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.

[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.