my first 5K,” “Down 10 pounds,” “Came back after surgery.” Once a week, the gym owner snaps a photo of the wall and posts it on Instagram, tagging members who gave permission. The physical board feeds the digital community board, and vice versa.

Restaurants and cafés often run examples of community boards focused on user-generated content. A small taco shop might put a sign near the counter: “Get featured on our Wall of Fame: Tag us @TacoSpot with your best taco pic.” Staff then print their favorite tagged photos and post them on a wall near the register. Online, they create a Story Highlight called “Wall of Fame” where those same photos live. Customers come back to see if they made it onto the board, and in the process, they bring friends, post more content, and keep the board active.

Bookstores offer another example of creating a community board that’s simple but powerful. Many indie bookstores run a “Staff & Reader Picks” board. Staff fill in cards with their favorite reads, then invite customers to add their own picks with a short note. On social media, the store turns those cards into a carousel post or a monthly “Community Recs” board. Readers love seeing their recommendations featured publicly, and the store gets a steady stream of user-generated content.

These examples of examples of creating a community board for local businesses show a key pattern: invite participation, make it visible, and bring the offline and online boards together so people feel part of something ongoing.

Digital-first examples of creating a community board on websites and apps

If you run a website, app, or online community, you can still build a community board that doesn’t feel like another dead forum.

One strong example of a digital community board is a “Show & Tell” page for creators or course students. A design educator might host a gallery where students upload screenshots of their projects, add a short description, and link to their social profiles. Once a month, the educator highlights selected projects in a newsletter or on social media. This kind of board acts as both a portfolio wall and a motivation engine.

Nonprofits often offer some of the best examples of creating a community board online. A health nonprofit might host a “Stories of Hope” section where people share how they’re managing a condition, what resources helped them, and tips that worked in real life. Organizations like the National Institutes of Health and partner groups frequently emphasize patient stories and community support in their outreach, even if the formal research pages are more technical (NIH). You can mirror that approach by giving your community a safe place to share experiences, then featuring those stories in your content calendar.

Membership sites and apps also benefit from examples of creating a community board. Think of a fitness app with a “Wins This Week” feed, where users can post small victories: drinking more water, hitting step goals, or doing their first push-up. Moderators can pin especially encouraging posts, turning that feed into a living community board that new users see first.

The thread running through these examples of examples of creating a community board online is structure. When people know what type of content belongs on a board—wins, stories, photos, questions—they’re far more likely to contribute.

Trend-aware examples of community boards for 2024–2025

Community behavior has shifted in the last few years, and the best examples of community boards in 2024–2025 lean into three big trends: shorter attention spans, authenticity, and safety.

Short-form video has become one of the most visible examples of creating a community board. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, creators use “duets,” “stitches,” and reply videos as a kind of interactive board. A creator posts a prompt—“Show me your desk setup,” “What’s your 5-minute dinner?”—and viewers respond with their own videos. The creator then curates the best responses into a playlist or highlight that functions as a living board of community ideas.

Authenticity is another trend. People are wary of polished brand content and respond more to real voices. For example, some health organizations and clinics now feature patient stories and Q&A boards where community members can submit questions that clinicians answer publicly. Reputable resources like Mayo Clinic and CDC provide evidence-based health information; smaller practices often build on that by creating community boards where patients ask everyday questions in plain language, then get responses rooted in those trusted sources.

Safety and moderation are also front and center. The best examples of examples of creating a community board in 2024–2025 include clear rules and visible moderation. Discord servers, subreddit communities, and Facebook Groups often pin a “Read This First” board at the top, outlining guidelines, how to report issues, and where to post what. This isn’t just about control; it signals that the space is cared for, which makes people more willing to participate.

When you design your own board, look at these real examples and ask: How can I invite short, easy contributions? How can I highlight real people? And how can I make the space feel safe enough that people actually want to share?

Practical examples of creating a community board using user-generated content

User-generated content (UGC) is the fuel that keeps a community board from going stale. The best examples of UGC-driven boards aren’t random; they’re guided.

