- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
I made this guide so people can start a group and run it easier if they are new to the group thing.
Step 1: before you create it
* Your account must have been active for 14 days.
* Try to find someone you trust to co-create the group with you. this can shave time off setting up and recruiting
* Know what type of group you want. It is not good to decide the group type in the creation menu, thinking of the name is annoying.
Step 2: Create it
* Go to "My Groups" and click "Create new Group". Click I agree and you'll be in the creation menu.
* If you know what type of group you want, put in a name that tells slightly what your group is about. This helps for signature links and other ads.
* Put anything as the description and motto, you can finish it later.
* Press "Create Group" at the bottom and you'll be in your groups new homepage! If you had that co-admin ready accept his request and change his security role to admin.
Step 3: Design It
* Tell your co-creator to go recruit members right away. It's a good Idea to start a program like Notepad and doodle your recruitment message on there. Once you finish, use it to copy and paste it into messages for recruitment. It is also good to put an ad in the classfields.
* While he's off doing that, you should be designing you group. Start with "General Settings". First, choose your quick link-name. This is an easy way to customize your groups URL. You should type in your group name. Next, put membership to "Open to public". That way you wont have to hassle with accepting members. Now comes the group skin. This is up to you and the type of group you have. If it is a non-halo related group the Xbox and oni themes are great. I would stay away form terminal though, it's terrible. The motto description and location are up to you. Try to put a joke location like "Halo" if you want privacy.
* Next up is security roles. The names of these are up to you. But I can give you some tips on what the security should be...
For New members: Post to forums and submit news
For mods: Temporary blacklist, post new directly, moderate forum, delete posts, submit recourses.
For Veteran members: Post news directly and maybe submit recourse.
The only other person but you with full control should be the co-creator.
* Now it's time to do the welcome news. Welcome news is easy. Keep it short and sweet, tell them about the group and tell them about the forums. Choose Either 'Statement' or "Memoranda" as your icon.
* Next up is the forums. You should start by making a sticky about the rules. then make stickies, then make an introduction sticky and a general talk sticky. Just make sure you don't have more then 8 stickies. It becomes messy like that.
* Finally, recourses. Put the group ranks in the FAQ's as well as the groups purpose. Don't worry about custom or guest-book, there useless. But, links, contact info and articles can come in handy. They are up to you, but try to keep the resources with the same idea as your group. I mean, no links to a hair salon website in a halo 2 group.
Step 4: Polishing and Recruiting
* Your co-admin should be done recruiting by now. If your lucky you should have scored a couple of members. if you don't have a co-admin. Now would be the time to start recruiting.
* Go to the forums, see what the members post. Keep it clean. make sure you hire a Moderator when you get around 20 members. Another at 50, and 2 more at 100.
* Promote your members when they do good stuff. If you know they've been recruiting, give them a small promotion.
* when you get 100 members, you should have a bunch of non-mod security roles your members want to have. That way, they will help out the group for the reward.
Final Tips
1. Don't advertise for moderators and other high ranks. Everyone wants to be a moderator. go to them if you think they should get the job.
2. Never, EVER should you have more then 6 full control users. NEVER!
3. Good luck! If you think your group is going slowly, go and recruit more members.
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I hope this little guide helped some people out. This should get added to the thread of interest sticky.