For membership organisations, your online community is where members come together – to connect, share experiences, and get real value from being part of your organisation. When it works well, it strengthens relationships and turns passive members into active participants.
We design and build online communities that feel like a natural extension of your organisation – shaped around your culture and your members’ needs, not just the technology.
With decades of experience in digital, we understand how powerful an online community can be for both membership organisations and their members. Every community we support is built on a genuine partnership with a shared goal – ensuring the uniqueness of your organisation, while creating a better, more engaging experience for your members.
As a full-service digital agency, we specialise in creating connected member experiences across web, mobile, and online community solutions. Together, these form the "Cantarus Engagement Ecosystem" that connects and captivates, leveraging our extensive experience in digital innovation.
Our UK-based hosting ensures your online community runs smoothly, securely, and in full compliance with UK data residency requirements. It’s a reliable, scalable platform designed to protect your data and keep your community performing at its best – so members enjoy a fast, seamless experience every time they log in.
Our Service Desk provides responsive, expert help and maintains a 100% client satisfaction rate across thousands of tickets each year.
See how we’ve supported organisations such as NHS Charities Together, CIOB, and BCS in creating award-winning online community experiences.
Uniting NHS Charities: A Digital Community for Collaboration and Support
A Smarter, Connected Future for CIOB Members
Connecting IT Professionals: Building a Global Digital Community
A Rapid Response, A Lasting Community
From staffing and branding to community structure and CRM integration, our team of experts have extensive experience supporting organisations around the world in building strong, sustainable online communities.
We work closely with you to define the foundations of your community – its purpose, audience, goals, and the platform that fits your organisation best. By getting this right early on, we make sure your strategy is clear and aligned, ready for a successful launch.
From the first ideas through to strategic execution, we’ll be by your side every step of the way to guide the process and help your community get off to the strongest possible start.
Our technical team can integrate your online community with your CRM, ensuring member updates automatically reflect in community access and permissions. This gives you a more streamlined and secure way to manage your members’ experience.
Alongside the technical work, we'll also take care of branding and design to ensure your community feels like a natural part of your wider digital ecosystem. From early concepts through to launch, we’ll help bring your vision to life with an experience that’s intuitive, on-brand, and engaging.
Join forces with Cantarus to create a community where thoughtful design, smart integration, and technical expertise come together to deliver an exceptional experience for you and your members.
.png?mode=crop&width=1280&height=1280&format=webP)
Every organisation has different needs, which is why we support the two leading community platforms used by membership bodies across the UK: Discourse and Higher Logic (MemberWise Digital Excellence Report, 2023/24). Our expertise in both means we can recommend and build the right solution for your members.
Discourse is our go-to platform for most online community projects. As a leading open-source community solution, it gives us the flexibility to deliver a great experience across web, app, and email – without imposing hefty fees. Its exceptional user experience and integration with our MemConnect mobile app platform, ensure a reliable, scalable community ecosystem that works well for organisations of all sizes.
For organisations using Higher Logic, we provide a mobile-first experience through MemConnect. This integration supports features like personalised content feeds, library access, blog centres, and push notifications – helping members stay connected and engaged. It also ensures your organisation is well-represented in the app stores with a professional, branded presence.
Our experience across both platforms means we can shape a community approach that aligns with your unique engagement strategy. Cantarus is here to help you build an online community that’s flexible, efficient, and genuinely engaging for your members.
We understand that no two communities are the same – and neither are our services. We don’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we tailor our support to your organisation’s needs and create a personalised plan that helps your online community not only thrive, but stand out from the rest.
Your plan can include:
Managing moderation queues effectively to maintain a safe, positive experience for all users.
Ongoing oversight to keep your community active, healthy, and secure.
Key metrics, performance evaluations, and actionable insights to guide your community's evolution.
Regular in-depth analysis and discussions to keep your community moving in the right direction.
A structured roadmap of timely, engaging content tailored to your members’ interests.
On-demand training and a suite of supplementary services are available as needed, adapting to your community’s evolving needs.
The power of an online community can be amplified through the presence of a dedicated mobile app. With MemConnect’s Online Community module, members can connect, share insights, and support each other wherever they are – making engagement simple and accessible.
With an app at their fingertips, your community stays active beyond the desktop – vibrant, dynamic, and always within reach.
Elevate your community experience with MemConnect, designed to make engagement easy, meaningful, and consistently accessible.
We couldn’t have asked for a better partner on this project than Cantarus. Their expertise in online community, along with their specific knowledge in adapting and developing Discourse solutions over time, was the ultimate decider in Agorapulse choosing them; they have helped us to deliver a truly meaningful, engaging platform that will provide our users with value and facilitate better conversations.
Get in touch with our team to talk about how our online community services can enhance your member experience and support meaningful member-to-member interactions.