[FAQ]

Hey,

My channel for Toronto foodies has been growing fast lately, which is awesome. The problem is, new members join, and then… crickets. They just sit there silently, and I feel like I’m not doing a great job of actually bringing them into the community.

I feel like that first impression is super important, eh? What’s your process for welcoming and onboarding new people? Do you use a bot to send an automated welcome message with the rules? Do you do a weekly shout-out post to welcome all the newbies? I want to create a system that makes people feel like they’re part of the conversation from the moment they join, not just another number in the subscriber count.

Looking for any scalable ideas that have worked for you.

[Jeff Bullas]

A proper onboarding process is the difference between a high subscriber count and a genuine community.

Short Answer: The best onboarding uses a combination of automated text for immediate information and pinned multimedia content to establish the channel’s culture and value.

Let’s design an effective onboarding experience using a mix of content formats.

Your goal is to make a great first impression and encourage immediate interaction. Firstly, you should use a bot in your linked discussion group to automatically greet every new member with a concise text message. This message should do three things: welcome them, state the single most important rule, and direct them to a permanently pinned “welcome post” in your main channel. Secondly, this pinned post should be a rich, multi-format message, not just a wall of text. It should lead with a short and energetic welcome video or audio clip from you, the admin. This personal touch is crucial. Below that, include a visually appealing image that summarises the key rules or the weekly content schedule. Finally, have a text section with essential links. Thirdly, your automated welcome message should prompt their first action by directing them to an interactive text-based poll that’s also pinned, asking something like, “What are you most excited to see here?”. This combination of automated text, rich multimedia, and interactive content creates a comprehensive and welcoming experience that turns lurkers into participants.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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