Filling out your profile when you join a community is a tedious task. You’ve done it on dozens of other communities and very few people are going to read it.
It’s also damned difficult to talk about yourself. You walk the fine line between arrogant and boring.
So ditch the About Me section and ask specific, interesting, questions instead. Here are a few of my favourites:
- How did you first become interested in {topic}?
- What was your best experience in {topic}
- Who do you most admire/who is your favourite {topic person}?
- What do you think will happen in {topical issue}?
- What do you want to get from this community?
The questions are easier and more interesting to reply to. Nearly every answer will be interested too. Also by revealing this information your also disclosing personal thoughts about yourself which increases your level of engagement.
Finally, it will give you great content to introduce newcomers to others in the community.
I love the idea of getting rid of the About Me section. There is nothing worse than having to come up with something that no one cares about. You're spot on with the fine line between arrogant and boring!
Posted by: Pablo Edwards | Thursday, 27 May 2010 at 03:11
tedious and annoying, no matter what the questions are...the idea of a signup is to be easy, fast and simple...
Posted by: Frye | Friday, 28 May 2010 at 09:22
Thanks for that great idea, Rich!
Posted by: Cialis | Monday, 09 August 2010 at 19:17