Travel. Park. Connect. That’s the mantra of this increasingly popular RV social network, and you’re all invited to join the fun!
By Krista Rose
Production/Social Media Coordinator
Have you heard the buzz about the social media platform built by RVers for RVers? FMCA has embraced this rapidly growing site — RVillage.com — and is working closely with the team at RVillage to help FMCA members connect with each other and with other RV owners.
If You Build It, They Will Come
Designed in 2013 by FMCA member Curtis Coleman, F447048, RVillage.com is a social network that is unique in that it supports the RV lifestyle. So far, more than 47,000 RVers have joined, and others are added every day! And the good news is that access to the site is free and secure. Users’ information is never shared with third parties.
Unlike other social media sites, RVillage is built expressly for those interested in RVing. In addition to sharing photos or writing posts about adventures, RVillage users can update their location on an interactive map; connect with others where they are; join rallies and get-togethers; browse vendors recommended by fellow travelers; search for campgrounds; and more.
“It’s a cool way to keep track of friends. You can meet up with friends in different places to rendezvous,” said Rodger Donnelly, F253331, who discovered RVillage through his interest in vintage RVs.
Pursue Special Interests
Similar to other social networks, users create a profile that includes photos and favorite things. However, RVillage has profile fields specific to the RV lifestyle, such as a place to share travel plans, interests, and information about the type of RV owned. There is even a special profile section where RVillagers can upload pictures of their motorhome.
On RVillage.com, users have the ability to create and join groups focused on topics of interest. For instance, the main FMCA group is Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) Official Page, and groups have been set up for specific FMCA chapters. General-interest groups include one called RV Pets and another called Why Didn’t I Think of That.
Rodger said the vintage RV groups he belongs to once relied on Facebook and email chains to stay in touch, but now the majority of group members have joined RVillage. “RVillage is working well for them. Once the groups got going on RVillage and people started seeing them, they said, ‘Hey, this is the place to be.’”
Meet New Friends
We all know that meeting new people while in a place for a short period of time can be a challenge. Rodger regularly uses RVillage to update his location when traveling and to post pictures of places he’s been. He recalls two times he met new faces as a result of updating his location on the RVillage website — once at a casino and the other at a Thousand Trails campground in California. “They came up and said ‘Hi’ right away,” he said.
FMCA members Mike and Donna Wagner, F222372, agree that the site has helped them to meet fellow RVers. The Wagners, who RV part-time, have used the site daily since June 2015.
“RVillage has none of the bickering and political issues found on some other social sites. It is a happy, upbeat network of folks with the common interest of RVs, RV travel, and connecting with fellow RVers or RV wannabes,” Donna said.
The couple shared that they have become close friends with travelers they met through RVillage, and they even have had cards printed with their RVillage username to pass out to those they meet. “Our list of close friends continues to grow constantly,” Donna added.
Show Your Affiliations
Aside from joining groups or discovering each other at the same campground, one way to meet others on RVillage is through profile “badges.” Badges represent RV-friendly clubs and organizations such as FMCA, Kampgrounds of America, and Passport America. This is similar to displaying an FMCA membership plate on a motorhome. When an RVillage user adds the FMCA badge to his or her profile, he or she easily can be identified as an FMCA member and can search the site for other members to see whether they might be nearby.
RVillage features built-in tutorials throughout the site. Both Rodger Donnelly and the Wagners encourage new users to take advantage of the tutorials to familiarize themselves with the site’s navigation.
“Have fun with the site, and don’t be afraid to pose questions. You’ll be overwhelmed with friendly answers and tips from members and the RVillage staff,” Donna said.
One Big Family
FMCA members are encouraged to use RVillage as a networking tool and a means of communication. This is especially true for FMCA chapters. Join the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) Official Page group to easily connect with fellow FMCA members, communicate with your chapter, and also take time to explore other groups and topics of individual interest.
RVillage is a reminder that while FMCA is unique in terms of its motorhome-specific focus, it is really part of one big family — the RV community.
Rodger observed, “It’s enjoyable once you learn. You will know where everyone is traveling. You’ll run into people you may never meet otherwise.”
How To Join RVillage
It’s simple to join RVillage! The site currently is accessible by PC, tablet, and smartphones. A downloadable app also is scheduled for release. RVillage membership is free.
1. Go to RVillage.com and click “Sign Up” (green box) in the top right-hand corner.
2. Fill out the sign-up form, check the “I’m not a robot” box for security, and click the green “Join for Free” button. Note: You can also link to your Facebook account by clicking “Sign Up with Facebook.”
3. Next complete your profile. The “Edit Profile” link is in the top right-hand corner (little man, next to the envelope). Be as detailed as you wish — add your interests, a profile photo, current travel plans, family and pet details, etc.
4. Update your location. You can set this to a campground or RV park or note if you are on the road. This feature is optional; you are the one in control of setting your location. The site will not update your location automatically, unlike other social media sites that pinpoint your location via Wi-Fi signals. This is a great safety feature for all users.
5. Join groups of interest to you. On the navigation bar running across the upper left-hand side of the site, click “Groups” and then “Browse Groups.” Search for Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) Official Page to find the main FMCA group. You can also search by FMCA chapter name, such as “FMCA – California” or “FMCA 4-Wheelers.”
From there, have fun with it! RVillage is a great way to connect with fellow RVers and to stay connected.
Tips From FMCA Members
Use email links. You can set email notifications to update you when a new group post is created or when a friend posts a picture, for example. These emails include links that will take you directly to the RVillage page. This can be a quick way to navigate.
Location is key. Take advantage of the site’s features by updating your location and checking into campgrounds or the town you are in. You never know who might be just three spaces away. You also have the option to add campgrounds that are not yet listed on the site. “We have missed out on meetings because others didn’t check in, so we didn’t realize they were in the same park as us,” Rodger said, recalling a Georgia trip.
Don’t be afraid! Learn the site. Everything is clickable in RVillage. If you see something in blue letters, click it and see what it does. If you are confused, look for a video or read the “How To Guide” that can be found by clicking the little guy, upper right, next to the envelope. (He is your friend.) Various topics are covered in the videos that are available in the Video Tutorials section.
“New users should watch the how-to videos, which do a good job of explaining how to navigate the features,” the Wagners suggested.
Other Social Media
2016 is a digital age. In addition to RVillage, various other ways to share your RV adventures and connect with your FMCA family exist. Find FMCA on your favorite social media networks:
Facebook: facebook.com/fmcafans
Instagram: @fmcamotorhome
Twitter: @fmca_
YouTube: youtube.com/fmcaonline
Pinterest: pinterest.com/fmcamotorhome
FMCA uses the hashtag #fmcaRV