Why don't staff welcome new members to Habbox personally!

[MissAlice]

I've been encouraged to post some of my thoughts here, so here goes.

When I joined the forum long ago, I don't think the welcome forum existed, I stand corrected if I'm wrong, because at the time the forum was still slowing growing. The community here was small, and through the fewer new threads being created it was easy to slip into the community that was steadily growing, and feel at home.

Early on we had the shoutbox, and it worked great although it did get abused too, but members online were quick to give them a welcome, including staff.

If you view the welcome forum, I do feel it's poor, rarely do you see a member of staff welcoming a new member. In fact if you look at some of the new introductions, there are those that get very few replies. Is there a reason staff rarely post there?

Imagine you enter a new large school, it's your first day, you say hi to everyone in your form, you are acknowledged, and that's it. It's break time and everyone goes their own separate way, leaving you alone. Someone has to break the ice right? Else you will always be alone! You have three choices here on the forum, one you find a forum of interest and start posting and hope to get involved, and feel accepted by others. The second choice you just get on with it and don't care what anyone else thinks. The third choice, is slip quietly away, and hope no one notices.

The forum is huge now and can be quite intimidating particularly for those that are young, those that don't read the rules, and what we tend to ignore or forget, is there will be a small element of new members who don't really understand them all. It's all too much.

What seems to be lacking is what I call a real community welcome, one that involves staff welcoming new members. If staff don't have the time then at least appoint a team of community members who can monitor the welcome threads and who will actively get involved. I don't mean just saying 'hi welcome to Habbox', there is a lot more that can be said, and easily followed up on.

If Habbox wants to improve and retain membership, then where better to start, but at the beginning where a new member is welcomed.

http://www.habboxforum.com/showthread.php?t=620129 At the time of my post one member made the effort, better than none at all.

Feel free to comment :)

[hah]

It would be nice staff posted anywhere in the forum not only the welcome section, because at the moment only a few of them do and engage with users. Again im using her and an example, But jess the radio manager doesn't post anywhere except in announcements and thats probably what a good few users sign up because of the radio.

[Sammeth.]

I think its a good point well made. I know that I certainly don't post much there, and I won't deny that. But I can certainly see the benefit of having more staff post there. It reminds me of school when the students in the older years would visit the students in the younger years for the first month or so to help them get settled in etc. Its always nice to see a familiar face, or even just a face that welcomes you and will actually progress things rather than just leave it at hi.

I'll pop a link to this thread in the staff forum and encourage staff to post (and as you say not just the odd posts). I don't think a specific team who keep their eye on it would be that beneficial as variety is nice, and it would all appear to "community reppy" for my feeling.

edit: graham also raises a good point, it doesnt necessarily have to be restricted to the welcome forum.

[Martin]

Great ideas there! I will certainly do my best to act upon this, and engage with newer (and older) members more. I agree that it must be daunting for some of them, and a friendly welcome will really make them feel at ease. Thanks for bringing this up MissAlice. :D

[Hecktix]

It would be nice staff posted anywhere in the forum not only the welcome section, because at the moment only a few of them do and engage with users. Again im using her and an example, But jess the radio manager doesn't post anywhere except in announcements and thats probably what a good few users sign up because of the radio.

This irish man talks sense.

Nice to see you posting alice :)

[Blinger1]

I also think staff should write something more then a generic "welcome to habbox don't forget to read the FAQ and have fun :)" or whatever they write

[Yoshimitsui]

I used to post in there often at one point but i guess its one of those things that you just let slip aside and don't bother with. Great idea bringing it up :)

[iAdam]

Fair point indeed, Will see to it being rectified by myself atleast.

[hah]

This is so funny, it was mentioned that staff should post more and you all gave sarcastic replies but when Miss Alice brings it up.......

[Martin]

Also, when you think about it, the staff are members of the forum too, and if we all posted frequently and took part in discussions- the forum would itself seem busier, and a lot more welcoming to newer members as they would see recognisable names posting in normal conversations all around the forum. Will definitely work on this.

[Blinger1]

Ooh another thing!!

