Be honest: if you asked your team today why you actually run your community platform, would you get the same answer from everyone?
Often, the bitter truth is: no. Many organizations launch a platform full of enthusiasm, but after a short time, uncertainty sets in. There is a lack of direction, commitment stagnates, and no one really knows what they are working towards.
The problem is usually not the software or the community itself. The problem is missing, unclear, or uncommunicated goals.
This guide will help you change that for 2026. We use the proven OKR method and provide you with eight concrete blueprints that you can immediately incorporate into your strategy.
Why OKRs?
Before we dive into the goals, let's briefly discuss the method. We use OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Why? Because they turn vague wishes into measurable results.
Objective: Where do we want to go? A qualitative, inspiring description of what you want to achieve.
Key Results: How do we know we have arrived? Quantitative, measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) that define success.
For 2026, don't try to do everything at once. Pick 2 to 3 of the following objectives that best suit your current phase.
8 Blueprint Goals for Your Community Platform in 2026
Here are some pre-formulated goal sets that you can copy, customize, and share with your team.
1. The Event Hub: The most relevant platform for business and networking in [YOUR CITY]
Is your focus local and on personal encounters? Then this goal is for you. You want to move away from purely online activity and toward "real life" meetings organized via the platform.
Objective: We are establishing ourselves as the central platform for business and networking events in [CITY].
Key Result 1: Creation of 12 public events in the first quarter (Q1).
Key Result 2: Achieve an average of 50+ participants per event.
Key Result 3: 50% of events are organized by community members or partners (not by administrators).
coapp Resources for further reading:
2. Growth & Networking: More People, More Awesome
The focus here is on critical mass and the density of networking. A community thrives on interaction.
Objective: We will become the most relevant network through active membership growth and genuine connections.
Key Result 1: Reach 500 active members.
Key Result 2: 200 direct messages (DMs) will be sent via the platform.
Key Result 3: 100 new business connections (matches) verified through matchmaking.
3. The knowledge database: Central point of contact for expertise
Want to move away from just "chatting" and toward "learning"? Your platform should have a Wikipedia-like character for your niche.
Objective: We will become the leading platform for expertise and information in our industry.
Key Result 1: 50 pages created with content and knowledge.
Key Result 2: 50 page posts published with current updates.
Key Result 3: 5 dedicated Q&A pages established where experts answer questions.
4. The Matchmaker: Data-driven networking in [YOUR CITY]
Pure membership numbers are not enough if people cannot connect with each other. This goal focuses on the quality of profiles.
Objective: To become the most efficient platform for matchmaking in [CITY].
Key Result 1: Create 10 custom fields to collect the most relevant data from members.
Key Result 2: Achieve a profile completeness rate of 75% among members.
Key Result 3: 100 direct messages in Q1 (as an indicator of successful matches).
5. The Resource Manager: The platform for bookings
Does your community have physical resources (rooms, services, mobility)? Turn the platform into a booking system.
Objective: The central platform for resource bookings in [CITY].
Key Result 1: Create 50 bookable resources in Q1.
Key Result 2: Generate 100 successful bookings in Q1.
Key Result 3: Achieve 10 booked "booking upgrades" (additional sales) in Q1.
6. The creator economy: The home of user-generated content
You want your members to create the content, not you. This takes the pressure off the team and creates authenticity.
Objective: To become the hotspot for user-generated content (UGC) in [CITY].
Key Result 1: Host/publish 5 podcasts in Q1.
Key Result 2: Onboard 50 content creators (active writers) in Q1.
Key Result 3: 50 posts written exclusively by content creators.
7. Revenue & Growth: Monetizing the Platform
This goal focuses on making the platform profitable.
Objective: Establish the platform as a driver for monetization and growth.
Key Result 1: Acquire 50 new paying customers by the end of Q1.
Key Result 2: Hold 3 paid events.
Key Result 3: Achieve a monthly recurring revenue (MRR) of €500 in Q2.
coapp Resources for further reading:
8. The Tech Hub: The platform that connects everything
Avoid silos! Your community platform should not be an island, but the heart of your IT landscape.
Objective: Seamless integration of the community platform into the existing tech stack.
Key Result 1: Connect coapp with 5 external tools (e.g., Stripe, CRM, newsletter tool, calendar, WordPress).
Key Result 2: Embedding a YouTube Live video link directly into an event.
Key Result 3: Integration of public coapp events on the company's own corporate website.
Conclusion: Focus leads to success
The biggest risk for your community in 2026 is not a lack of interest, but a lack of clarity. If your team and users don't know what the platform is for (networking? knowledge? bookings?), no one will use it.
Your next step: Sit down with your team. Select a maximum of three of the above objectives. Adjust the figures in the key results to reflect your reality and communicate these goals transparently to all stakeholders.