Being a Group Manager on Eons is like hosting a party. We encourage Group Managers to make everyone that joins their group feel welcome. You can do this by writing a welcome announcement that all new members will see when they join the group, introducing people to each other, and making sure that the current conversations stay lively and fresh.

The purpose of having a Group Manager is ultimately to improve the overall experience for ALL Eons members. Because Eons does not actively monitor member content (such as individual postings within groups) we felt it was important to empower our members. As such, we provided Group Managers the ability to remove inappropriate posts, photos, and block members.

Group Managers can choose Group Moderators to help

Now Group Managers can get help running their groups. Once the group has some momentum and you see who your "regulars" are, you can invite up to three Moderators to help answer members' questions, and stimulate discussions. As a Manager, you still have complete control over the group's name, description, any announcements and privacy levels.

To get started inviting your new Moderators, make sure the person is a member of your group. Then go to your group's home page, click on "Group Settings & Preferences" and you will see a tab called "Moderators." Type in the member's screen name and an invitation will be sent asking him or her to be a Group Moderator with you.

You will be informed when a person accepts your invitation to be a Group Moderator.

Tips for managing your group

Announce your group to the world. Use the "Invite to group" feature (on the left side of the group home page) to get friends and family to join your group. Use the screen name of Eons members and the email addresses of your own friends who are not yet Eons members. Group moderators, of course, must be at least 49 years old.

Get your group featured on the homepage. Eons selects groups based on unique and engaging content. If you think your group qualifies, send us an email at: community@eons.com.

Get your group featured on the "People" page. The "Most active" groups on Eons appear on the "People" page (http://community.eons.com/directory). So encourage your members to post and reply to messages to increase your group's odds of showing up!

Explore other groups that have a common interest. Post a message and a link to your group in other groups that have a common interest. Exchange emails with other Group Managers and build on your common interests.

Welcome all "newbies" when they join your group. Make sure they are personally welcomed. For many Eons members, social networking is a new experience, so being welcomed and feeling comfortable will keep members coming back.

Make sure your group members are receiving email updates to your group's activities. In the left column of the group home page, they can view and edit their settings by clicking on the "Member Preferences" link. They will also need to make sure that they have opted to receive private messages on Eons - this setting is located on the home page http://www.eons.com. You can act as a coach here, reminding members to log in and click on the link "Update my privacy settings" .

Make sure you add a photo for your group. You can upload new photos or change the group's main photo from there. Just click on "Photos" in the left side of the group's home page.

More tips

  • Set a positive tone in your group. Let the purpose of your group shine by being upbeat, positive and spirited - just like Eons!

  • Make sure your group content abides by the "Eons Terms of Use". This will make the experience enjoyable for all members. Reporting TOU violations is easy for all members of your group by clicking on the "Report abuse" bar on the right side of any message page. Our member services team investigates all reports of abuse.

  • Spark debate and comments by posting relevant and engaging questions.

  • Direct a query to someone you know has a strong opinion.

  • Delete inappropriate messages or photos. Keep your discussions on point.

  • Add keywords to your group description so search engines will find your group.

  • Encourage your members to fill out their Profiles fully. This way, everyone gets to know each other even better.

  • Write an article for Eons! If you have an area of expertise or a great experience to share, pitch us your story at pitches@eons.com

  • Don't tolerate disrespectful behavior in your group. In a simple message to your group you can remind them to be respectful and upbeat.

  • Don't violate copyright laws