Creating Your First Hub
Build a thriving cross-server community from the ground up. Learn how to create, configure, and grow a successful InterChat hub.
Creating Your First Hub
A hub is your community's central meeting place where multiple Discord servers come together. This guide will help you create a hub that attracts members and fosters meaningful connections.
What You'll Learn
- How to plan and create an effective hub
- Best practices for naming and describing your hub
- Essential configuration steps for new hubs
- Strategies for growing your community
Before You Start
Planning Your Hub
Success Tip: The most successful hubs have a clear purpose and target audience. Spend time planning before creating!
Ask yourself these questions:
- What's your hub's purpose? (Gaming, learning, creative collaboration, etc.)
- Who is your target audience? (Specific game players, students, professionals, etc.)
- What makes your hub unique? (Special events, expert knowledge, unique community culture)
- How will you moderate it? (Rules, moderation team, content policies)
Hub Examples for Inspiration
Minecraft Builders Network
- Purpose: Share builds, collaborate on projects, get feedback
- Audience: Minecraft builders of all skill levels
- Unique Value: Weekly build challenges, expert tutorials
Indie Game Developers
- Purpose: Support indie developers, share resources, find collaborators
- Audience: Independent game developers
- Unique Value: Industry connections, feedback sessions
Computer Science Study Group
- Purpose: Help students with coursework, share resources
- Audience: CS students and recent graduates
- Unique Value: Peer tutoring, job search support
Language Exchange Network
- Purpose: Practice languages with native speakers
- Audience: Language learners worldwide
- Unique Value: Structured conversation practice
Digital Artists Collective
- Purpose: Share artwork, get critiques, collaborate
- Audience: Digital artists and illustrators
- Unique Value: Monthly art challenges, portfolio reviews
Writers Workshop
- Purpose: Share writing, get feedback, improve craft
- Audience: Writers of all genres and experience levels
- Unique Value: Writing prompts, critique exchanges
Web Developers Network
- Purpose: Share knowledge, discuss trends, find opportunities
- Audience: Web developers and designers
- Unique Value: Code reviews, job postings, tech discussions
Marketing Professionals Hub
- Purpose: Share strategies, discuss campaigns, network
- Audience: Marketing professionals and students
- Unique Value: Case study discussions, industry insights
Step 1: Create Your Hub
Run the Creation Command
In any channel where InterChat is present, type:
/hub createFill Out the Creation Form
A modal will appear with these fields:
Hub Name (Required)
- Must be unique across all InterChat hubs
- Choose something memorable and descriptive
- Examples: "Minecraft Builders Network", "CS Study Group", "Indie Game Devs"
Description (Required)
- Explain what your hub is about in 1-2 sentences
- Include your target audience and main purpose
- Example: "A community for Minecraft builders to share creations, collaborate on projects, and learn new techniques together."
Icon URL (Optional)
- Add a custom icon to make your hub stand out
- Use a direct image URL (ending in .png, .jpg, etc.)
- Recommended size: 512x512 pixels
Submit and Confirm
Click "Submit" to create your hub. You'll receive a confirmation message and become the hub owner.
Step 2: Essential Initial Configuration
Important: New hubs are private by default. Complete these configuration steps before making your hub public.
Set Up Hub Rules
Clear rules create a welcoming environment and set expectations:
/hub config rules hub:YourHubNameExample Rules:
🌟 Welcome to [Hub Name]! Please follow these guidelines:
1. **Be Respectful** - Treat all members with kindness and respect
2. **Stay On Topic** - Keep discussions relevant to [hub purpose]
3. **No Spam** - Avoid repetitive messages or excessive self-promotion
4. **Use Appropriate Language** - Keep content family-friendly
5. **Follow Discord ToS** - All Discord Terms of Service apply
6. **Ask for Help** - Don't hesitate to reach out to moderators
Violations may result in warnings or removal from the hub.Configure Basic Settings
/hub config settings hub:YourHubNameRecommended Initial Settings:
- ✅ Spam Filter - Prevents spam messages
- ✅ Block NSFW - Filters inappropriate content
- ✅ Reactions - Allows emoji reactions across servers
- ❌ Block Invites - Allow Discord invites (can enable later if needed)
- ❌ Hide Links - Allow links (can enable later if needed)
Create a Welcome Message
Make new servers feel welcome with a custom greeting:
/hub config welcome hub:YourHubNameExample Welcome Message:
🎉 Welcome to {hubName}!
We're excited to have {serverName} join our community of {totalConnections} connected servers!
**Getting Started:**
• Read our rules with `/hub config rules`
• Introduce your server in the chat
• Check out our weekly events and challenges
**Need Help?**
• Tag a moderator for assistance
• Use `/help` for command information
Happy chatting! 💬Step 3: Set Up Moderation
Add Your First Moderator
Even small hubs benefit from having multiple moderators:
/hub moderator add hub:YourHubName user:@FriendOrTrustedMember position:moderatorConfigure Logging
Set up logging to monitor your hub's activity:
/hub config logging hub:YourHubNameEssential Log Types:
- Reports - User-submitted reports of inappropriate content
- Mod Logs - Record of all moderation actions
- Join/Leaves - Track servers joining or leaving your hub
Pro Tip: Create dedicated channels like #hub-reports and #hub-logs to keep moderation organized.
Step 4: Connect Your First Channel
Test your hub by connecting a channel from your own server:
/connect hub:YourHubNameSend a test message to make sure everything is working correctly.
Step 5: Invite Your First Servers
Create Invitation Codes
Since your hub is private, you'll need to create invites:
/hub invite create hub:YourHubName expiry:7dShare Your Hub
Reach out to:
- Partner servers you already know
- Community forums related to your topic
- Social media where your target audience gathers
- Friends who run relevant Discord servers
Invitation Message Template:
Hi! I've created a new InterChat hub called "[Hub Name]" for [target audience].
It's designed to [hub purpose] and I think your server would be a great fit!
The hub allows real-time chat between connected servers while keeping each server's independence. Would you be interested in joining?
Invite code: [your-invite-code]
Use: /hub join invite:[your-invite-code]Growing Your Hub
Making Your Hub Public
Once your hub is established (24+ hours old, 2+ moderators, report logging configured), you can make it public:
/hub visibility hub:YourHubName visibility:publicThis will list your hub in the public directory for discovery.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid These Pitfalls:
- Vague Purpose - "General chat" hubs rarely succeed
- No Moderation - Unmoderated hubs quickly become chaotic
- Inactive Owner - Hub owners must actively participate
- Too Many Rules - Keep rules simple and enforceable
- Ignoring Feedback - Listen to your community members
Next Steps
Congratulations! You've created your first hub. Here's what to focus on next:
- Build a moderation team - Add trusted moderators
- Set up content filtering - Automate content moderation
- Configure announcements - Communicate with your community
- Monitor with logging - Stay aware of hub activity
Need help with your hub? Join our support community to connect with experienced hub owners and get personalized advice!