When I see a post that says "welcome :)" it isn't very encouraging IMO. I like how the OP (in alice's post) wrote a bit about her, maybe we can all put some effort into that?

[Kipp]

Good ideas! I will also try a post a lot more and interact with the newer members. Thanks MissAlice :)

[Yoshimitsui]

This is so funny, it was mentioned that staff should post more and you all gave sarcastic replies but when Miss Alice brings it up.......

Can i ask what sarcastic replies you are referring to?

[Immenseman]

Alice, see what I mean... these are the same people who are staff but don't reply who love the idea :P. Anyway, I think I've laboured that point enough with you in our discussion earlier. I'm glad I encouraged you to post some of your ideas because you're right about what you say. I remember ---MAD--- used to post in every single thread, sure it was a generic message that he used on every single one but it would've been reassuring for the new members to see such a senior staff member welcoming them and making sure they felt comfortable. He provided them with links to help them and that would answer any question too. A personal message would be nice too though. :)

You know my thoughts on the situation through our lengthy private message conversation about the new department but I've made that point before and although we both agree on it, management sadly don't. I'm sure and I hope on the back of this thread staff members will begin to welcome them. I know I'm not staff but just the other day I saw someone had joined. I posted a thread for them in spam saying hello and told people to rep him, so he'd feel more welcomed and hopefully return to the forum :)

[Yonder]

A welcoming team of staff would be nice who's sole purpose is to welcome new members and guide them along the newbie way. Plus these could monitor the Help / Questions / Feedback Category.

I understand the welcoming forum but i just hardly ever post within the forums at all, simply i find the whole amount overwhelming and i'm and oldie think what a new member looks at the forum.

Unfortunately i stick to what i know and that is hiding in the staff forums and posting occasionally if i feel i have something important and/or useful to say, maybe that is why i haven't reached a limey position lol.

[hah]

Can i ask what sarcastic replies you are referring to?

probably didn't see cause your not online much, but when it was mentioned mods dont engage with users they replied with "oh i have a life" and other silly things

maybe you should look at this thread http://www.habboxforum.com/showthread.php?t=615591

one smod even had a full on convo about it http://www.habboxforum.com/converse.php?u=15098&u2=11949

[MissAlice]

Yeah Immenseman I see what you mean :)

Staff should remember they are ambassadors for Habbox. They need to interact with everyone. I highlighted the 'Welcome Forum' because it's where new members have the chance to be seen and heard, they are the creators of each and every thread there.

I shall be watching social skills being put to use lol. Although I do still feel a small team of community staff would of been good. Specialists in helping new members to settle in and feel a part of the community.

[Black_Apalachi]

This is so funny, it was mentioned that staff should post more and you all gave sarcastic replies but when Miss Alice brings it up.......

I was also thinking this thread would kind of be ignored or laughed at if it hadn't been created by a well-respected member. It is a very good thread nevertheless.

I also don't post there very often and it's kind of because it's hard to know what to post. I mean, I agree it's preferable to say something more than 'hi, welcome to the forum', especially if you're doing it in every thread. Also, I always think posting in every thread that is there at any one time just looks like you're spamming for post count (especially after the big discussion that was had about post counts in the Welcome forum). I don't actually know what happened about all that, were post counts disabled in there?

Basically, (from the perspective of a non-staff member anyway) I think there's an element of fear involved with posting in multiple Welcome threads but at the same time, if you don't know what else to say other than the usual short hi etc, it feels a bit pointless. I kind of feel I would rather not post anything than post the same old empty sentence.

If there were a few members of staff designated to provide good quality replies within the Welcome forum or if all staff generally did it, I think it would make a huge difference as members such as myself would be able to learn from what they do and improve their own contributions to the section :).

[FlyingJesus]

Welcome <3 ;) hope you enjoy your stay.


Tune into Habboxlive.com ;)



xoxo
DJ Hazy

Welcome <3 ;) hope you enjoy your stay.


Tune into Habboxlive.com ;)



xoxo
DJ Hazy

Welcome <3 ;) hope you enjoy your stay.


Tune into Habboxlive.com ;)



xoxo
DJ Hazy

Welcome <3 ;) hope you enjoy your stay.


