Why do people create groups?

Groups are a great way of organizing content and discussions around topical areas of interest. Whether serious or silly, groups help you find and meet other users who share common interests, want to collaborate on learning more about a particular topic, and want to discuss it in one forum. Groups are also an excellent way of establishing your expertise.

How do I join a group?

When you find a group you want to join, click on that group. Once you are on the group page, at the top of the page in the center you will find a square box that will tell you if access to the group is open, request only, or invitation only.

If access to the group is “open,” simply click on “join this group.” You are now a member of this group and have posting privileges.

If access to the group is “request only,” simply click on “request to join.” The group owner/manager will receive notification of your request. If the group owner approves your request, you will receive notification and have posting privileges.

If access to a group is “invitation only,” you cannot join this group unless the group owner specifically invites you.

How do I create a group?

Before you create a group, you may want to search and see if there is already a group established on the topical area that interests you. Sometimes it's easier and more fun to just join groups that already have members. To search and see if a group already exists:

• Select "Groups" from the main menu
• Select "group search" on the left menu
• Type in the keyword or words related to your group and submit. If there are any groups related to your area of interest, they will display.
• Or you can just go here: http://www.searchles.com/groups/search

• Select "groups" from the main menu at the top of the page
• Select "Create a New Group" from the left hand menu or just go here: http://www.searchles.com/groups/create
• Give your group a name, and select your access preferences – open – request only – or invite only.
• Write a brief slogan and describe what you want people to post in your group, discuss or not discuss. It's important to be as specific as possible so that other people who choose to join your group understand what you consider to be relevant content.
• When you're done, select "Create Group" to submit your group and that's it! You're done. You can now begin posting content to your group and invite others to participate depending on your preferences.

How do I leave a group?

Tired of a group? You can leave it by going to the group's page and selecting "leave this group." When you leave a group, the content you have previously posted to the group will remain in that group.

How do I post a link or bookmark to a group?

You must be registered at Searchles to post content and you must have the bookmarklet toolbar or shortcut: http://www.searchles.com/bookmarklet/help. You also must be a member of a group in order to have posting privileges to that group. After you join a group, the next time you try to bookmark, post a link or edit content, the names of your groups will appear on the right hand side of the form. Simply select the name or names of the groups you want to share your posting with and hit submit. It's that easy!

What's the difference between a group owner and a group manager?

There is only one group owner who by default, is the group manager. But the group owner if he/she chooses can grant management privileges to other group members. Group owners should only grant management privileges to users they trust. Group owners can revoke management privileges at any time. Management privileges allow other users to help you manage content and membership within the group.

What's the difference between open, invite only and request to join groups?

Open participation allows any user to join the group,

Invitation only enables group owners to specify exactly who can join their group and post content. If you don't want anyone to join your group or you want to choose very specific people and not be bothered by requests from other users, this is the option you should choose.

Request to join enables any user to ask to join a group of interest and the group owner can then accept or reject the request.

The group owner can change their exclusivity preferences at any time. Group owners and managers designated by the group owner can also ban specific users, specific content or all of a specific user's content if they deem it to be inappropriate or irrelevant to their group.

Someone just posted spam to my group. What can I do about it?

If you are a member of a group, select “report spam” which appears in the action toolbar below the link. The group owner will be notified, and at their discretion, can choose whether or not to remove the link from the group. Removing a link from a group does not delete it from all of Searchles – just from the group. (One person's spam is another's meat loaf!)

If you are a group owner/manager, you have several choices. You can also “report spam” and will receive a message that allows you (or other managers) to then delete the link from your group. We're working on removing this extra step for owners/managers, but in the meantime, this is the way it works. Removing a link from a group doesn't prevent the user from posting to your group again.

Group owners/managers can also permanently ban other users from their group. Be gentle about banning though. The user may have just made an honest mistake in posting to the group. You should also review your group description and see if it needs to be updated so your members will know what you consider relevant (or not).

To ban a user from posting to your group, go to your group page. On the left side of the screen, you will see the management dashboard for the group. Select “members” and then select “ban” next to the screen name of the user you wish to ban. That user can no longer post to your group unless you reinstate their posting privileges.

Where do I go to manage my group?

Go to the page where your group content is posted. On the left column, you now have a management dashboard that allows you to edit group details, add or change your group picture, and manage users. If you did not create the group or the group owner has not granted you management rights, you will not see the management dashboard.

I want to join a group but it's invitation only? How can I join?

You can't. The group owner has decided they want to pick and choose who joins. It's nothing personal. They may be using the group for business or personal purposes and need to control the content within it. You can always create another group on the same subject and have open membership.

I requested to join a group but the group owner hasn't approved me. Why?

We have no idea. Maybe the group owner went on vacation and hasn't logged in to Searchles recently. Maybe the group owner forgot. Maybe the group owner looked at your other posts and doesn't think you'll be a good fit. Here's what to do.

• Be patient. Not everyone can visit Searchles everyday (though we're working hard to be as important as your cell phone).
• Go back to the group page and read the description of the group. The group owner may have very specific goals and objectives for the group and expertise requirements for membership. If so, ask yourself if you really qualify.
• If you still haven't heard from the group owner after giving them reasonable time to approve your request, try sending them a message and explain why you want to join their group. In most cases this should do the trick.
• If it doesn't, we're sorry, we can't help you. If you're still mad about it, start a rival group and ask your friends to join.

I've been banned from a group. Why?

We have no idea, but more than likely, you posted content to the group more than once that the group owner didn't consider relevant or worse, considered it spam. If you feel you have been unfairly banned from the group, send the group owner a message and ask them why you were banned and tell them why you would like to be reconsidered for membership. If it was an honest mistake, it will work itself out, but ultimately, it's up to the group owner to decide. If they don't let you back in, we're sorry but there's nothing we can do about it. Still mad? Start a rival group and ask your friends to join.

If I'm banned from a group does it mean I've been banned from Searchles?

No. Your links will continue to appear at Searchles; however, we do keep track of how many of your links are reported as spam and the number of groups that have banned you. If we believe your behavior violates our terms of service, we will, at our discretion, terminate your account.

Help! My question isn't on this list!

Contact us at info (at) searchles.com and we'll try to help.

How can I report a bug or make a suggestion?

Contact us at info (at) searchles.com or visit our blog at: http://blog.searchles.com/. We address many other issues on our blog and if you review the archive, you may find an answer there or can leave a comment.