Onboarding
Onboarding New Members
Section titled “Onboarding New Members”How you welcome new members shapes their entire experience. A thoughtful onboarding process communicates your community’s values before you ever state them explicitly.
The Trusted Introduction Model
Section titled “The Trusted Introduction Model”The strongest communities grow through personal invitation rather than open enrollment. This means:
- Existing members vouch for new members they invite
- The voucher takes responsibility for helping the new member integrate
- New members meet the community through their sponsor, not through a sign-up page
This isn’t gatekeeping — it’s quality assurance. A personal introduction carries more weight than any FAQ.
This pattern is adapted from the IrregularChat community, which uses a vouching system for member verification.
Onboarding Checklist
Section titled “Onboarding Checklist”Use this as a starting point. See our detailed template for a copy-paste version.
Before First Meeting
Section titled “Before First Meeting”First Meeting
Section titled “First Meeting”First Month
Section titled “First Month”Sizing Your Pipeline
Section titled “Sizing Your Pipeline”Not everyone who’s interested should join immediately. For a group of 10:
| Stage | Count |
|---|---|
| Invited / expressed interest | 5-8 |
| Attended first meeting | 3-4 |
| Committed after first month | 2-3 |
A 30-40% conversion rate from interest to commitment is healthy. Don’t lower your standards to fill seats.
When Someone Isn’t a Fit
Section titled “When Someone Isn’t a Fit”Sometimes a new member doesn’t align with the community’s culture or values. Address it early:
- Private conversation with the sponsor
- Honest, kind feedback: “Here’s what we’ve noticed”
- Clear options: adjust behavior, take a break, or part ways
- No public drama — handle it with dignity