Automatic Welcome PM

This is one of the best hacks I've installed on my forum yet. I find that so many members don't get emails as they end up in the bulk or spam folder and are never read.
This hack sends a welcome PM to your new member upon registration. They get it almost immediately, and my new members have been most appreciative, many replying to me to say so.

The PM is fully customizable, you can change the settings in the ACP, so that the pm is sent from you, a co-admin, or whoever you want to send it... that's who it will show sent from.

I recommend this for every forum.

Pick it up here: http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=91729

Absolutely it is. One thing overlooked by most people, is using it as a sales tool.

You can invite new people into specific areas of your forum, or invite them to become a subscriber if you ahve any subscriptions, etc.

Be creative people. THINK about how to use something differently, and your forum will be sucessful.

Very good ideas...

That sounds sweet. I also like the welcome header hack.

yup I have that as well

I had this installed for a while myself but I felt it was too generic.

So what I did is selected a person on my forums to be "Support"

What they do is I have vBulletin send them an email everytime someone registers and they take the time to welcome that person via pm personally.

That a great idea.

What I would like, that your 'system' does - is a time delay on the welcome message.

Reason being, if you send the PM 24 hours later perhaps, it also serves as a reminder to the new user, and brings them back to your site right away. (becuase they get a PM notification email)

Many users, I believe, register and 'forget' about the site. So you may be able to retain a few more members if you delay this message.

not so for me... as I said before, I was losing members when I did the delay pm and the welcome email...... actually ANYTHING involving email. We're sure they usually ended up in the trash/bulk/spam folders. Many of my early members dropped away almost immediately, some never even posted once.

However, since I've implemented the welcome pm, that they get as soon as they register, the level of activity of my new members has risen dramatically. Most of them reply to the pm to thank me for the warm welcome, and say that they've never gotten that at other sites they register at. Almost all of them go right to a Hello post in the intros section and start posting right away in the games threads and personal threads. and I would estimate that nearly 90% have been returning on a regular basis.

Best hack I've got imho.

Its good, but its really only effective if properly utilized to also convey important information.

This has been a very good tool for my forums. I get people actually responding back to me, thanking me for the welcome.

^ See I never got that.

This has been a very good tool for my forums. I get people actually responding back to me, thanking me for the welcome.

Same with us... I'd say on average, 3 out of 5 members reply to the welcome pm, thanking me for the warm welcome. But in all actuality, there are times when ALL of them reply. And usually, the ones who reply are the ones who start posting on the forum right away and return regularly. It's pretty neat.

This is one of the best hacks I've installed on my forum yet. I find that so many members don't get emails as they end up in the bulk or spam folder and are never read.
...............
I recommend this for every forum.

So where is this hack available, Peggy? I don't see it here anywhere ... or should I go get my glasses? ;)

Biggles LLB

One more step in getting the mail through can be the use of SPF records. Here is an automated tool to create the records. These records are put in the server if you have one in DNS or by your host. Your host would have to do it for you. http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/safety/content/technologies/senderid/wizard/

Here's another tool and what it is. http://www.openspf.org/

Have fun.

So where is this hack available, Peggy? I don't see it here anywhere ... or should I go get my glasses? ;)

Biggles LLB
It's at vBulletin.org sweets. Here's the exact url:

http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=91729

You're an Angel, Peggy. Thanks. I'll hop over and check it out. :)

You're an Angel, Peggy. Thanks. I'll hop over and check it out. :)

if you only knew........... http://www.exquisitelyerotic.net/forums/images/smilies/angel.gif

Hehe. :) I tried to download that hack after registering but kept getting a message saying I am unlicensed. Went to the linked page and got wife (she's now the licensee) to insert e-mail addie used here. Back to 'unlicensed' message.

I'll try again later. Looks like another ace idea, babydoll. You're full of 'em aren't ya! :cool:


OK. Went back and got it. I'll have a crack at installing it in the morning.

Off to bed now. Nighty-night babydoll (yawn). :o

Mike

it's extremely easy to install Mike... I did it, lol.
I'm full of alot of stuff *adjusting my halo*

Wahhaay! Done it. Fantastic hack!

Just one small thing: the message comes up just a bit too soon for my liking. Immediately after the new member returns to the index page. Is there a way of creating a slight delay of, say, 10 seconds or so after returning?

Thanks so much vB-FAQ. What a site this is! :D

Special thanks to Peggy, angel or not, for putting me onto this one. We love you babydoll!

I'd have posted on the bike thread but things there were causing me to get all hot and sweaty. ;)

Best wishes

Biggles LLB (Mike, if you prefer) :cool:

LMAO... all hot and sweaty?? that little bit of teasing? OMG you'd be soo easy to get really turned on, LOL..... hmmmmmmmmm.....

Anyway back to the question... I have no idea if there's a way to delay it or not. I wouldn't want to. As soon as they register it's there. Grabs their attention right away and brings them in, which is exactly what I want. So I'm happy with it.
Why don't you ask on the hack's thread at vb.org?

It's all that talk about doing interesting things on motor bikes that interests me. Looking at Joey's cooool 750 Kwakka, I reckon you'd have to be something of a gymnast ... contortionist even. With my lively imagination, it does indeed make me feel somewhat hot and sweaty. :D

Now, in an aircraft it's a piece of cake ... and far more comfy too, I reckon.:rolleyes:

Back to the subject: I just thought you might know of a way to delay for a few seconds (ohhh come on, do keep your mind fixed firmly on what we are talking about). It doesn't really matter. Much rather stay here with you guys and gals anyway and talk about ... well, the first thing that pops up. Teehee :p

Biggles LLB :cool:

LOL.. you are a charmer... I see we're going to have fun ;)

Thanks for the tip and link! Being a recent convert from phpBB (using a similar hack) this was a much needed addition to my vB forums!

I see this will be yet another of my new haunts for goodies and ideas.

Thanks for the tip and link! Being a recent convert from phpBB (using a similar hack) this was a much needed addition to my vB forums!

I see this will be yet another of my new haunts for goodies and ideas.



Congrats on converting. How do you like your vBulletin so far?

I had this installed for a while myself but I felt it was too generic.

So what I did is selected a person on my forums to be "Support"

What they do is I have vBulletin send them an email everytime someone registers and they take the time to welcome that person via pm personally.
I was just reading back over this thread and realized that I somehow missed this post.
I did this when I first started my forum. And while it's more personal, no doubt, there are times, quite frequently in fact, when the support person doesn't get the email til after the new member has already left the site, so the chance to bring them in immediately is lost. Some of those new people never posted and never returned. If they never return, then they don't receive the support persons' PM.

However, when I installed this hack, the new member gets the pm immediately upon registration, many times replies to it, then goes ahead and begins posting. Since I receive the replies to the welcome pm, I have a chance to establish a contact with them and waa laa.. 80% of the time, I have a new, participating member.

Thanks for the tip and link! Being a recent convert from phpBB (using a similar hack) this was a much needed addition to my vB forums!

I see this will be yet another of my new haunts for goodies and ideas.

You're very welcome. Welcome to the world of vBulletin, I'm sure you're going to love it.
This is THE place for learning all about vB, getting support, asking questions etc. So stick around and enjoy :D

Congrats on converting. How do you like your vBulletin so far?

There is simply no comparison to phpBB, I didn'd mind the hacks and such, however the overall base code is so much cleaner running there is simply no comparison, a fraction of the queries and CPU time needed.

Forums still need some cosmetic fine tuning and such.... overall, wish I hadn't wasted the last two years with phpBB.

All very true. I started out with a phpBB board as well and am very happy I made the jump to vB