[Drabdr]

Would it be worthwhile to add something to the Welcome Guide (which I'd never seen before and is great, btw) like Want to Help? with a little information about how anyone can help if they feel they have the knowledge to answer (malware excepted)?

[TechGuy]

Here is a very outdated page on helping:
http://www.techguy.org/how2help.html

I think you're suggesting something more specific instructions, but I'm not sure what, exactly... ? Also, this could be a good Library article and we could link to it from Welcome and perhaps other places?

[Ent]

That page does quite a good job of "how to help" the site in general, but it could do with a bit more regarding the ins and outs of being a volunteer on the site.

[TechGuy]

Can you give me an example of what might be included on that page? I'm not sure what you mean by "in and outs of being a volunteer."

[Ent]

More than 2 lines.
A library article would be ideal for it, though once it's made it would probably need to be frozen.

[WendyM]

This was a suggestion I made, and I think that how to help page is good. It's another one I didn't know existed. But I think it'd be friendlier if it were formatted more like the welcome guide, which in my opinion exemplifies how people should write for the web. (I really like that page, can you tell? )

I'd move helping with threads up above donate and advertise, since people might not read past the first "oh, you want me to give you money" line. So something like this (although better written, obviously):

Want to help? If you like what you see on this site and want to contribute, here are a few ways you can do it:

1. Help other people.
If you see a problem and think you might have an answer, jump right in and post it! We don't require any minimum level of experience or length of membership to contribute - this site is all about people helping other people. If someone has already suggested a solution and you think you might have a better one or something to add, feel free. We welcome all input, as long as it's within our rules [link to rules]. [include virus/malware exception, blah blah blah]

2. Donate.
This is a free site and members will never be charged to post a question or suggest an answer. However, it's not free for us to run, so if you'd like to make a voluntary donation, we'd greatly appreciate it. Donations come with some extra perks, such as no ads and more available space for private messages. [link to donations page]

3. Advertise
Use current text

4. Link to us
Use current text

[TechGuy]

I have no excuse for the delay on this one. Apologies all around.

Thanks for your comments on the Welcome page, Wendy. It's something I've spent a lot of time on. I'm also always eager to hear suggestions on how we might improve that one as I think it's key to bringing in new members.

I've just updated the How To Help page per your suggestions. Let me know what you think!

http://www.techguy.org/how2help.html

[ekim68]

Wow, I like it....Thanks Mike and Wendy....

[WendyM]

Love it, thanks Mike!