Hi everyone. Unfortunately, I will no longer be updating Collaborite. I had big dreams for this page; however other, more important life commitments restrict the amount of available time I have. I will leave Collaborite up to allow people to read the archives, but I do not plan to make any new updates. I may bring the page back in the future, but that all depends on if I regain the enthusiasm that I once had for Neopets and guilds.

Thank you so much to everyone for the support you've given me with Collaborite. I had a blast and I am very surprised and pleased about everything that the page became, and it all happened with your support. Thanks again!

Posted August 31, 2010
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Being a social media intern at an ad agency, I've recently engrossed myself in social networking sites. I've noticed that a lot of what I've learned can be applied to Guild Chat pages so I decided to share:

1. Brand your page - Every page has a brand which is basically "who you are" in the eyes of others. What is your voice? Tone? Content? Brainstorm your desired brand and act accordingly.
2. Have a personality - Who wants to read a page that sounds like it's written by a robot? No one.
3. Don't be fake - people can see right through that.
4. Understand your audience - What do your readers care about? What's going on in the community? That's something you should talk about.
5. Keep updated - The world is always changing. So much can happen in a week so it's important to stay updated and keep your content relevant to the times.
6. Interact with the community - Get people involved! No one likes to be talked at. After all, social media is all about being /social/.
7. Be different - Basically, just don't make your page cookie cutter. Otherwise, why would someone want to view your page over another?
8. Give thanks - Chances are, you could not have made your page without the help of others. Show your appreciation.

There's always so much to learn, and as you own a page, you will learn along the way. Best of luck! I hope this post at least helps a little bit.

Posted July 28, 2010
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I know, I know. Preparing for a guild to open already takes a lot of time and effort, but I have one more thing to add to your list: A crisis response plan.

Pretty much, this plan can keep your guild alive and running smoothly in the face of crisis. First, you would start by outlining all of the common or possible crises that your guild may encounter. For example, how should you and your council respond to a spammer? What about a fight on the guild boards? Or how about a member gone dramatic? Sudden or unexpected leavings of guild members? Your guild being deleted by TNT? Leader being suspended? Guild layouts getting deleted (due to malicious intent or accident)? Etc. Etc. The list goes on and on. Many guilds have had to face these crises, so it is wise to prepare for them. By preparing a response plan, you reduce the negative effects of a crisis. This plan may only take a few hours to create but can make a huge difference to your guild.

My suggestion: Get all leaders involved in the planning process. Make sure everyone is comfortable following out the steps listed. Create a document to share or temporarily post it on a petpage for council to grab. This way, all members who may need to react to crises will have the file. Having a step-by-step plan or at least a guideline would be helpful to any council member and could cut down on the panic or stress, especially if that member is dealing with the crisis on their own.

For each potential crisis, you should include the in-moment actions as well as the follow-up actions. This means, you should not only include actions like deleting spammer's comments or suspending/deleting them from the guild (in-moment actions), but also how you will update the other council members on the crisis or how you will communicate and respond to the guild members that were affected.

A crisis plan can be as thorough or as brief as you would like, but it's a document that every guild should consider. Just remember that the more detailed the document, the more helpful it will be.

Posted July 12, 2010
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Far too often, I see graphics or layouts that are far less than appealing. A lot of times, this is due to clutter in your design. Here are a few tips on how to clean it up:

1. Use fewer effects - When done correctly, graphic effects should be very subtle and should not distract from the focus of the image. Think less of "what can I add to this graphic/layout?" and more of what can I take out?. "If I add this, will it really improve my work?" With this logic, you will avoid adding unnecessary components that will leave your outcome looking like a mess.
2. Use fewer colors - A rule of thumb that I use: Pull 2-3 colors from your main image (or if you're using pure CSS, pick 2-3 colors of your own), and stick to those. Too many colors will make your page look incohesive.
3. Think Flow - When you look at the image, where do your eyes naturally go? This is a huge component to graphic/web design that's often forgotten. Make sure that your eyes are naturally led to the focus of your page (such as the blog area of your guild).
4. Love Whitepace - Whitespace doesn't always mean white, but more like plain space. Don't be afraid of areas that look more plain. Sometimes that's needed to prevent graphics from looking cluttered and messy. Once again, stop thinking "what can I add?" and think "what can I take out".

Overall, mastering clean design takes a lot of work and practice (Disclaimer: I am by no means saying I'm an expert). If you keep these simple tips in the front of your mind, perhaps you will be able to avoid overloading your design and taking away from the simplistic beauty that might otherwise exist.

Posted July 3, 2010
Edited July 13, 2010
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Unfortunately, no posts were made in June due to technical difficulties. Thank you for sticking with me!

Inspired by a casual conversation in the GC yesterday, I decided to do a guide on the Neopets Terms & Conditions related to guilds - What is ok to do, what is not? Bear in mind that everyone has their own interpretation of the rules, but this is mine. If you have another perspective or if I missed an important topic, please neomail me.

