Introduction Forums

[Onimua]

I'm in the process of deciding my initial forum setup when I get ready to launch my site, and one thing in particular I've been playing with is the idea of an introduction forum. The more I consider the idea the more I move from being sure of having one to being on the fence about it, and I'm pretty sure I won't have one in the end when I open my site. However, because such a forum is somewhat popular, I decided to front this question out to other admins/users, and see if those who do have a particularly interesting aspect of why they have one (or don't).

So, what are your thoughts on introduction forums? Use them? Why/why not?

 

[Paul B]

We just have a "Hello" thread in our off topic forum and anyone posting in it gets a complimentary moustache.

 

[Peggy]

We have an Intros forum on our site. I like the idea of each member having their own thread there, so they can talk about whatever they want to on their thread.

 

[AnthonyCea]

We need one here so I can troll within and give new people the old Xenforo welcome !!

 

[CTXMedia]

I have one on CC too (The Welcome Mat) - it helps people get that "first post" out of the way and sets them off posting in other parts of the site. I think it acts as a good motivator, and lots of our regulars pop in and say "Hello" so newbie's aren't left in a ghost town watching the tumbleweed go past their first post.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[AnthonyCea]

If we get one here I can tell them about BroBrogan and how we are able to poke fun at Kier from time to time.

 

[Shelley]

I feel there are better uses for an additional forum than a introductions forum (as this can be done creating a new thread). example, Critique style area under off-topic.

I just find introduction areas a waste of index space when they can post in the Off-topic via creating a new thread.

 

[Peggy]

I have one on CC too (The Welcome Mat) - it helps people get that "first post" out of the way and sets them off posting in other parts of the site. I think it acts as a good motivator, and lots of our regulars pop in and say "Hello" so newbie's aren't left in a ghost town watching the tumbleweed go past their first post.

Cheers,
Shaun

yep yep I agree.

 

[Onimua]

I have one on CC too (The Welcome Mat) - it helps people get that "first post" out of the way and sets them off posting in other parts of the site. I think it acts as a good motivator, and lots of our regulars pop in and say "Hello" so newbie's aren't left in a ghost town watching the tumbleweed go past their first post.

Cheers,
Shaun

Might just end up doing that.

I feel there are better uses for an additional forum than a introductions forum (as this can be done creating a new thread). example, Critique style area under off-topic.

I just find introduction areas a waste of index space when they can post in the Off-topic via creating a new thread.

After looking at my forum index, I've pretty much come to the same conclusion. I even tried putting the intro forum as a sub-forum of the off-topic forum, and while that might be a decent solution to to the clutter on the front page, I ended up being bugged by the look of the sub-forum dropdown (I still don't like the look of it).

Looks like I may actually just not have one at all and let the users introduce themselves or perhaps have a welcome thread.

 

[AnthonyCea]

Most members don't know how to use the forums, but having one enables moderators to move 'hello threads' to a proper place and it helps so that other forums don't get clogged up with intro threads.

 

[Jo.]

We have an intro forum, but I think that works well for us because of the type of forum we have - it makes it easier for members to take that first step of posting, which can be an incredibly difficult thing for someone who needs to feel safe to say anything. I think it might depend on the type of forum you have, but we do find it useful.

 

[AnthonyCea]

It is a great place for fluff, joking and silliness and making new people comfortable in many cases, a lot of folks come out of the closet in intro forums and meld into the community that way.

 

[Shelley]

Might just end up doing that.


After looking at my forum index, I've pretty much come to the same conclusion. I even tried putting the intro forum as a sub-forum of the off-topic forum, and while that might be a decent solution to to the clutter on the front page, I ended up being bugged by the look of the sub-forum dropdown (I still don't like the look of it).

Looks like I may actually just not have one at all and let the users introduce themselves or perhaps have a welcome thread.

Yeah, sub-forums were a temporary solution for me (even at vbulletin) but I soon tire of this and felt index space needed to be saved. I feel strongly more so this time around, and like you, I loathe the subforum dropdown so introductions won't be an option placed/buried in a sub forum.

I'd personally leave introductions at the hands of the person registering and whether they feel the need to create a topic in one of your off-top areas. It seems to work here well when the few people that make them create a welcome/introduction thread.