Re: Welcome Centre Improvements
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:42 pm
I have to say I agree wholeheartedly with Don, and it is for those reasons that when I first came to Kitley, although the welcome centre is 'beautiful' it scored low for me. So, two things
First Impressions - YES!
1) A tree in the centre draws all the focus there, and away from info on the perimeter. The centre should really be a welcome board - maybe with signature Kitely Kites suspended from it like on the outskirts. On that board have the info that is currently placed around the perimeter. But in more of a squared form.
2) One section of the board Kitely Info, with the 'get land', 'visit marketplace' 'explore worlds' etc and the other half of the board with some agreed upon landmarks that a starter avatar can use to begin their journey.
3) around the perimeter, some nicely done cafe tables with chairs, a place for greeters or residents to sit without being RIGHT there in the new person's face when they rez. We have many seating areas around that region that are not utilized, having some sitting/chill space around the actual welcoming area would be better.
4) have the paths leading away from the centre go directly to a useful area on that region. With a Sign saying WHERE the path is leading. (when arriving in a world for the first time, things can take a long time to rezz and often draw distance is set low) One path to the Kitely Town Meeting area, one path to the Explore Worlds, one to Marketplace Spotlight and one to Customize Your Avatar - with possibly some avis put together using the rather decent newer skins and clothing found at Clutterfly. Each avatar box offered by clutterfly offers skin colour options etc and a starter outfit. It's already packaged so would be easy to put together.
New Residents - to keep in mind
1) Although some people may feel that a friendly face is the first thing people want to see, I can say from my own point of view that this is not always the case.
2) Some people feel awkward when arriving, confused, looking like an obvious newbie and want to quietly find their own way, and need those tools available. Not everyone is comfortable meeting new folks and some are here BECAUSE they want to hide away from the world, and have something special and private for them. I think in fact that that makes up a far larger percentage than we might realize.
3) At least half the time, in the welcome area, since being a greeter, I have seen new residents come in, you offer a hello, they dont answer and log off.
4) So - make sure that welcomers are able to sit off to the side, casually, and that the tools for a new person to make their own way are available to them at first sight.
Like Don says, if a person has to wander too far or far at all to find what they need, they will go elsewhere. There are over 200 grids out there and people have many choices - which IS great, but Kitely is the most stable opensim grid Ive ever been on, the prices are amazing and the people are great - giving people a reason to stick around and discover that for themselves is a big priority.
First Impressions - YES!
1) A tree in the centre draws all the focus there, and away from info on the perimeter. The centre should really be a welcome board - maybe with signature Kitely Kites suspended from it like on the outskirts. On that board have the info that is currently placed around the perimeter. But in more of a squared form.
2) One section of the board Kitely Info, with the 'get land', 'visit marketplace' 'explore worlds' etc and the other half of the board with some agreed upon landmarks that a starter avatar can use to begin their journey.
3) around the perimeter, some nicely done cafe tables with chairs, a place for greeters or residents to sit without being RIGHT there in the new person's face when they rez. We have many seating areas around that region that are not utilized, having some sitting/chill space around the actual welcoming area would be better.
4) have the paths leading away from the centre go directly to a useful area on that region. With a Sign saying WHERE the path is leading. (when arriving in a world for the first time, things can take a long time to rezz and often draw distance is set low) One path to the Kitely Town Meeting area, one path to the Explore Worlds, one to Marketplace Spotlight and one to Customize Your Avatar - with possibly some avis put together using the rather decent newer skins and clothing found at Clutterfly. Each avatar box offered by clutterfly offers skin colour options etc and a starter outfit. It's already packaged so would be easy to put together.
New Residents - to keep in mind
1) Although some people may feel that a friendly face is the first thing people want to see, I can say from my own point of view that this is not always the case.
2) Some people feel awkward when arriving, confused, looking like an obvious newbie and want to quietly find their own way, and need those tools available. Not everyone is comfortable meeting new folks and some are here BECAUSE they want to hide away from the world, and have something special and private for them. I think in fact that that makes up a far larger percentage than we might realize.
3) At least half the time, in the welcome area, since being a greeter, I have seen new residents come in, you offer a hello, they dont answer and log off.
4) So - make sure that welcomers are able to sit off to the side, casually, and that the tools for a new person to make their own way are available to them at first sight.
Like Don says, if a person has to wander too far or far at all to find what they need, they will go elsewhere. There are over 200 grids out there and people have many choices - which IS great, but Kitely is the most stable opensim grid Ive ever been on, the prices are amazing and the people are great - giving people a reason to stick around and discover that for themselves is a big priority.