Welcome Messages

Does anyone here have any sort of "welcome messages" displayed or sent to new users, such as emails, PMs, or other messages? If so, what are they?

Personally, I have both an automatic PM sent to new registrants and a welcome message displayed at the top of every page for users who don't have any posts. I think it helps new users get familiarized with the site, and hopefully make that step towards their first post!

The welcome PM is as follows:

And the short little welcome message:

 

I use the auto welcome pm that is the vB feature.
I also use a mod from .org that posts a welcome in the profile's visitor messages.

 

I use the auto-pm, the auto-post on the vistor messages, the auto-thread in the 'new member' forum and I have a "welcoming committee" that posts on their visitor messages as well for new members!

Us Disney fans are really into welcoming folks

 

I have a welcome e-mail and PM sent out in addition to a little notice displayed to users.

Justin, do you mind if I adapt your welcome PM for something?

 

I actually *attempt* to send a personalized welcome private message to each member - crazy, yes. Worth it? Of course.

 

I have always sent an automatic PM and e-mail. And with the addition of notices in vBulletin, I like to throw one up for new members as well.

 

Automatic PM. I think someone mentioned last week on a non-admin site that they had seen on a forum they joined that a welcome message was sent to their PM after like 10 posts. I'm not sure why it's like that, but I can think of a few reasons. Including people who just sign up and never post; wasted message. Someone who contributes gets the welcome, etc.

 

They may have also gotten a usegroup promotion in addition to the welcome PM. A lot of forums will do that when a user has made a certain amount of posts to prevent spammers from getting certain features and access to the forum.

 

True that, I know SitePoint uses a promotion system where you can post links after 5 or 10 posts, I forget which. Signature limits can be used for sig spammers.

 

There is a welcome message to users who are not logged in/unregistered. Then when registered there is a PM sent to them.

 

I have a customized (text) welcome email sent; I've been considering making it a colorful HTML email though.

 

That would work perfectly, seeing as your forums are very colorful.