Setting up homepage experiences for different users

Homepage Settings for Visitors, New and Returning Members

Your community homepage is crucial to success—it's the first impression for visitors and a key engagement driver. Different users have different needs: logged-out visitors need a welcoming introduction, while logged-in members need personalized content that encourages deeper participation.

Bettermode lets you create distinct homepage experiences for three user types:

Logged-out visitors
New users (after signup)
Returning members (logged-in users)

This ensures every visitor gets a tailored experience designed to maximize engagement.

Homepage Settings Overview

Default Homepage for Logged-out Visitors

This setting displays a specific space to users who are not logged in when they access the root URL (/).

Default Homepage for Returning Members

This setting directs logged-in users to a tailored homepage where they see content based on their space membership and access level. Logged-in members see this space when accessing the root URL (/). If not set, this defaults to the logged-out visitors' homepage.

New Users Homepage

New users are redirected to this space after signup for onboarding or initial guidance. If not set, this defaults to the logged-out visitors' homepage.

Set Up Your Homepage Settings

Step 1: Create a Homepage Space

Log in to your community with an admin account.
Click your profile image and select Administration.
Go to Design Studio > Collections and Spaces.
Click the three-dot menu icon (...) next to the relevant collection and select + Add Space.
Recommended: Create your homepage space under No Collection.
Choose a space template and name it.
Set the privacy setting to Public.
Required: Homepage spaces must have Public privacy settings.
Click Create.

Step 2: Assign Spaces to Homepage Settings

Go to Administration > Settings.
Locate Homepage Settings under Site Settings.
Assign a space to each of these options:
- Default Homepage for Logged-out Visitors
- Default Homepage for Returning Members
- New Users Homepage
Click Update to save.

Step 3: Test Your Settings

Log out and visit the root URL (/) to verify the logged-out visitors' homepage displays correctly.
Log in and confirm the returning members' homepage appears.
Create a test account to verify new users are redirected to the correct space.

Use Permanent Links in Navigation

If you have different default homepages for logged-out visitors and returning members, and you're linking to these spaces in navigation or sidebar menus, use the permanent space links instead of the root URL (/).

Why Use Permanent Links?

The root URL (/) renders conditionally based on user session state.
Permanent links (like /feed or /explore) direct all users to the same destination regardless of login status.
This creates consistent, predictable navigation behavior.

Example Scenario

You have two homepage spaces:

Explore Space for logged-out visitors (URL: /explore)
Feed Space for logged-in members (URL: /feed)

Navigation Best Practice

Correct approach: If you want all users to access the Feed Space, add a link using the permanent URL /feed instead of the root URL /.

If you link to /: Logged-out visitors see the Explore Space while logged-in members see the Feed Space—creating an inconsistent user experience.
If you link to /feed: All users, regardless of login status, are directed to the Feed Space consistently.

Key Benefits

Personalized experiences: Show logged-out visitors a welcoming introduction (e.g., Explore Space highlighting benefits) while returning members see relevant updates (e.g., Feed Space). Gate exclusive content for members only.
Intuitive navigation: Clearly define navigation paths for different user types, making your community easy to navigate.
Improved onboarding: Use the new user landing page to create a customized onboarding experience. Direct new members to spaces with tutorials, guidelines, or next steps so they quickly understand how to participate. This warm welcome encourages immediate involvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't assign a space to a homepage setting?

By default:

Returning Members Homepage defaults to the logged-out visitors' homepage.
New Users Homepage defaults to the logged-out visitors' homepage.

Can I set up different landing pages for specific member segments?

Enhanced Homepage Settings currently support logged-out users, new users, and returning members as broad categories. However, you can tailor the returning members' homepage to show content based on their space memberships and access level.

Does the new user landing page work for SSO-authenticated members?

Yes. The new user homepage applies to all new users, including those who authenticate through SSO.

Why can't I delete a homepage space?

Spaces assigned as homepages cannot be deleted. Remove the space from your Homepage Settings before deleting it.