About Groups

Expoport groups for focussed networking

Do you want to discuss a specific class of topics with other members?
Do you want to develop your network in a targeted way along a topic or in a specific industry?
Are you looking for an online meeting point for your industry, a company, or an organization?
For all this you can use an Expoport group. Have a look at all groups, if one of the existing groups covers your interest.

You did not find an appropriate group? Build your own group.
If you have not found a group, which is covering your needs, initiate yourself such a group, and enjoy the privileges of a host.
Go to propose a new group.

Features of Expoport groups

This paragraph explains the features, which Expoport provides to enable, support and facilitate Expoport groups.

Propose new group
If you propose a new group, we ask you
- to choose a name for the group
- to describe the topic of the group
- to describe the profile of potential members
- to identify up to three industries, which are important for the group. Expoport will show automatically trade show dates and trade show reports in these industries on your group pages.

Your proposition will be checked within three days. You will receive an email as soon as your group has been confirmed.
If you go now to the page Groups, you will find your group there. Click on "go to group", and you will be transferred to the homepage of your group (example Interior lifestyle).

Homepage group (example Interior Lifestyle)
The homepage of your group is essential to control your group.
Here you can publish news and messages for the group. News and messages can be used very differently. Some may post news very frequently like daily news, others will use the option more selectively. It is up to you, how often you post news and messages, however you should have a professional approach. 
The homepage of the group will show automatically trade show reports of events in the industries, which you have defined as important to the group, and the dates of upcoming trade shows in these industries.

Edit this group
Here you can adjust the initially posted parameters of the group: name, group description, important industries. On the same page you can also edit the members of your group: Edit membership.

Edit new message
In the left column of the group homepage you see the box "edit new message". A click in that box leads you to the page with all news of the host, and to the box "Host`s news - add news". If you click on add news you will be transferred to a new page, where you can edit a new message. Before you "save" the new message, you need to activate the same. This option allows to deactivate messages, or draft a new one and release the same later.

Discussionboards
Another left column box on the homepage of the group leads to the boards of the group. First you will see an overview of all boards. As responsible host it is one of your privileges to change or delete those posts, which are violating "nettiquette", law, values of the group and of Expoport. You can edit the postings by clicking on "edit".
Of course you can post also your own contirbutions. Go to the overview of all boards, see on the left column "Add new topic" and click on "write your post". That leads you to the form, where you can add your new topic. 

Guidelines for hosts

These guidelines for hosts should facilitate communication in the groups. They shall form a binding agreement between hosts and Expoport.

1. Each host should outline the group`s purpose, what kind of discussion can be expected, the typical profile of members the group is looking for.

2. Hosts shall treat others with respect at all times, especially when posting. Posts which contain opinionated views on race, religion or sexual preferences should be avoided.

3. Hosts shall play an active part in their group. They should be in touch with their members via news and newsletters, and post regularly. If group activity drops, the host should try to activate group members with ne posts, newsletters or events.

4. Hosts shall take a neutral position and shall not abuse the power of their role. If a host leaves the group, he will not participate in activities, which undermine or damages the group. If the leaving host did not introduce a new host, Expoport should be informed (team@expo-port.com).

5. Whilst Expoport doesn`t disallow advertising in groups, hosts shall not advertise excessively. Newsletters should be mainly related to subjects of the group. The boards should cover a variety of topics. They shall not focus on advertising the host`s own interests. Using a group for direct financial gain is not permitted.

6. Hosts, at their descretion, can decides whether or not they will allow their members to advertise within a group. If permitted, advertising should be related to the group topic.

7. Hosts are responsible for handling disputes within their group. Their role is as mediator, and as such they shall take a neutral stance and look for common ground of all parties involved in the conflict resolution. This applies especially, if the host is the target of criticism.

8. Hosts shall only edit or delete parts of an article, if there are terms, names or parts of a member`s post, which are problematic (e.g., which violate the Expoport terms and conditions, national or international law, netiquette etc.).

If a post is edited, deleted or removed, the host shall inform the author via personal message or email. The host shall briefly inform the other group members about the reason also. Hosts don`t delete contributions, just because they don`t fit to their opinions.

9. Hosts can decide when they want to close a forum, provided no more constructive comments are being posted.  

10. Hosts can also decide when to move or close an article thread.  when the discussion moves too far away from the original topic or the focus of the board. This helps in maintaining the structure of the group boards.

11. Hosts shall anwer all posts, which are directed to them personally.