How do I start a circle?
Start a circle for your building, street, school or club in four steps, with every field explained: what is required, the limits and what each does.
- In the app
- On zinola.in
Updated
Anyone can start a circle for their building, street, school or club. It takes four short steps, and you become the circle's owner.
Start it
In the app, open the Circles tab, tap + and choose Create a circle. You can also tap a type such as Apartment under OR START WITH A TYPE on Discover. On the website, go to Start a circle (opens in a new tab).Pick the kind
Apartment or residents' association, Neighborhood, Interest club, School group, Workplace or Something else. See Kinds of circle and their groups.Fill in the details
Give it a Name of 3 to 60 characters. Add What is it for? and pictures if you like. On the next screen choose Who can see it: Open, Closed or Invite only, and set Where it is so the right neighbors find it.Pick your groups
General is always included. Tick the suggested groups you want, tap Add all, or Add your own group. Then start the circle.Invite people
You'll see Circle is live. Copy the link, share it on WhatsApp, show a QR code or invite neighbors already on Zinola. Or tap Skip for now.
The form, field by field
Step 2 has two screens: the details, then who can see it and where it is. Everything you leave out can be added later from the circle's settings.
| Field | Required? | Limit | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| What kind of circle is it? | Yes | One of six kinds | Sets the suggested groups, the Board tools and, for apartments, door numbers and one vote per home. In the app, tapping a kind moves you on |
| Cover photo and Picture (website: FEATURE IMAGE and PROFILE PICTURE) | No | One of each | The cover runs across the top of the circle. The picture shows in lists and chats |
| Name | Yes | 3 to 60 characters | From 3 letters, Zinola looks for circles with a similar name |
| What is it for? | No | Up to 500 characters | Shown on the circle's About. The example text changes with the kind |
| Your door or flat number | No, apartments only | Up to 40 characters | Your own door, so your home's vote counts in polls |
| Door numbers › Set up or Skip | No, apartments only | Up to 50 towers, blocks, buildings or wings | How doors are written here, such as Any number or Floor + flat. New members' doors are checked against it |
| WHO SEES DOOR NUMBERS | No, website only, while setting up doors | All members or Admins only | Admins only hides doors from other members. In the app you set this later |
| Who can see it | Yes, starts on Open | Open, Closed or Invite only | Who can find, read and join the circle. See Open, closed and invite-only circles |
| Where it is › Area | No | One area, in any city | Shows the circle to neighbors around that area. Without one it shows across the city |
| Pick your groups | General is always included | Ticked by kind | Untick suggested groups you don't want, or tap Add all. Announcements starts unticked |
| Add your own group | No | Up to 10, each 2 to 40 characters | Extra open groups. Names can't repeat one already on the list |
| Invite step | No | None | Copy the link, share on WhatsApp, show a QR code, or Invite neighbors nearby and people you search for. Then Open the circle or Skip for now |
Your circle starts when you tap Start this circle on the groups step. If something on the details screen needs fixing, you're taken back to it with the reason shown.
Apartment circles
For an apartment or residents' association, you'll also give Your door or flat number. You can set up how doors are written, such as towers and floor plus flat, with Set up, or Skip and do it later.
If a similar circle exists
While you type the name, Zinola checks for circles with similar names. If it finds one, you can ASK TO JOIN or OPEN it instead. Joining the one that exists keeps your people in one place. If none of them is yours, tap None of these. Start your circle anyway.
Limits
| Limit | |
|---|---|
| Name | 3 to 60 characters |
| What is it for? | Up to 500 characters |
| Your own groups at the start | Up to 10, each 2 to 40 characters |
| Groups in a circle | Up to 20, including General |
After it's live
You're the owner. From Manage circle you can approve join requests, set join questions, add groups and choose admins to help you. The circle's page shows Start here with ideas for a first message, poll or event. See Roles and handing over a circle and Invite people to your circle.
Common questions
How do I create a group for my apartment on Zinola?
Is it free to start a circle on Zinola?
Can I change the name or privacy of my circle later?
Can I start more than one circle?
Related articles
- Kinds of circle and the groups they start withThe six kinds of circle, the starter groups each gets, which Board tools come with it, and how apartment circles count one vote per home.
- Invite people to your circleInvite neighbors with a link on WhatsApp, a QR code for the notice board, the circle's code, or by name, and what happens when they use them.
- Admin roles and handing over a circleWhat a circle's owner and admins can each do, how to make someone an admin, and how to hand your circle to another member.
- Change who can join your circleMake a circle Open, Closed or Invite only, let invite links skip approval, limit it to your area, and set what newcomers see.