Finding the right platform to manage, grow and engage your community can look like a tricky challenge. As the CMX Guide to community platforms shows, there is an ever-increasing number of online tools available to manage and communicate with your members, and build up directories, forums or knowledge bases to allow them to connect and exchange with one another; some of these tools can even be combined or integrated. Many tools offer free versions, yet they all represent a significant investment: be it only the time you will spend implementing, managing and animating the chosen platform(s). 

So - where to start? What to keep in mind while picking up the tools you will use? Which tools can provide the highest possible value to your early members, while enabling the growth of your community? Which tools are more appropriate for the specific kind of community you are building and the kind of services and features you want to offer your members? How to articulate different free tools to build a complex platform at low cost?

We're inviting a few expert community builders who will share hands-on insights on how they managed to build vibrant communities, by "hacking" and combining a set of free (or affordable) online tools. The format of the evening will provide room for Q&A, and discussions with other fellow community professionals.