Contests: Against Rules
Contests are against the rules, but activities are not. What's the difference? Contests typically have prizes rewarded at the end. (This includes raffles) Further Explanation.

Prizes: Against Rules
No neopoint prizes or anything that can be translated into neopoints may be given as a result of a contest or activity. In fact, the rules say that NO prize can be given, but many guilds give graphic prizes or something similar and do not get closed down. Nevertheless, avoid using the word "prize" to be safe.

Giveaways: Against Rules
These are a no-no. Back in the day, giveaways were common and allowed, but due to the increase in scams, giveaways are no longer allowed in guilds nor anywhere else on Neopets.

Newbie Packs: Against Rules
This is along the lines of giveaways and prizes. Because of an increase in scams and complaints, TNT banned all newbie packs.

Birthday Gifts & Random Gifts: Allowed
According to a response in Editorial Issue 294, random gifts are acceptable. Based on the response, birthday gifts seem to fit into this category as well: "Giving gifts to your friends is totally fine. We definitely don't want to discourage that. What is against the rules are outright contests where a user has to do something/donate something/join something/etc. in order to enter".

Donation Shops: Allowed
Until further research for this post, I thought this was against the rules. According to a response in Editorial Issue 406, donation shops are allowed, but you cannot require donations from members. As a safety precaution and to prevent future troubles, if you have a donation shop, make clear that all donations are voluntary and final. Also, make sure that the funds from donation shops do not go towards anything against the rules like prizes.

Guild Trades & 1np Auctions: Allowed
As stated in a response to a question in Editorial Issue 307, trades restricted to guild members are allowed. To do a guild-only auction, you would need to use a guild account and do a neofriend only auction on there. An issue with this could be that TNT would consider having auctions on a side to be making nps on a side - which would be against rules, so just be aware and be careful.

Full page layouts: Allowed - With Restrictions
Full page layouts are allowed in guilds, but you must keep the stats and links fully in tact and visible. Read Editorial Issue 294 for more information.

Using other's code/graphics: Against Rules
This is somewhat obvious, but just like with other work on neopets, you cannot use someone else's code or artwork without permission. This includes using it with modifications. It is considered stealing and you may get frozen. Read this editorial for more information.

Offsite webbies: Allowed - With Restrictions
Petpage webbies are acceptable as are offsite webbies; however, offsite webbies have more restrictions. This page states that "Some guilds create websites which are outside of Neopets and are not affiliated with us...The rules for creating a Neopets fan site apply in this situation." Looking into this more, I found some vague inconclusive information. You must include a copywrite disclosure of "Copyright 2000-2010 Neopets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Used With Permission" on every page that includes Neopets artwork. Also, you cannot sell ads or make money in any way on these offsite web pages (aka, the site must be completely noncommercial). When linking to Neopets, you may only link to the homepage (http://www.neopets.com/): "by using this website, you specifically agree not to link to any pages within the neopets.com site without Neopets' express written approval." Finally, you may not link to any commercial website that is not Neopets.com when you are on Neopets - This is typically the root of all problems with offsite webbies; any link found my Neopets to go offsite is typically flagged, no matter if it is commercial or not.
Rules around offsite webbies are very ambiguous, and it can be risky. If you plan to keep your guild safe, stick with on-site webbies.

Parties: Against Rules
I cannot find anything on guild parties, but I know that guilds have been deleted in the past because of this. They are best to be avoided.

Bashes/Celebrations: Allowed
These are very similar to parties, but bashes and celebrations are terms typically used to get around the "no-party" rule and avoid being deleted. If you plan to have some kind of guild celebration, please do so with caution.

Neopets T&C: All Apply
All site-wide Neopets Terms & Conditions apply. This includes: No talk about taboo subjects, no scamming, no begging, no stealing, no asking for personal information (including emails, messaging service usernames, etc), no sharing accounts or log-in information, no paying/tipping for artwork or avatar lending, no using Neopets to make money, etc. (See more at the Neopets Terms & Conditions)

Consequences:
For breaking rules, you can be warned, suspended, frozen or banned based on severity and frequency. Guilds can be deleted if they break rules, and if certain members in a guild break rules, TNT will most-likely watch other members more closely with a "guity by association" philosophy. (Read this editorial)

As always, a good rule of thumb is if you're unsure, don't do it. Better safe than sorry, because if you are breaking a rule, you are not only putting yourself at risk, but everyone in the guild.

