The Welcoming Contest [Round #8 - Create a Welcome Message]

Lets collect the our favorite materials from the previous rounds and create a custom welcome message that we can use to greet new users. Mind you, the idea is not to spam new users with a bunch of welcome messages, if they've already gotten one. However, when you see a new user trying to find thier way, you can offer your simple guide to help them get started.

(by: @mirhimayun)

There are a few prizes available for this contest. I will be rewarding the welcome messages left in the comments here on a sliding scale, depending on how helpful and nice they are looking. Next I will be offering editing work with some of the contestants, if you are available to work with me on making your entry the best, and we come up with a better product together, then there will be an additional reward. I likely won't be able to work with all of you individually, so make sure you create something really top notch and worth my time to help with :-) Each round has a prize pool of up to 100 Steem available. I try to be generous, while also conservative with the Steem, so as many deserving individuals can be rewarded. If there is any left over because there wasn't enough participation, I simply carry it over to future rounds of the welcoming contest :-) As a few more have been created since this took off.

These entries will contain links to guides on the most important topics, or guides that already have a number of good resources already linked within them. You will have at least 1 image, either created by you, or from the entries in Round #4 (the Welcome Image Design Contest).

Your entry should be easy on the eyes. Clean formating, nice looking links, with proper image and resource references.

Basic Example of What I'm looking for.

^{(image by @krenter)}

Hello @username, welcome to Steem. This is an amazing community where you can get rewarded for creating content, and building relationships! It's always good to see new people joining, I hope you'll find all of the information you need to enjoy your experience here!

Here are a couple of guides to get you started :)

@ilyastarar - Absolute Beginner's Guide to Steem
@inquiringtimes - Welcome to Steemit - A simple guide to getting started on Steem(it)
@shinyforest - A Minnows Guide to Steemit

That's a basic sample of what a welcome message will look like, and of course you will want to include some words that relate to whatever the user is posting about. Lets look at some notes from the round #6 which was all about how to properly welcome new users. Some of these tips and suggestions might help you create a wonderful message for welcoming new users :-)

@ethandsmith:

"Whenever I welcome new users to the platform, I have a markdown code saved for just the occasion. I usually include a personal message before I just copy and paste a form, though. That helps to let the new user know that you've taken time to read their post and you are interested in what they have to say. This is incredibly important so that they listen to what you have to say rather than just writing you off as another comment spammer.

The main resources I like to point them toward are the Steemit FAQs, since they help orient new users to the platform itself, the Steemit Etiquette Guide, since it has instructions and suggestions for how to properly introduce yourself and interact with others, and I follow up with a link to a blog I posted about formatting and polishing your posts. Add a link to @inquiringtimes's post about how to be a great commenter, and that should be plenty to get a new user started!

In addition, I always like to point users to communities where they can receive support. I recently helped found a new Discord community dedicated to mentoring new Steemians and curating undervalued content. We're called The STEEM Engine, so I end with a link inviting new users to check out our group if they'd like to plug into a support community."

Thanks Ethan! You all can Click this Link to read the rest of his comment which includes a Welcome Message he already created previous to this contest :-D

@aggroed:

"My number 1 suggestion for new people: comment a lot and interact in the Minnow Support Project. It's the best place on the web for a Steemian to build community."

@aggroed also posted this helpful guide recently:
- Steem has a ton of new people, here's some thoughts to get you started
@isabelpena:

"When I help someone new in this platform, then the welcome I tell them: be original."

@shinyforest:
"How to properly welcome a new user:
- First of all, I'm very warm and nice towards them, I welcome them, wish them luck and success, offer help if they want - in general I try to be very supportive;
- I react to their content with upvotes, make sure to leave a quality comment, and encourage the relationship for example by follow (especially if it seems we will both be interested in each other's content) and saying that I look forward to see their posts in the future);
- I try to reward value and quality;
- I give couple of general suggestions and some more detailed tips when applicable, but I try to make sure I won't overload someone with info at an early stage;
- I do my best to come back to the newcomers (especially when they caught my attention or when they reach out) so I leave more upvotes and comments and try to spark a conversation, and also many times have I went to PAL and upvoted their posts with bots.
There are a lot more details in the rest of @shinyforest's comment here.

@fitzgibbon shared this with us:

Not the way I would typically welcome a new user, but it's funny, so I'm sharing here :)

@virus95 shared:

" They should know that this is unlike other social platforms, the rules in here are quite different. Dont just post useless, or comment. Try to develop a friendly circle. Give Respect and find a mentor. There are a lot of good mentors here in steemit who are ready to share tips. Make steemit a part of your life. Take part in contest, they help alot. Don't steemit for money, just do what you love to do, and share your thoughts and feelings. Use Tags properly. Make quality post and make sure its not copied. Be careful when using internet photos."

@sweetsarcasm:
- "Don't be in a hurry to get your post up, it's more important to have a good final product"
That's just a selection from the comments of Round #6 - How to Welcome

I would recommend reading all of those comments, and using material that can be found in the other guides, and hopefully your own bookmarks list.

There will be as much as 10 Steem awarded for each contribution of a welcome message. But please don't just come up with an easy one in 5 minutes and think you'll win.

I will be rewarding the most helpful, thoughtful, and creative submissions. Remember, this is a comment that you'll be leaving on a new users post, to welcome them with quality information, and a warm heart.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with, and hope to find the best welcome messages ever from you, the participants in the contest. Some guides are so helpful, I won't be suprised if you use some of the same guides to link to. But I really want to see some effort, and creativity. Maybe you even have awesome guides and information to add to your welcome message that I haven't thought of, or don't know about!

Good luck Contestants. Winners will be awarded after post payout.

Thank You for Participating. Together we can make Steem(it) a more welcoming community!

Previous Welcoming Contest Posts
Thanks to our Sponsors, who are also our Witnesses!!!!!

@ReggaeMuffin: 500 Steem - @reggaemuffin Witness Update
@Aggroed: 100 Steem - @aggroed A History
@Ausbitbank: 100 Steem - @ausbitbank Witness Update
@Swelker101: 90 day delegation of 500sp - @swelker101 Witness Update
These sponsors are also our witnesses, if you like what they are doing, please consider giving them a vote.

https://steemit.com/~witnesses
When you go to the above link, you can click the upvote button next to @aggroed's name, for the rest of them, you'll have to put their name in the box and then click vote. Don't do it twice, just refresh the page to make sure it worked :-D

p.s. When this contest series is over I will share with you all the ledger I have been keeping of prizes awarded.

So far 83 contestants have been awarded 495 Steem! A few participated in multiple contests, but mostly that is all different individuals who have been blessed by helping to make steem a more welcoming place! Thanks to @aggroed, @ausbitbank, @reggaemuffin, and @swelker101

<3

The Welcoming Contest [Round #8 - Create a Welcome Message]

Basic Example of What I'm looking for.

Previous Welcoming Contest Posts

Thanks to our Sponsors, who are also our Witnesses!!!!!