2-fold: Confirmation Email and Welcome Center Sticky

[WebForging]

Amazing, rapid growth at NamePros is awesome!

Here are two suggestions to embrace the influx of new members and enhance their NP experience right out of the gate.

# 1 Confirmation email (to validate the email address of new members) should include (a link to?) a basic overview of NamePros and how to get the most out of NamePros.

# 2 Welcome Center Sticky Thread This is one of the few Topics that doesn't include a sticky. In the last hour I ran into the typical newbie posts that cover the range of typical problems with newbie posts.


# 2a: The Insipid Post

Hey! I'm new - welcome me!​

That's unfortunately quite typical of the introductory posts in the Welcome Center. It is always a pleasure to see veteran NPers being upbeat and warm in their welcomes. In truth, for me, it's hard to get excited about one post after another that contains no real, useful information.

To get to know new members I much prefer to see (at least) something like:

Hi, I'm Joe from Texas and have been doing html and css for a few years. Graduated from _______, and picked up some PHP (intermediate level now) and MySQL over the last two years. Got into domaining finding names for friends, family and gaming club.​

I'd like to see more intros like this one of mine at TheAdminZone (which I couldn't have done without learning the ins and outs here at NamePros). That would really make it easy to get to know new people ~ and far more worthwhile for veterans here to visit the welcome center.


# 2b: The Misplaced Post

Hi. I'm new here. My question is blah, blah, blah.​

Most of these questions are best posted in the appropriate categories and topics elsewhere on NamePros, but newbs don't get any warning...hence their first post here is "wrong" - not a good way to get started.


# 2c: The 'Where Do I Start' Post

Hi. I'm new here. How do I get started?​

A valid question for a newbie post, and one that a confirmation email / link to newbie guide, and a Welcome Center sticky might help with. My reply to #2c today is here.


A confirmation email might (strongly) suggest following a link to the Welcome Center Sticky. That sticky should, IMHO, include descriptions/links to:

- making the most of the User CP
- making the most of the NamePros Currency, NP$
- Introducing Yourself
- Getting to know the board and all it has to offer

Hope you all like the idea and will make it better and implement it.

Regards,
Keith

 

[True_Snake]

Keith, I agree with your suggestions.

Some members really do need such 'guidance' and I think the things you suggested will provide that.

Thanks for the great suggestion :tu: !


True_Snake

 

[RJ]

Great post, Keith.

I currently send an automated PM to all new members. Here's what it contains,

Hi chodhry -- Welcome to NamePros.Com!

I appreciate you taking the time to register and look forward to seeing your around our community! This is just a quick PM to say a word about a few of our site features,

1. If you are a Google Adsense webmaster, you can participate in our Revenue Sharing program and earn revenue for being an active member.

2. Our site features a trading rating system. If you conduct a transaction with a fellow member, we encourage you to leave feedback.

3. NP$ (NameBucks) are bonus points you can earn from participation on our site. They can be used to purchase domain names and other services, and may also make a convenient and fee-free currency for lower value transactions with other members. NP$ can be bought and sold at the NP$ Exchange.

4. As a new member, I encourage you to stop by our Welcome Center forum and say hello! We'd love to get to know you better.

Our site rules can be reviewed from the FAQ link in the menu. If you have any questions, you can ask for assistance from any of our site staff -- that's CoolJeff, armstrong, and myself (-RJ-). The best way to contact a staff member is by using our Private-To-Staff forum. Messages posted there are visable by all staff.

Again, thanks for joining us here at NamePros.Com!

Sincerely,

-RJ- & the NamePros.Com staff

It seems this letter could be improved using some of the ideas you presented.
The lite welcome posts could be blamed on me for saying nothing more than "stop by the welcome forum and say hello!" in item #4 above. How would you word it differently?

Any more suggestions on this?

 

[jeter4982]

RJ, I can't think of anyway to reword that, but just a small correction in that PM, is changing CoolJeff to Jeff, so new members don't go searching for a CoolJeff, when he changed his username to Jeff.