Tune into Habboxlive.com ;)



xoxo
DJ Hazy

Welcome <3 ;) hope you enjoy your stay.


Tune into Habboxlive.com ;)



xoxo
DJ Hazy

Welcome <3 ;) hope you enjoy your stay.


Tune into Habboxlive.com ;)



xoxo
DJ Hazy

Welcome <3 ;) hope you enjoy your stay.


Tune into Habboxlive.com ;)



xoxo
DJ Hazy

These are all different posts. One of them has welcome in bold and pink which is quite cheerful but otherwise it's going to be quite easy for any new member to see that this is simply a copy/pasted message spammed through all of the recent welcome threads - notably because she did them all at the same time and her name now comes up in a nice neat line across the whole of the welcome forum.

Yes, staff need to do more to welcome new members.
No, impersonal spamming does not look welcoming to anyone.

Apologies to "Hazy" for using you as an example, I know you're not the only one who does this but you unfortunately were the most recent.

[Immenseman]

Probably did that after seeing this thread, lol. It's better than nothing though.

[Black_Apalachi]

These are all different posts. One of them has welcome in bold and pink which is quite cheerful but otherwise it's going to be quite easy for any new member to see that this is simply a copy/pasted message spammed through all of the recent welcome threads - notably because she did them all at the same time and her name now comes up in a nice neat line across the whole of the welcome forum.

Yes, staff need to do more to welcome new members.
No, impersonal spamming does not look welcoming to anyone.

Apologies to "Hazy" for using you as an example, I know you're not the only one who does this but you unfortunately were the most recent.

This is exactly what I was talking about and the bit in bold is where we need to try and find a balance. Having special staff members to work on doing this task well may be the best way forward.

[Vonko]

I can't agree with you any any more Alice. If a new user comes along onto Habbox, and they feel like they haven't been welcomed, or feel like they are just a tag along, they would just go. Who the hell would be in a place where they don't feel welcomed in?

The staff should realise that being staff is also getting them new members to become good and dedicated members, which is making Habbox better. I haven't been a member on Habbox long enough to say the staff are here for the title, not here to do what they have to do. But maybe that is it with some of the management on Habbox.

I was welcomed this week quite okay, but I'm not really unknown, I come from other forums and know others. But lets say someone from Habbo checks out the Habbo official fansite list, they want to know what it is, so they come along, oh this looks nice. Then their looking around the forum seeing everyone chat, and aye lets try to get in the conversation. Then everyone else just totally ignores them and quotes the popular members.

Maybe stuff like this should be more looked at, Habbox is a big community anyway, but just think of how much little can also do?

[TheEclipse]

I agree. I feel like no one paid me any attention when I signed up here.
On my forum (linked with the banner below) there's at least 5 people saying welcome each time, and I try to PM every new member personally and individually, it's not a form PM. Also people compliment new members when they start up a new thread that's good.
I believe it really helps people fit in.

[Blinger1]

I agree. I feel like no one paid me any attention when I signed up here.
Oh come on! I replied a lot to you when you made that caravan thread. Its the only thread i'd seen of yours though..

[TheEclipse]

Yes, the caravan thread, when I was already a hundred posts or so into the forum. If I wasn't such a determined person, I'd have given up at 20 posts or less.

As would most people.

I'm the exception to the rule, to keep going- most people can't be stuffed, and you have to, as mods and admins who want to keep members, know that, and do your best to get them to be stuffed.

[FlyingJesus]

Yeah no-one else has stayed on the forum for more than 20 posts without having at least 3 replies to each of our first few posts.

[Blinger1]

Yes, the caravan thread, when I was already a hundred posts or so into the forum. If I wasn't such a determined person, I'd have given up at 20 posts or less.

As would most people.

I'm the exception to the rule, to keep going- most people can't be stuffed, and you have to, as mods and admins who want to keep members, know that, and do your best to get them to be stuffed.
I think the thing is, people don't look in the welcome thread, well, I sure as hell don't. If i see one in the "New Posts" list then i might post..


Yeah no-one else has stayed on the forum for more than 20 posts without having at least 3 replies to each of our first few posts.

Sarcasm or..?