One example of a simple, guided UGC board is a “Monthly Prompt” series. A mental wellness coach might post a monthly question on Instagram or in a private community: “What’s one small habit that helped your stress this month?” Followers reply in comments or stories. The coach then collects those responses and turns them into a shareable graphic or text post, crediting contributors (with permission). Over time, those monthly posts become a community board of coping strategies, created by the community itself.

Another example of creating a community board with UGC is the before-and-after board. A home organizer on YouTube might invite viewers to submit before-and-after photos of their closets or kitchens after following a specific video. The creator then compiles them into a dedicated playlist or community post that functions as a transformation board. Viewers see real results from real people, which is far more convincing than any polished ad.

Brands also offer strong examples of examples of creating a community board with UGC. A skincare brand could run a “Routine Check” series where customers share their morning or night routines using the brand’s products. The brand reposts selected routines to a Story Highlight titled “Your Routines.” New customers browsing that highlight see dozens of real-life examples of how to use the products, and existing customers feel like part of an insider club.

What ties these examples together is clear direction: ask for something specific, show people how to participate, and then showcase their contributions prominently.

How to design your own community board (step-by-step, with examples)

Let’s pull these ideas together into a simple process you can actually follow. Think of this as a guided tour through some of the best examples of creating a community board, turned into a repeatable framework.

First, decide the purpose of your board. Is it to share wins, answer questions, collect stories, or showcase creations? For instance, if you’re a teacher, your board might focus on student projects. If you’re a small business owner, your board might highlight customer stories.

Next, pick your format and home base. You might:

• Use a recurring Instagram post or Story Highlight.
• Pin a weekly thread in a Facebook Group.
• Create a dedicated page on your website.
• Set up a channel in a chat app like Slack or Discord.

Look back at the real examples of examples of creating a community board we’ve discussed: a “Member Wins” wall, a “Stories of Hope” gallery, a “Comment Corner” video series. Each has a clear home and name.

Then, craft a simple prompt and guidelines. Use one-sentence instructions, such as:

• “Share one small win from this week.”
• “Post a photo of how you use our product at home.”
• “Tell us one thing you wish you knew when you started.”

Make it easy for people to join in. You can even pull inspiration from educational and community engagement models used by universities and public institutions, which often emphasize clear calls to participate (Harvard University’s public engagement pages are a good example of how institutions invite community input).

Finally, feature people consistently. This is where your board really becomes a board, not just a one-off post. Pin top contributions. Create monthly roundups. Print and display entries in your physical space. Give shoutouts by name.

When you follow this process and borrow from proven examples of creating a community board, you’re not guessing. You’re adapting patterns that already work in the wild.

FAQ: examples of community boards and how to use them

Q: What are some simple examples of a community board I can set up this week?
A: Start with something low-effort. You could launch a weekly “Wins Wednesday” post on Instagram where followers comment their wins, a pinned “Introduce Yourself” thread in your Facebook Group, or a physical “Customer Stories” wall in your shop that you photograph and share online. These are easy examples of creating a community board that don’t require new tech.

Q: Can you give an example of a digital-only community board for a small brand?
A: A small brand might create a “Your Photos” page on its website that pulls in images from a branded hashtag on Instagram. The brand curates the best photos, credits the creators, and updates the page weekly. That page becomes a living example of a community board powered entirely by user-generated content.

Q: How often should I update my community board?
A: Aim for consistency over volume. Many of the best examples of examples of creating a community board update weekly or biweekly. A regular cadence trains your audience to check back and contribute. Sporadic updates, on the other hand, make the board feel abandoned.

Q: How do I keep a community board safe and respectful?
A: Set clear rules, post them where everyone can see them, and moderate actively. Look at how online communities and public health organizations handle discussion spaces: they define what’s allowed, what’s not, and how to report issues. Adopting similar practices helps your board stay welcoming and on-topic.

Q: What if no one participates at first?
A: That’s normal. Many real examples of creating a community board start with “seed” content: you post your own stories, ask friends or loyal customers to contribute, or feature team members first. As people see the pattern, they’re more likely to join in. Keep the barrier to entry low—short prompts, simple actions, and public recognition for those who participate.

If you think of all these examples of examples of creating a community board as templates—not rules—you’ll have more than enough inspiration to design a space where your audience doesn’t just consume content, but helps create it.