Whether you're an admin, content creator, or regular user, understanding the core structure of Haiilo is essential to maximize its potential. In this article, we'll break down the basic principles that define Haiilo's architecture, helping you manage your platform with confidence. For additional context, we recommend reading the article "Navigating the platform".
Pages vs. Communities
The foundation of Haiilo is built upon two key elements: Pages and Communities.
- Pages: Official hubs for providing knowledge, guidelines, and company-wide communication. Ideal for department updates, corporate news, and day-to-day work-relevant information. Think of them as structured, top-down communication channels. Typical pages are department, location, and news pages.
- Communities: Dynamic spaces for interaction, communication, and informal discussions. Communities are ideal for topic-based exchange, social clubs, and peer groups and foster a horizontal and bottom-up communication style. Popular examples are the help and self-service communities, communities reflecting certain (in)formal interests, or communities for department or location internal exchange.
Categories & Filters
In Haiilo, Pages and Communities are located on the same level with no hierarchy between them. Both can be tagged with categories, which serve as additive filters to help you efficiently sort and narrow down relevant content quickly.
For instance, filtering by the category "news" will show only the Pages that serve a news-related use case and are therefore tagged with the respective category. By selecting multiple categories, you can narrow down your search to display only the Pages or Communities that meet all your criteria, making it easier to find specific information.
When setting up a new platform, it's highly recommended to predefine these categories before creating pages and communities. This ensures consistency and makes it easier for users to find the content they're looking for.
Levels of Content Structure
Haiilo's content is organized in a structured way, allowing you to create, manage, and find information systematically.
- Category: The broadest grouping that can include various Pages and Communities.
- Page/Community: The main containers of content within a category.
- App: Installed within Pages or Communities to provide specific functionalities.
- Widgets: Mostly used within certain Apps* to display or manage content.
Homepage
Based on the Pages you've subscribed to and the Communities you're a member of, your personal newsfeed on the homepage displays the most relevant information tailored to your interests and needs. Think of the Homepage as the dynamic face of the platform, where the structured information—the skeleton of your Pages and Communities—becomes accessible. Take a look at our example:
What's next?
Now that you've learned the Haiilo basics, you can get ready to start by diving into the next chapter based on your role:
Further Tips & Tricks - mostly for Admins
- Consider the purpose of your content before deciding whether it belongs on a Page or in a Community. This ensures that communication flows in the most effective way for your organization.
- It's common for a department to have both a Page and a Community. The key difference lies in their communication direction: Pages broadcast to the organization, while Communities encourage internal dialogue within the group. Department communities, therefore, are most likely protected.
- A platform can have multiple homepages for different target groups, each offering a unique experience. The layout and design of these homepages are highly flexible and can be customized using a variety of widgets to fit your needs. If your homepage includes a subscription widget, for example, you can easily access and view your favorite Pages and Communities directly from the homepage.
- *Please note: Not all apps carry widgets. Some apps fulfill your use case "on their own".