New Registration Process - Need Your Input

[Gary Lewis]

As we move to Invision we have a lot of options and some limitations - one of which is in the registration process.

The registration process several of us agreed some time ago was for a newbie's first post to be limited to the New Members Start Here folder.  That was mainly because we had the guidelines posted there and wanted them to see them.  (But there was also the thought in some minds that we are a community, not a place where you pop in to post one question and then pop out, and if people aren't willing to tell us about themselves then maybe they aren't looking for a community.)

On the guidelines, in Invision we can require them to tick the box that says they agree to the guidelines.
But they actually won't have seen them unless they click the link next to the box.  Basically they'll do exactly like we all do and tick the box because we know we will agree in order to get in.  

On the process, I think I can set it up where new members will get a message that tells them that they won't be able to post anywhere but in the NMSH folder and I think I can give them a link directly to it.  But I also think that all of us will get that message when we next log in, although we won't be limited as to where we post.

I'm going to give it a try and see how it works, but I'll need someone to use a new email address to register and see what happens.  Please.

[Gary Lewis]

As an update, what I did put everyone back to New Member.  So I logged in with another account of mine that showed to my admin account as a New Member, got the pop up to agree to the guidelines, and then was shown the main screen.  Sure enough, looking with my admin account the other account had been magically promoted to Regular Member.

Then, with the non-admin account, I went to the main screen and saw:




And clicking Complete My Profile I saw what is below.  But when I clicked Dismiss in the above screen or Skip/Next it went away.  Doesn't seem to have very many teeth in it.  

[ArdWrknTrk]

Maybe it's a matter of making the dismiss option disappear?

[BigBrother-84]

"Dismiss" is maybe the same as "not now" or "later", as we sometimes see in other membership process.

It doesn't block you, since you can complete your account profile later.

[viven44]

Somewhat philosophical.... but also generational

How serious are you about introductions ?....... I don't think I have seen any forum online where this was necessary. While I agree with you that, most youngsters really don't have the time to be part of a different communities... I think we are going to get the ones that are passionate to stay naturally.

I have been part of a couple of Honda, GM forums where I joined and responded to posts that didn't have a solution.. posted a write up of what 'worked for me' and left for good

I have known about this forum for a few years.. in fact from before 2020, but never joined it as I was only reading and learning from it. I didn't have much if not anything to contribute beyond the vast expertise here already... but decide to join and more importantly STAY because of the sense of community...

I guess I have answered my own question, that introductions are important....

My only fear is that this new member process will interfere with getting new members after we migrate to invision... because new members might not know how to work the 'system' and just give up... how about migrating and after 6 months or so we figure out how to work this out ? I would rather error on the side of dealing with lack of introductions than not getting new members because the process was too difficult....

[ArdWrknTrk]

If saying "Hi. I'm Jack, from Salt Lake. I've read the rules and I own a 1983 F-150 with a bad steering column"
is too difficult, perhaps we're better off without Jack?

[mat in tn]

Jim, I agree! people are afraid of community these days.

[viven44]

I'm not worried about the type of people not wanting to introduce themselves.. we definitely don't need 'Jack' from Salt Lake who won't take the time to introduce himself because he just wants his quick fix.. but if it was simply a case of not knowing where to go that would be a shame....

If the process is pretty seamless thats great...

[ArdWrknTrk]

Where to go???  

You arrived after the Nabble owner borked our joining process, but basically new members didn't need the sad & apologetic boilerplate that I have to send .
They were sandboxed to the NMSH until they made a post, and were immediately free to post after that.

Gary wants everyone to understand that this is a respectful community.
Only one person (that I know of) has been shown the door...

[Gary Lewis]

I have the same thoughts as y'all.  If the process doesn't work well will we run them off?  But if they can't bother to say hello do we really want them?  

I think Jeff is going to try the process today and we should know how well it goes.  And we can modify it as we go forward.

If it works as it should they'll get a popup that says:

You will be sent an email in order to prove you have control of the one you used to register.  Once you've done that you will become a New Member and will be given the ability to start a new topic in the New Members Start Here folder in order to introduce yourself.  Once you have created your first post you will be automatically promoted to Member and will have the ability to post elsewhere.

We need to know not only if it works but where in the process it appears.  If it is after the email confirmation step then that bit needs to be taken out.  And if it is after they've ticked the I Agree box for the guidelines then we could add the guidelines to this popup and say "You just agreed to these guidelines."

[viven44]

I like that process... We do also want members who can navigate a process like that ... keeps the robots and scammers out


Alternate idea

I had another idea yesterday.. I'm sure there is a catch (interested to hear) but what if, instead of having the member write a post in the new members area the post is automatically generated.

The inputs for the post will come from the registration form itself where we tell the registrant to share the "Year/Model" and also "Introduce yourself and a welcome post will be generated where the current members will greet you".

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, that process should keep a lot of the ne'er-do-well types out.

But on the automated idea, the catch is that there doesn't appear to be a way to do that.  Nor do we have the info - at present.  However, the same process we are testing that pops up the boilerplate discussed above could have a step to have them tell us about their truck.  But we have people join that don't yet have a truck, like my son and grandson.  So that might not work very well - if we had a way to do it.

[ArdWrknTrk]

And then we have members like Bob, Dane & myself who don't have any Bullnose truck.  

The point of NOT automating it, is that a prospect needs to do the legwork... or I don't want to be bothered with them.

[viven44]

When my acquaintance Kyle from Dallas area joined I thought he was going to stay. Maybe he is done with Bullnoses ? He introduced himself etc.. and then I'm sure we have had folks show up unannounced without a formal introduction that have stayed here...

Point is.. I think the like-minded will stay naturally

Legwork to join is a fair ask, especially given that a lot of prospects are here for the people here do the legwork on their projects

[dirtymac]

I like the introduction requirement.  I think your original desire behind it is valid and "should" help prevent the passers-by.  I don't think it is too much to ask someone for an introduction.  I have seen some forums where you can't post until you have filled out certain things in your profile, which can also be helpful.

I frequently use forums for all sorts of information and the majority of the time it is just reading things I have searched for answers to.  However, if I can't find what I am looking for and feel the need to join a forum to pose a question, I feel obligated to follow their rules.  Especially when no money is changing hands.

[dirtymac]

All I took from this was someone got kicked out and now I want to know what they did.  I don't even care who they are

[ArdWrknTrk]

You're doing just fine here, Will!  🙂


That somebody shall remain unmentioned, but I will say that they've been banned by almost every forum that's ever dealt with Bronco's.
In fact, the admin of another forum actually joined here to post warning about his combative behavior.

[BigBrother-84]

Gary Lewis wrote

I think Jeff is going to try the process today and we should know how well it goes.

Sorry Gentlemen, time was missing yesterday.
I'll make a test today.

[Gary Lewis]

No problem, Jeff.

In the Invision support forum a nice guy named Gary, oddly enough, said we can see what things are going to look like by:

Just make the changes, then go to your own profile on your community. Click your username at the top of your community -> Profile. Once on that page, go to Edit Profile and you should see it listed there.

So I can play with that this afternoon after my eye surgery - assuming I can see well enough.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Oh no Gary!
I hope it's nothing serious.

My little brother has been a week now recovering from a detached retina. (they had to drain the humor and install a balloon)