On my forum I have an Introduction Forum, and also, when a new user registers, I have a hack that autocreates a new thread, welcoming them to the board.


I think this is good, because:
1. It autocreates a thread, gives it personalization, and already gives a new user topics to break the ice with. (Some people don't know what to say in an introduction forum. Kinda like in real life sometimes :p)
2. I get to see what time someone registered, and if it coinsided with something I posted somewhere else (IE, an advertisement).

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I thought this was a good thing, until yesterday a member suggested that I get rid of the Introduction Section because "hardly any <sic> is replied to and it causes actual threads with real information to be burried"

1.I'd say maybe 1 in every 10 new members actually reply to their welcome thread (which seems to be a good enough reason to keep the section, because that's 1 more registered user that has actually posted).

2. He did bring up a good point that it buries other threads if a member uses the 'New Posts' or 'Today's Posts' options. So, I installed a hack from vbulletin.org called "Opt-Out Forums from Get New Posts", and I made a post in the FAQ section informing everyone how to use it. Now, the user has the option for the Introduction Section to not show up under 'New Posts' or 'Today's Posts'.


So my question is, do other on here use an Introduction Forum, do they find it as good/bad, do their new members post in it, have they had complaints about it, and is there perhaps a better way to go abouts introducing new members? I know you can send a welcome PM, but I find that a little less informal.

Oh, and I get probably 20-30 new members a day. :nervous:

Well I love to have an Intro section, but I usually like to put it at the top of the site so it gets alot of viewage from members/new members. I would also put together a small team that goes in and says Hi to each member, maybe even giving them a few links of interest.

On the subject of the auto thread I'm torn. I've never used it, probably for the reason that it looks "bot" created and I would rather those new members create the thread themselves.

check out my intro forum at www.cruiselineforums.com , it's very active

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Good points. My Intro Section is the very first sub-forum also. On the auto threads, instead of having just my username it says Auto-Meth. :p The reason I ended up with a autopost is because the forum is still pretty new, and just getting people to post is like pulling teeth.

On a sidenote, did you see Carnival Cruise's announcement last month in regards to lowering their prices due to the fact that they were loosing customers because the customers thought that the higher gas prices would reflect on the cruise price?

It's also low booking season, so they are trying to bump things up. Especially since their stock is dipping.

How did you make this mod for your site? Have you shared it here? I would be interested in this idea as I have many who sign up but have not posted yet.


MP

I prefer to have the people introduce themselves, but the hack you have is very interesting.

Automatically Start a Welcome Thread in the Forum of Your Choice by amykhar
http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=91887

I used that, and just edited the plugin, and some of the templates it created.

I think intro sections are good - they let people get to know each other a little in a purely "it's your space" area. i.e. it's not a discussion thread about cars or something.
I also have surveys and self photos as subforums, so people are able to give information even if they couldn't think of their own to give.

To encourage people to use it, I've got a custom header that tells them it's there, and most people have made an intros thread and then somewhere between 3 and 20 people will reply to say hi. It works well and because it's 'off topic' so to speak, they can just have a chat.
A further advantage is people feel they know the person and so when they see them posting in on-topic threads about cars and stuff, they feel more at ease to reply.

Around 9% of all my boards' posts are in the intros threads. Not because they make an intro and sod off, just because a lot of replies happen there.


Therefore:
To answer the thread title: yes, good.
To answer the member who questioned it: Are they hardly used? If so, put some stuff in to encourage them to be used, such as surveys.

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The "reception desk" as I call it has been a great idea and its also a convient place for newbs to ask questions about the site.