> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stackshift.cloud/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Run a customer community

> Let customers discuss topics, share answers and report inappropriate content.

<Note>
  This guide includes features awaiting release. If an option is not available in your workspace, contact StackShift Support.
</Note>

## What you can do

Let customers discuss topics, share answers and report inappropriate content. Where to find it: Community → Topics, Reports and Portal

## Before you start

* A community configured for the brand and environment.
* Community moderation permission to manage discussions.

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Open Community and select the relevant community. Review its portal configuration and categories.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Set each category’s intended audience before inviting customers. Public categories can be read without sign-in; restricted categories require the appropriate access.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Customers sign in to post topics, replies and attachments. Review topics and mark an appropriate visible reply as an accepted answer.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Use Reports to investigate flagged content. Hide or restore content, lock discussions or suspend participants when appropriate.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Escalate a topic requiring private assistance to a ticket, selecting only the relevant visible replies and the correct inbox and published ticket type.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Example

A setup question gets a useful community answer; an account-specific problem becomes a private ticket.

## Things to know

* Internal ticket updates are not automatically posted back into the community.
* No community configured means the selected brand/environment has no community yet; an administrator must configure it.

## What happens next

<Check>
  Customers can help one another while staff moderate public discussion and move private issues into support.
</Check>

## If something goes wrong

<Warning>
  * Posting unavailable: confirm customer verification, category access and participant status.
  * Escalation unavailable: check ticket creation permission and an eligible inbox and ticket type.
</Warning>

## Related guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Offer a customer support portal" href="/stackshift-support/customer-portal">
    Let customers read help articles, submit requests and follow their own conversations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create and follow a ticket" href="/stackshift-support/tickets">
    Track requests that need structured information and a clear lifecycle.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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