Memory Lane: Community Vanguards

Community Vanguards FAQs
Part of the Google+ Create Program

Updated March 6, 2018;
Terminated 2 April 2019

courtesy Earl J. Arnold Advertising Card Collection - 1885

The information below was sourced from the official Google description of the Community.

Changes are bracketed. Some deletions have been made. Some links are redirected, while others

have been eliminated.

What [was] Community Vanguards?

It [was] a supportive space for experienced owners and moderators to collaborate,
brainstorm, and exchange best practices for running successful, thriving communities on Google+.

How [was] it different from Google+ Create?

Vanguards [was] a part of the Google+ Create program!
While the Create Community [was] about content and creative collaboration,
Community Vanguards [was] about Community management and support.
[It was] a group for Community leaders to share tips & tricks, advice, and best practices
to help each other succeed. Vanguards [was] not focused on content creation, nor [was] it focused
on the technical side of product testing and feedback. Vanguards members [were] welcome
to join the Create Community.

What [were] the requirements for joining Community Vanguards?

We [were] looking for applicants who:

[Ran] a public and active Google+ Community and ha[d] some experience moderating

Ha[d] a unique Community with a clear focus and vision

[Were] willing to engage with and learn from other Community owners and moderators
through constructive, supportive, and respectful dialogue

We [might] have [had] other restrictions in the number of people we can accept at one time....

What [were] the perks of Community Vanguards?

Gaining a supportive network of other experienced Community managers


Verified Profile: This add[ed] a ‘verified’ badge to your profile on Google+, which [allowed]

all users on Google+ know that it [was truly] you.


The opportunity to have your Community promoted on the Google+ page


Participate in collaborative projects, share your expertise as a community manager,

and be recognized as a community expert to the wider user base


Google+ Early Access: Try out new and experimental features of Google+

before they are released to the public. Your feedback help[ed] shape the overall product

so that it work[ed] better for you and everyone. Check out the Google+ Early Access FAQ.


Access to the larger Google+ Create Community, a place that "inspires creativity

and collaboration over shared passions": connect with talented people,

learn about creating engaging content, and collaborate on shared initiatives.

Check out the Google+ Create FAQ.

How do I leave Community Vanguards?

[Never mind. Community Vanguards has left you.] 
The Trusted Tester Agreement (including confidentiality agreement) [still applies] to information
shared with you while you were in Google+ Community Vanguards.

Can my Create/Vanguards membership be revoked? [Not any more.]

[Google] reserve[d] the right to revoke Google+ Create/Vanguards membership at [their] discretion
at any point.  [Google] might have revoke[d] membership due to violations of Google policy 
(see here: google.com/intl/en-US/+/policy/content.html), copyright infringement, 
or other violations of a third party’s rights.

Uploading photographs, text, or other content created by a third party without explicit attribution
or permission [was] grounds for removal from Google+ Create/Vanguards.

If you would like to report a user for removal,
[you're too late. There are no longer any public Google+ users.]

All aspects of the Google+ Create program, including but not limited to participation, benefits

and levels, and promotion of members, are subject to change at Google’s sole discretion,
[as Google demonstrated by hastily and without careful consideration killing the Google+ platform altogether].