How to Set Up & Customize Your Kajabi Community: The Ultimate 2025 Redesign Guide

Learn how to set up and customize your Kajabi Community with our comprehensive 2025 tutorial. Discover the latest redesign features: custom branding, dark/light mode, drag & drop navigation, and more… to optimize engagement and retention. Get started today with a free trial!

Kajabi has just rolled out the biggest redesign of Communities ever. Whether you’re already using Kajabi or planning to launch a paid membership, coaching group, or online course community, this update is set to revolutionize your online space.

In this step-by-step tutorial, we cover everything new in the 2025 Kajabi Communities redesign and show you how to build your community from scratch. By following this guide, you’ll learn how to customize your community’s appearance and functionality to maximize engagement and retention.

Pro Tip: Download my FREE Kajabi Communities Checklist to follow along easily.

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Kajabi Community 2025: New Features & Updates

Before diving into the setup, let’s explore the innovative features introduced in the Kajabi Communities redesign:

• Custom Branding: Personalize your community with branded colors, custom cover photos, and sidebar icons.

• Dark Mode & Light Mode: Offer members the option to choose their preferred theme—dark or light—for a tailored experience.

• Drag & Drop Navigation: Easily reorder Access Groups, Custom Pages, and Circles with a simple drag & drop interface.

• Expanded Search Bar: Quickly locate posts, recordings, and members with an enhanced search bar.

• New Recording Library: All live session replays are now automatically saved in one centralized library.

• Community Leaderboards: Gamify member engagement by tracking points and highlighting top contributors.

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• Faster Performance: Experience load times up to 3X faster with smoother interactions across your community.

• Live Room Enhancements: Enjoy breakout rooms, inline chat, and screen-sharing options to boost live interactions.

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How to Set Up Your Kajabi Community – Step by Step

Step 1: Create Your Community

1. Log into Kajabi:
   If you’re new to Kajabi, start by signing up for our 30-day free trial.

2. Navigate to the Community Section:
   In the Kajabi Dashboard, go to Products → Community and click on New Community. 

3. Enter Your Community Details:

   • Name: Choose a compelling name (e.g., “Digital Success Club”).
   • Description: Write a brief description that appears in the sidebar.
   • 
   • Cover Image: Upload an image (recommended size: 756×279 px).

     Pro Tip: Your cover photo is the first impression—use it to reinforce your branding or highlight a special event.

     

4. Choose Access Type: Decide if your community will be free (open access) or paid (monetized with an exclusive offer). 

Step 2: Set Up Your First Access Group

Access Groups act like rooms within your community to control member access:

• Click on Create New Access Group. 
• Enter a group name and set the access level.
• Use the Drag & Drop feature to arrange groups for intuitive navigation.

Note: This feature helps structure your community so members only see the content relevant to them.

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How to Customize Your Kajabi Community Layout

Step 3: Customize Branding & Appearance

Make your community reflect your brand identity:

• Go to Settings → Customization: Select between preset colors or define your own custom colors.
  • Fine-tune saturation and lightness.
  • Enable the dark/light mode toggle to offer theme options. 
  • Reorder the sidebar using drag & drop. ccess Groups.Adjust Appearance Settings:

Pro Tip: Use custom pages to build a smooth onboarding flow, link external resources, or embed a welcome video.

Step 4: Set Up Circles for Discussion

Circles are like “chat rooms” or topic threads within your community:

• Click + New Circle.

• Choose between:

  • Feed Style: Ideal for a Facebook-like group.
  • Chat Style: Similar to Slack or WhatsApp.

• Name your Circle (e.g., “Business Tips” or “Course Support”) and assign it to an Access Group.

This setup organizes discussions and makes it easier for members to engage. 

 

Onboarding Members for Maximum Engagement

A solid onboarding process ensures new members feel welcomed and know how to navigate your community:

• Create a Custom Welcome Page: Provide clear instructions and key links.

• Add an Intro Video: Briefly explain what new members can expect. 

• Send a Welcome Email: Include essential community links.

• Utilize Challenges & Meetups: Kickstart engagement from day one.

• Set Up a Leaderboard: Reward active participation and foster friendly competition.

Pro Tip: A dynamic leaderboard highlights top contributors and encourages ongoing participation.

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How to Increase Engagement in Your Kajabi Community

Step 5: Set Up a Challenge

Challenges are a great way to motivate and gamify your community:

• Go to Community → Challenges.

• Click + Create Challenge.

• Choose either:

  • One-Time Challenge (e.g., “30-Day Content Challenge”).
  • Recurring Challenge (e.g., “Weekly Check-In”).

• Assign the challenge to an Access Group and, if desired, set rewards.

“Challenges boost participation and help build a strong, engaged community.” 

Step 6: Leverage Meetups & Live Rooms

Encourage live interaction with meetups:

• Click + New Meetup.

• Enter a title, description, and schedule the event.

• Use Kajabi’s Live Room feature or integrate a Zoom link.

• Click Save & Publish.

Pro Tip: Setting up a welcome challenge or meetup right away gets members interacting from the start. 

Step 7: Gamify with Leaderboards

Boost engagement by recognizing top contributors:

• Find the Leaderboard under Access Groups.

• Members earn points for posts, comments, and overall participation.

Offer rewards like free coaching calls or exclusive bonuses to further incentivize engagement. 

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Monetization Strategies for Your Kajabi Community

Turn your community into a revenue generator with these strategies:

1. Paid Memberships: Charge monthly or annual fees for premium access.
2. Exclusive Coaching Groups: Offer premium coaching sessions or mastermind groups.
3. Hybrid Course + Community Model: Bundle your online course with private community access for added value. 

Kajabi seamlessly integrates monetization options—whether through one-time payments, subscriptions, or upsells.

 👉 Check out my FREE Course Planning Template

FAQs: Kajabi Community Setup & Customization

Q: Can I add a Community to an existing Kajabi product?

A: Yes! Simply attach it as an Access Group within your offer.

Q: Can I connect my Community to my Kajabi Course?
A: Absolutely! Add a custom sidebar link in your course dashboard.

Ready to Launch Your Kajabi Community?

Are you ready to launch your very own Kajabi Community and transform your business? Start today with our exclusive 30-day Kajabi trial and unlock the Kajabi Kickstart Course—absolutely FREE!

• Sign up now → mariataveras.com/Kajabi
• Don’t forget to download the FREE Kajabi Communities Checklist.

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By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating an engaging, fully customized Kajabi Community that stands out in 2025. Optimize your community’s setup, drive engagement with interactive challenges and meetups, and explore monetization strategies to maximize your success. Get started today and experience the new era of Kajabi Communities!