What does following mean on the platform?
Following is a way for visitors to stay informed about what matters most to them on the platform. By following a project, idea, proposal, area, or tag, users will automatically receive important updates related to those items.
This feature helps users stay “in the loop” without needing to constantly check back on the platform. Users can manage everything they follow from their profile page or simply unfollow directly from the item’s page whenever they want.
When a user chooses to follow something, they are prompted to provide and confirm their email address. This keeps the process simple while ensuring they can reliably receive notifications.
What triggers notifications when someone follows?
Once a user follows an item, they receive updates based on the type of item they’re following:
Projects
Followers receive an email when the project enters a new phase.
The “new phase email” must be enabled globally under the Messaging tab in the back office.
Once enabled, project admins can activate or deactivate the notification for individual phases using the toggle in the phase settings.
Ideas & Proposals
Followers receive an email when there is a status change or update on the idea or proposal.
Notifications are not sent for every comment.
Followers (or users who have commented on an idea) receive notifications for comments or replies only in the threads they follow or have engaged in.
Areas & Tags
When a new project is published in a followed area or tag, followers receive an email informing them of the new project.
Auto-follow rules:
If a user engages with a project, idea, or proposal (e.g., commenting or submitting input), they automatically start following it.
Weekly project digests:
Users following a project receive a weekly “What’s been going on” email summarizing new ideas and updates.
Restricted visibility:
If a project is only visible to a smart group, publishing the project will not automatically send a notification to that group unless the project is also tagged with an area or tag the users follow.
In these cases, admins should send a custom email to notify the group about the project.
What are the different use cases of the follow function?
The follow function is flexible and can be used in different ways to increase engagement and support communication:
Keep users informed about changes
Users can follow a project to get updates when it moves into new phases or when new ideas are added.
Capture user interest early
Admins can enable “Follow Preferences” in Settings → Registration, allowing users to start following relevant areas or tags right from the start.
This builds an engaged audience for future projects.
Auto-follow to strengthen engagement loops
When users comment on or interact with an idea, proposal, or project, they are automatically added as followers. This ensures they stay connected to conversations they care about.
Targeted communication via smart groups
Admins can create smart groups using the “Followed by” attribute, then send manual campaigns to everyone who follows a certain item.
This is a powerful way to reach users who have already expressed interest.
Support private or restricted projects
For projects with limited visibility, the follow function can still build a dedicated audience, but admins may need to complement it with custom emails to ensure followers are aware of new updates.