People volunteering for being a mod might be surprised to know what you're getting in to. I've been a supermod (minor version of an admin) on a site with 80,000 active members, 3 million posts, and 4,000 online at any given time of the day for the last 5 years. We are a Vbull site and always run the latest software. There are no features of the site I can't use including tachy, and there's nothing I have not seen in the way of scams, multiple id's, and every trick in the book. I also moderate 3 other major sites, but the one I speak of is my "home" so I refer to it the most.
The people who usually make good mods are the one's who don't volunteer to be one. People think it is cool to be a mod, some might want to feel important. The best moderators are the members who stand out without the moderator label.
- They are active at least 5 days of the week (I prefer to hire one's who are there at least 6 since the 5 day a week mods are weekday mods working from their work and that leaves no coverage on the weekends).
- They are well known for DIY's and always having that one link handy when someone needs it.
- They don't have too many issues with other members.
- They don't have to have been on the site for a full year, but they should have accomplished more in their 8 or 9 months than other members have that have been here twice their timeframe.
- They should be experienced enough to have the ability to provide help to members in various areas. If they are a forum mod they should be able to tell you everything you need to know that can apply to the forum they moderate.
- They should be able to decide what stays and what goes without bugging the hell out of the admin. *raises eyebrow at some people on my home forum*
This is just a small list of a few major things, but overall if you wanna be a mod DON'T ASK to be a mod. Provide links to help members rather than just say "search dumbazz". Make friends and prove you are useful. Learn proper spelling and grammer or at least take the easy way out and buy a MAC.... you can still be an idiot and look like you can form words thanks to Safari.
There is nothing wrong with younger mods, but there should be a couple twenty or thirty somethings on staff. They offer life experience and wisdom in situations with conflicts. (I'm 31 and have seen a lot just in the last 5 yrs I didn't know at 25 or 26)
Moderator Shake Up
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