Now that you are on the Forums List Page, you need to locate and choose the Introductions Forum.

As you have likely noticed from the Forums List Page, each section is separated. This is to make navigating the site easier on the members.

To locate the Introductions Forum, scroll down the page until you reach the "General Community" section of Herp Center.

The very first listing within this category is the Introductions Forum, which is labelled "Introduce Yourself".

The image below will show you what it is you are looking for:
(The image, when clicked, will show you the full size version.)



Once you have located the section depicted in the image above, click the text "Introduce Yourself". This will bring you into the Introduction Forum.

The Introduction Forum allows for new posts. This is only apparent however because the forum itself displays the "New Thread" button. Not every forum on Herp Center is accessible to member posts. If you happen across one of these forums, you will find that the "New Thread" button doesn't appear, or when clicked, returns a notification that you do not have access to the posting in this forum. You do, as a new user, have access to 98% of the forums we offer.

In order to post and create your own thread in this forum, you need to click the "New Thread" button. It is displayed at the top of the forum below our sponsors banner, as well as at the bottom of the forum.



Now that you have located the New Thread button, click it. This will open the page where you enter the actual message that our members will see.

The page that has just loaded is the "Post New Thread" page. There are 2 main components to a new thread and I have highlighted both sections so that you can identify them easier.

The first component of a new thread is the "Title".

The title is what everyone sees when they first view the Introductions Forum. Typically, you want the title to be descriptive. This will let users know what the thread is about before they actually open it and view the content. Non-descriptive thread titles can actually lead to a user over-looking a thread.

Since this is the introductions forum, your title really isn't as important as a thread title that is seeking help. I am going to list 2 thread titles that would be seeking help, opposed to just an intro title, to offer both a good and bad example. I will also offer some example Intro titles to make things easier on you.

Good vs. Bad Thread Titles

Good: My Iguana Is Lethargic
Bad: HELP ME!!!!

The "Good" example above displays the animal in question as well as the issue you are seeking advice on. Users that have knowledge with iguanas will immediately be able to identify this thread as something they may be able to help with, and the liklihood of numerous responses increases for this reason.

The "Bad" example doesn't offer any information at all. It simply states you "need help", but does not clarify with what species nor does it offer the issue you may be experiencing. Many users will bypass this thread seeking others that stand out and they can see they may be able to help with.

Here are some simple introduction titles to help you out in case you are experiencing a mental block.

Examples:

• Hello, I'm (Your name here)
• Hi, I Just Joined
• Hello Everyone

Now that the title is taken care of, its time for the message to be typed.

The message is what everyone is looking to read. It is crucial that those that read your post know what it is you are looking for help with. While the message of an intro thread is not as important, it is something that is best practiced from the very beginning.

Quality threads will result in quality responses. This simply means that a thread that is descriptive in the information it seeks will receive responses that are responding directly to the questions being asked.

Here are some examples of both a good and bad message that would coincide with the example title "My Iguana Is Lethargic" that we used above.

Good

The example above would be considered Good because you are offering all sorts of information that may help isolate the cause of the lethargy. The thread is also clearly written, uses good punctuation, and is concise. A well written and clear message will result in users looking forward to helping you sort the issue out.

Here is a Bad example:

That is a horrible message and will result in more people ignoring the thread than it would responses. This message offers no information, is horribly written, doesn't use punctuation, and is using shorthand typing. (Which is actually against our rules.)

Just to respond to this thread, someone would need to post asking the thread starter to offer information about the animals care, housing, etc.

Practicing good posting techniques will always result in users being more willing to assist you. It's a practice that most over-look, but greatly benefits all when applied.

Here is some information you could offer in your introduction thread. (In case you don't know what to add.)

Example:



Now that your thread is ready for posting, all that is left to do is submit it. Submitting the thread is as simple as clicking the "Submit Thread" button!

Now that you have created a thread, you are going to likely want to read the responses that it receives. There are several ways to follow a thread you have posted and to "re-find" the thread.

The first way is to simply remember the threads title, and the forum in which you posted it in. Finding it would then just be a matter of locating the thread, clicking it, and reading the responses.

Another method, and one that is easier, is to subscribe to the thread. Once your thread has been posted, click the "Thread Tools" menu found at the top of the thread and select the "Subscribe To This thread" link as depicted in the image below.



This will then bring you to your User Control Panel which will allow you the ability to set how you are notified of a new responses.




There are four options available in the highlighted menu above.

No email notification: This will subscribe you to the thread, but it will not send you any email notifications letting you know there have been responses. In order to view this method, you will need to click the "My Info" button found at the top of almost every page of HC. If your thread has had responses, it will be displayed on that page.

Instant notification by email: This method will send you an email the moment someone responds to your thread. It only sends one email even if there are 20 reponses. Once you have viewed your thread however, it will again send email to notify of responses received after you had viewed the thread.

Daily updates by email: Once a day this method will send you an email notifying you of any threads in which you are subscribed that have received responses.

Weekly updates by email: Once a week this method will send you an email notifying you of any threads in which you are subscribed that have received responses.

Once you know which method you wish to use, select it from the menu and hit the "Add Subscription" button. You are now subscribed to your thread. (This also works on other users threads.)

The method for locating a thread you posted several weeks prior is best done through your profile. From your HC profile, you can view every thread and post you have ever made on HC.

To get to your profile, simply click your name anywhere it appears on HC. In most locations, you can enter your profile this way.

Once there, choose the "Statistics" tab, and then run a search for all posts or threads written by you!

The techniques described above can be used in any forum. Hopefully this tutorial has answered any questions you may have had regarding how to post a thread.

If you feel this tutorial is lacking in an area, please post whatever questions you may have here:

Questions and Answers

We will then know how to improve this tutorial for other users.