Tom

 

[Morph]

Do members still have to be approved by an admin?
Maybe, A flash ani would be more interesting to people?

I know a lot of people dont spend 10 mins reading reams and reams of text.?

 

[True_Snake]

RJ, I can't think of anyway to reword that, but just a small correction in that PM, is changing CoolJeff to Jeff, so new members don't go searching for a CoolJeff, when he changed his username to Jeff.

Tom

That's correct, and also the new Staff™ additions in Michael (Grrilla) and Mark (All4Cost) in that e-mail would make it more up-to-date :gl: .

It seems this letter could be improved using some of the ideas you presented.
The lite welcome posts could be blamed on me for saying nothing more than "stop by the welcome forum and say hello!" in item #4 above. How would you word it differently?

Any more suggestions on this?

Maybe something along the lines of "let us know more about you"?

Just some suggestions :tu: !


True_Snake

 

[WebForging]

Glad you like the idea...

Great post, Keith.

I currently send an automated PM to all new members. Here's what it contains,

...4. As a new member, I encourage you to stop by our Welcome Center forum and say hello! We'd love to get to know you better....​

It seems this letter could be improved using some of the ideas you presented.
The lite welcome posts could be blamed on me for saying nothing more than "stop by the welcome forum and say hello!" in item #4 above. How would you word it differently?

Any more suggestions on this?

Thanks - glad you all like the idea.

I suggest:

5. When you introduce yourself in the Welcome Center - same as when you post in any topic - please review the "sticky" thread at the top of the Topic for hints, tips, and techniques for posting in that Topic...before you post.​

With this #5 you stress the welcome center twice, and you stress reading sticky threads before posting (hopefully saving the awesome mod staff here a ton of time by reducing the number inappropriate posts in the first place, and the mundane tasks of moving or closing them).

Now, add a good sticky in the welcome center, one that is quite welcoming in and of itself. Encourage new members to really introduce themselves.

Finally, I humbly suggest adding a guide page...perhaps under quick links. I'd call it "Using NamePros". Mention it (#6?) in your intro email and in the Welcome Center sticky. That page could be an overview to getting the most out NamePros by getting the most out of User CPs, Search, NP$, Posting, etc...

Regards,
Keith

p.s.: Sorry I missed you in chat, TrueSnake

 

[True_Snake]

No worries, I'm sending you a PM right now :tu: .

Thanks :] !


True_Snake

 

[WebForging]

Welcome Center sticky

OK, let me take a stab at a sticky post for the Welcome Center.

First, please note that IMHO the welcoming email and this Welcome Center sticky should also comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act) - and that will take some additional work/text.

Here goes:
____________________________________


Welcome to NamePros! Thank you for joining the world's largest (and perhaps friendliest) domain name forum. Your introduction can help NPers get to know you better, faster.

Here are some suggestions for making a great introduction:

1. Read some other introductions.
2. Make sure your signature is complete (to make it easy for others to see your sites)
3. Fill in your User CP (Control Panel) information

Guidelines for 2 and 3 may be found in our FAQs and under Quicklinks > Using NamePros, both in the blue menu bar above.

4. If you have specific questions, save them for the appropriate categories and topics. As a rule, read the sticky introduction threads in all topics before posting to help ensure you're in the right place, and that you make appropriate, quality posts.

Now, some suggestions for your introduction...tell us all about:

Your domaining experience:
- how long have you been domaining
- any success stories
- your best name(s)
- what are your goals

What you do for a living, for how long, career goals, etc.

Where you're from, your primary and other languages...

Any hobbies or other special interests?

Nice to mention how you found NamePros, and the person who referred you if that was the case.​

We hope your experience here will be personally and professionally rewarding for you and all your fellow members. Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself.

_________________________________

I'm sure other members, mods/admin can improve on this, living and breathing this site daily as you do. Just providing a jumping off point.

Regards,
Keith

 

[WebForging]

good stuff here, too...

The Welcome New Members thread currently at the top of the home page has good stuff to adapt to Welcome Center use.

 

[WebForging]

hmmm...

Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression.