When new Wikitravellers set up a user account and make a new user page, it can be nice to welcome them onto the site with a brief '''welcome message'''. This has the dual benefit of letting them know that we want their help and shared knowledge, as well as giving some good starting points for learning how to be the best darn contributor ever. See also Wikitravel:How to handle unwanted edits if the newcomer is not too familiar with Wikitravel conventions.

Anyone can welcome new users to the site, and they can use whatever text they want. It is recommended that new user is welcomed if they:

  • edit live article pages, especially if the edit(s) resulted in a comment from someone else (so you can critique their work and point to particular articles that might help them - or just thank them for the contribution), or
  • create a new page, (other than their user page), or
  • create their user page and make an edit to live pages, or
  • make comments on talk pages or other discussion pages.
  • The following Wiki markup has most of the important starter links in it, however, and makes a good standard welcome message.

    :<nowiki>Hello! Welcome to Wikitravel. </nowiki> :<nowiki>To help get you started contributing, we've created a tips for new contributors page, full of helpful links about policies and guidelines and style as well as some important information on copyleft and basic stuff like how to edit a page. </nowiki> :<nowiki>If you need help, check out Wikitravel:Help, or post a message in the travellers' pub. -- ~~~~ </nowiki>

    You should be able to copy and paste that into someone's '''user talk page'''. Or you can type <nowiki>{{subst:welcome}}</nowiki> to insert the same text from :Template:welcome.

    It's nice to personalize the message, though! One easy way to do that is with :Template:welcomeplus. When you type "<nowiki>{{subst:welcomeplus|Personal comment here.}}</nowiki>" it inserts a personal comment immediately after "Welcome to Wikitravel." You can also add comments ''after'' the template, before you sign the message.

    Wikipedians

    For likely Wikipedians, consider the following message:

    :<nowiki>Hello! Welcome to Wikitravel.</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>To help get you started contributing, we've created a tips for new contributors page, full of helpful links about policies and guidelines and style, as well as some important information on copyleft and basic stuff like how to edit a page.</nowiki>

    :<nowiki> If you need help, check out Wikitravel:Help, or post a message in the travellers' pub.</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>If you are a Wikipedian, or have previously used Wikipedia, then you may notice some differences in the style of our articles. These include:</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>* "Village pump" → travellers' pub</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>* "be bold" → plunge forward</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>* "sandbox" → graffiti wall</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>* "stub notes" → Article status notes</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>* "External links" → We do not use a separate external links section, but incorporate ''primary links only'' into the text itself.</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>Thanks for contributing! -- ~~~~</nowiki>

    You should be able to copy and paste that into someone's '''user talk page'''. Or you can type <nowiki>{{subst:wikipedian}}</nowiki> to insert the same text from :Template:wikipedian.

    Anonymous users

    Anonymous contributors should be welcomed in cases of:
  • repeated vandalism, (or any vandalism?)
  • repeated edits over a period of time with an assessment about their quality, (good, bad, indifferent or variable)
  • contributing to discussions, especially if it is important that replies be seen by contributor
  • copyright or other policy guideline issues.
  • Some guidelines we try to follow here:

  • ''Find something nice to say.'' Even if someone is an obvious troll/vandal, be the bigger person and Assume Good Faith. Also keep in mind that 1 IP is not always 1 User and that other users may be on the other end of your message. First impressions and all that...
  • ''Invite the user to create an account.'' But make it clear that it's in no way required. Pointing out the Wikitravel:Docent project may also encourage folks to get involved, especially if they have been focusing on one or two destinations that they obviously know well.
  • ''Point out appropriate policy/guideline links.'' Probably not the whole welcome graph, but a subset that seems useful given their contributions.
  • Just as an example:

    :<nowiki>Howdy. I just wanted to let you know...

    By the way, great work on ... destinations-- have you considered creating a user account so you get credit for your contributions and maybe becoming a Wikitravel:Docent?

    Also, if you're new to the whole wiki software look at the wiki markup to get an idea of how to use the wiki markup (we dont use html tages for formatting). If you need help, check out Wikitravel:Help, and if you need some info not on there, post a message in the travellers' pub.

    I look forward to more contributions! ~~~~ </nowiki>

    Benefits for creating an account

    If you feel that you need more reasons for creating an account, the following list may be helpful: :''Consider creating an account to: :* ''allow other users to leave comments to you (and to ask for clarifications to make your edits even better)'' :* ''make sure you will receive comments other users write to you--even if your future visits are from other IP, you have a user talk page that is only yours'' :* ''get credit for your contributions to the article--see footnote "Based on work by" in the bottom of any article'' :* ''establish your reputation among Wikitravellers and allow them to recognize you from other anonymous users'' :* ''enjoy a bit more credibility (let's face it) by other Wikitravelers'' :* ''make sure your contribution is not removed or changed to opposite meaning--using your personal Watchlist'' :* ''maybe even become a Wikitravel:Docent, if you know some destination(s) pretty well and would like to share your knowledge''

    Business owners and Tourism professionals

    See Wikitravel:Welcome, business owners and Wikitravel:Welcome, tourism professionals.

    Business owners

    For business owner who started with some edits, '''start''' with something like this: :<nowiki>Welcome to Wikitravel. We have an introductory page for business owners--please take a minute to read it before going on with your edits.</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>Following [URL your recent edits in ArticleName]:</nowiki>

    When the user '''removed information about competitor''': :<nowiki>One of the most important rules is "never remove info on competitors". Never, without exception.</nowiki>

    When the user contributes '''too flowery description''' of his properties, something this can help: :<nowiki>What's most important when adding your properties to the listings are: be fair and don't tout.</nowiki>

    or, if you need a more wordy message: :<nowiki>Welcome to Wikitravel! Thanks for your recent addition of (venue name) to the (article name) article.</nowiki>

    :<nowiki>It looks very much like an advertisement. Wikitravel strives to avoid being an "advertising brochure" for any business, city, or service--so {please edit|I have edited} your text to ''describe'' the establishment rather than trying to ''sell'' it to a reader. I would recommend to read Wikitravel:Don't tout article before your future edits--and we would happy to see you back editing here but also respecting our guidelines ;-)</nowiki> :<nowiki>BTW, we would recommend you registering a login name at Wikitravel to:</nowiki> :''(list of benefits of having a login)''

    When a '''flowery list of nearby attractions''' is added to accommodation property: :<nowiki>Please avoid lengthy descriptions of nearby sights and attractions in accommodation listings like the one you recently added to the (article name) article. Instead, please give a concrete idea of the location: near the railway station, 5 min on foot to the National Museum, 10 min by car to the Grand Canyon--it will be much more helpful for a traveler choosing a place to stay. </nowiki>

    When '''districts are not considered''' and the item is [repeatedly] added to the main article: :<nowiki>As long as ... is a huge city, we always list its places to {eat|sleep} in a specific district article, not in the main city article. I had to revert it in the main article of ..., but please feel free to add individual {Eat|Sleep} listings to [one of] its districts: ...</nowiki>

    When '''apartment rental''' is [repeatedly] added, and it doesn't meet our criteria: :<nowiki>I removed your apartment listing as it doesn't meet our criteria for apartment rentals. Please review those criteria before adding back your apartments.</nowiki>