New members @ LJ

[mike]

ljen and I are about to embark on a magical journey that will add some helpful beginner information to the newmembers community and we'd love to get your feedback. Do you have any thoughts or advice about features you wish you knew about sooner when you started your LiveJournal adventure?

Comments

[alexia_drake]

I think that learning about lj-cut (what is it and how to do it) is important for the newbies.

[coldagain]

Agreed with the above commenter; most of the stuff in the FAQ is confusing and all over the place. Tags and tagging, journal settings (privacy, commenting, etc, etc), even userpics/icons are all over the place, with article after article leading the reader around in a circle with no end (or definitive answer on many a related topic).

Basically, instead of worrying about what you're going to say at some newbie comm why not whip the FAQ section into shape (finally!) so the newbies have a chance of learning stuff on their own, and those who try to point them in the right direction have a good and accurate reference point?

[misstia]

i wholeheartedly second this comment!!

i've been on LJ since 2004 and there's still stuff i dunno...but that's because i don't really sniff around much and stay in my own corner....but i relate to the FAQs being circular!!!

also, i think a lot of new members think that some how they'll magically get friends on LJ and LJ isn't like other sites....i dunno how/where you could tell new members that LJ isn't like other social sites, but i think some people don't realize that....i have known people to leave LJ because they tried blogging for a few weeks, got no friends and were frustrated and left....you have to 1) enjoy blogging 2) belong to communities or 3) both 1 & 2 to fully enjoy LJ and not be fixated on getting friends, as they will come in due time......

[mike]

Improving FAQs is a great idea. We've talking here in the office about cleaning up the FAQs to make them more clear and accessible. It's definitely on our list of things to do. :-) We're waiting to see how a couple of other projects shake out before we assess when to kick that project off.

[cordykitten]

I wish LJ had continued this comm:

tipoftheday

Though I've found my way around using LJ. it just took time.
The comm is good to point out if people forget how to do the LJ cut (it's there, too) etc:

http://tipoftheday.livejournal.com/1315.html

Some people did a post with how to (change font, add links), I've added this to my LJ memories.

[estelle]

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