Learn more about the Featured Community Program

Step 1: How to make your community a good candidate for the featured community program

While there are different groups on Communities in Teams, the Feature Communities Program focuses on topic-related groups. The Featured Community Program can help boost a community's visibility and provides an opportunity for people to see it in their recommendations on Explore Communities in Microsoft Teams (free). Now, that’s a way to expand membership!

Make sure to review and check your community for the following items before submitting your application.

• Here are some suggested topics you might consider for your community. Sports, volunteering, gaming, professional/learning, arts and cultures, hobbies, lifestyle, animals, meme/fun stuff, anime, and support groups.

• Fill out your community details. Check your community's name, avatar, description, and guidelines. Make sure the name is appropriate and your avatar is relevant and unique. Also, make sure that you provide a community description that conveys what your community is about. Setting guidelines is a good way to convey do's and don'ts to current and potential members.

• Make your community Public. To appear in Search and Recommendations, and qualify as a Featured Community, a community must be Public.

• Keep your community open . Turn off Request approval to join to open your community to potential members.

• Customize your community. Add a unique banner and create channels to engage community members.

We are also looking for communities with an active member base, however small, and community owners who take steps to keep their community engaged.

Step 2: Get your community featured

If you would like a chance to participate in the featured community program, there are several ways to submit your application.

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You can apply to be featured with an existing community or create a new one.

Note: The changes to your community during the submission process will show after you complete the application.

To submit an application for an existing community, you must be the owner.

Apply using community settings

1. In Teams, tap Home in the lower-left side of the screen.

2. Go to the community you would like to get featured, then tap the community name at the upper-left corner.

3. Tap Feature your community and fill out the details for your community.

4. Tap Next to submit changes or tap the arrow at the upper-left side of the screen to exit without submitting any changes.

5. Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then tap Submit.

Apply when you receive a message

1. After you see the message in Teams, tap Feature your community.

2. The next step depends on whether you're a multiple or a single community owner.

   • If you have multiple communities, tap the community you want to feature, then fill out or update the community details.

   • If you have a single community, fill out or update the details for your community.

3. Tap Next to submit changes or tap the arrow at the upper-left side of the screen to exit without submitting any changes.

4. Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then tap Submit.

 Apply from the Explore Communities page

1. In Teams, tap Home  on the lower-right side of the screen.

2. Go to Explore Communities > See more.

3. After Explore Communities opens, tap Get your community featured.

4. The next step depends on whether you're a multiple or a single community owner.

   • If you have multiple communities, tap the community you want to feature, then fill out or update the community details.

   • If you have a single community, fill out or update the details for your community.

5. Tap Next to submit changes or tap the arrow at the upper-left side of the screen to exit without submitting any changes.

6. Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then tap Submit.

Create a new community and get featured

You can create a new community and submit an application to participate in the featured community program.

To start your community, use a template and then apply to have it featured. You can apply using community settings.

You can apply to be featured with an existing community or create a new one.

Note: The changes to your community during the submission process will show after you complete the application.

To submit an application for an existing community, you must be the owner.

Apply using community settings

1. In Teams, select Community from the leftmost side of the screen.

2. Go to the community you would like to get featured, then select More options   across the community name.

3. Select Feature your community  and fill out or update the details for your community.

4. Select Next to submit changes or select the “X” at the upper-right side to exit without submitting any changes.

5. Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then select Submit.

Apply when you receive a message

If you’re a community owner with one or more communities, you might receive a notification where you can apply to get your community featured.

1. After you see the message in Teams, select Feature your community.

2. The next step depends on whether you're a multiple or a single community owner.

   • If you have multiple communities, select the community you want to feature, then fill out or update the community details.

   • If you have a single community, fill out or update the details for your community.

3. Select Next to submit changes or select the “X” at the upper-left side of the screen to exit without submitting any changes.

4. Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then select Submit.

Create a new community and get featured

You can create a new community and submit an application to participate in the featured community program.

To start your community, use a template and then apply to have it featured. You can apply using community settings.

Step 3: Check your application status and keep your community eligible

Quality is a top priority, and we're continuously improving Communities in Teams. The Featured Community Program team reviews new and existing communities that meet eligibility guidelines. Owners will receive notifications through the Teams' activity feed when their communities are featured.

After you join the featured community program, continue the good work and keep your community eligible. 

Remember:

• Your community needs your attention and care. A friendly reminder to keep an eye on your community and get rid of any spam.

• Foster a positive and engaging atmosphere. Share fun, relevant, and insightful content with each team members regularly.

• Inappropriate behavior or content isn't tolerated. If you experience any, act accordingly (for example, warn or remove the member).

You can choose to have your community unfeatured at any time.

Step 4: Frequently asked questions