Has Anyone Used Gradual for Building Private Advocate Communities Outside Slack or Salesforce?

Colleen Reidy · 2026-04-07T19:07:31.047Z

Has anyone used Gradual as a Community platform? Looking for ways to foster engagement with our advocates in a private community that isn't Slack or the Community module in Salesforce.

Has Anyone Used Gradual for Building Private Advocate Communities Outside Slack or Salesforce? | CMAweekly Customer Marketing and Advocacy Slack

9 comments

· Sorted by Oldest

Joel (Salesforce)
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Engagement meaning what exactly?
Colleen Reidy
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Good question, Joel (Salesforce) - I should have been more detailed. Our current Community is in Salesforce and managed by another team. I have a private/unlisted, advocate group of members. My opportunities are limited in the way it's structured (replies are collapsed, there's no notification when there's a new post, etc.). I'm looking for a way to build a private member community such that we can accomplish: Communication updates and advocacy participation opportunities (from my team to all advocate/members). Questions, advice, ideas from one advocate to the group (post), or 1:1 engagement for members to ask/respond outside the entire group ("I'm in healthcare cyber and you're in healthcare cyber, can we discuss how you approach xxxx with the platform?")
Joel (Salesforce)
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Got it. I think most platforms would be able to help you here including Slack and Tightknit. Likely Higher Logic, Gainsight CC, Gradual, etc.
Jenelle Stevens
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We have used Gradual for the last 2 years.
Colleen Reidy
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Jenelle Stevens - thank you. Can you share your use case or insight on Gradual?
Jenelle Stevens
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Hi Colleen Reidy Overall, we have been happy with them. I like that there are several different options for engagement. Our community members love the forums. I also love that we can create separate private groups for some of our councils and user groups. Kyle, who we worked with at Gradual has been incredible. He helped us through implementation and answered any question we had. I wish we had better data with their dashboard, but they seem to slowly be improving it.
Jenelle Stevens
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If you have any specific questions, please let me know.
Colleen Reidy
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thank you, Jenelle Stevens this is is super helpful. Much appreciate your feedback. I'm looking for a way to create a place for advocates to connect with each other and for us to share speaking opportunities, product and event news, etc. - Additionally, would like a separate private group for CAB members to continue conversations and networking opportunities.
Jenelle Stevens
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Yes! Gradual would work great for that then. We used it very similarly with our advocates.

Joel (Salesforce)
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Engagement meaning what exactly?
Colleen Reidy
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·
Good question, Joel (Salesforce) - I should have been more detailed. Our current Community is in Salesforce and managed by another team. I have a private/unlisted, advocate group of members. My opportunities are limited in the way it's structured (replies are collapsed, there's no notification when there's a new post, etc.). I'm looking for a way to build a private member community such that we can accomplish: Communication updates and advocacy participation opportunities (from my team to all advocate/members). Questions, advice, ideas from one advocate to the group (post), or 1:1 engagement for members to ask/respond outside the entire group ("I'm in healthcare cyber and you're in healthcare cyber, can we discuss how you approach xxxx with the platform?")
Joel (Salesforce)
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Got it. I think most platforms would be able to help you here including Slack and Tightknit. Likely Higher Logic, Gainsight CC, Gradual, etc.
Jenelle Stevens
·
·
We have used Gradual for the last 2 years.
Colleen Reidy
·
·
Jenelle Stevens - thank you. Can you share your use case or insight on Gradual?
Jenelle Stevens
·
·
Hi Colleen Reidy Overall, we have been happy with them. I like that there are several different options for engagement. Our community members love the forums. I also love that we can create separate private groups for some of our councils and user groups. Kyle, who we worked with at Gradual has been incredible. He helped us through implementation and answered any question we had. I wish we had better data with their dashboard, but they seem to slowly be improving it.
Jenelle Stevens
·
·
If you have any specific questions, please let me know.
Colleen Reidy
·
·
thank you, Jenelle Stevens this is is super helpful. Much appreciate your feedback. I'm looking for a way to create a place for advocates to connect with each other and for us to share speaking opportunities, product and event news, etc. - Additionally, would like a separate private group for CAB members to continue conversations and networking opportunities.
Jenelle Stevens
·
·
Yes! Gradual would work great for that then. We used it very similarly with our advocates.