Posted May 22, 2010
Edited July 1, 2010
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The Altador Cup is coming, and along with that comes my extreme obsession. Nevertheless, I've been spending some time at the AC V Chat over the past week or so, and I've realized that us GCers have a lot to bring to the cup. Here are a few:

1. We know how to recruit - Let's face it, GCers are probably the most expert recruiters on neopets because we do it so much for our guilds! Those skills can be used to bring in support for your team.
2. We bring in graphics/coding skills - Nearly every team has a team page, banners, lookups, etc. A lot of GCers are very skilled in graphics and coding which can definitely be used in the Altador Cup.
3. We know how to "spice things up". - When times are a little slow (like on the AC V boards before the cup), we know how to spice things up and have a little fun. GCers are great at coming up with activities and fun board games for people to play - whether that be avatar simon, mafia, or something else creative.
4. We know how to make a family atmosphere - Almost all good guilds say the same thing: "We're like a family" (or something along those lines). During the Altador Cup, team members can get really close because so much time is spent together playing. Many GCers are great at providing a fun, welcoming environment, which is definitely something that the AC could use more of.

Well, with the days counting down until sign-ups begin, what are you waiting for? Go check out the Altador Cup and give the AC V a little GC flair.

Posted May 12, 2010
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Back in March, I made a post that listed traits that I saw in admirable people, and I opened up the conversation to the rest of the GC. As promised, here are the traits that you and your fellow GCers sent in:

• Courtesy (tastygoldfish)
• To be honest, common sense - a trait that seems to be in short supply sometimes.(firestorm205)
• People who can admit their mistakes. It takes courage and an open mind to accept when you are wrong, and I think those are the most important aspects of a person that one can have. (imagemap)
• humble caring optimistic reliable unselfish zing! (courants)
• Charisma. The ability to get along with others and make people like you. But really, this comes from just being nice. Niceness is a bit underrated, really. ;P (blackholee)
• Probably the ability to care, even over the Internet. Probably to actually care, and not say; "I don't know you in real life, youre not a friend, etc. Every person you talk to on here is a real person on the other side of the screen. && how cruel people can be on here to others is terrible; it's turned this site's community rotten. Every person on the other side feels the same as you may . . . I wouldn't say a person has no life if their best friend ever was met over the Internet . . . (faintedgaura)
• I like someone innovative and different, who's able to think outside of the box and make it work. (unplosive)
• I'd say positivity. I like people who try to make the best out of any situation. (: (kersenpudding)
• Dependable; You can depend on them to be on for huge events, or that they will get things done on time and efficiently. This ties in to caring, reliablility and responsibility, but I really feel this one is needed. (danifoo)
• Dedication is HUGE for me. I really admire a guild leader that is dedicated to their guild. One of those leaders that you honestly stop and ask yourself if they are ever NOT on Neopets. No mater what time of day or day of the week is, I swear it feels like my guild leader is always online_ I'm not saying everyone needs to live on Neopets. But Streak, my guild leader, answers VERY promptly. (: (aclaustrophobicbox)
• Im not sure how to explain it in one word, but I think getting along with everybody no matter how different the person you are interacting with is of great importance to me. I feel if a person is able to communicate well in all situations with different people, bad or good, it's a great trait to have I believe. (sparklin_moonlight)
• Sense of Humor (paparazzei)
• I agree with all of the above comments, and Lucky's own. And I will reiterate on what I've learned. Dedication is key - if you, as a leader or a member, are not dedicated, your guild will fail. I've owned and run many guilds since I joined Neopets eight years ago; my most successful is and always will be By Tooth And Claw Dragons, a role-play guild I created seven years ago. It's still alive today. Why? Because I never gave up. And I cared. I worked my tail off on this guild and the result was a close-knit group of writers that are more like a family to me than anything. Anybody can achieve the great with a little TLC. c: (theflightcaptain)

Thank you to everyone who offered their ideas and perspective!

Posted April 27, 2010

Edited April 27, 2010
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Ah, the cliche phrase: less is more... Yes, I am going to make a whole post on it and how it relates to guilds. So many guild leaders and council members are coninually thinking "What should we add to the guild?" or "What are some activities that we should start up?" Well, it's time to eliminate that mindset and start thinking "how can we improve what we already have?" Yes, I'm bringing in the other cliche phrase "Quality over quantity." While it's great to have a variety of activities or guild features that appeal to the various members or prospects, it's better to have a few features, and to have those mastered.

To all the current leaders and council members: How many activities or features do you have that no one uses? I'd be extremely surprised if you said that members took advantage of and regularly use every guild feature, for that seems like a rarity.

So before you think of adding something on to your guild, make sure that all aspects of your guild are being utilized to their full potential, and if not, improve them. Modify them to generate interest or just take them out. Make sure that each feature is solving some kind of a problem. Basically, make sure it has a purpose and is in demand. If it's not, chances are it won't be used by your members.

While a variety of features is not always a bad thing, I urge you to take more care and caution when selecting what to add on to the guild. This will both spare you some unnecessary stress that comes with creating and managing an overload of guild content, and it will also help to improve your guild by focusing on what will really benefit your members. Best of luck!

Posted April 16, 2010
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ZOMG! Good news! Ur all gunna [luv] it! Imma change Collaborite 2 a Gossip Page!!1! izn't that aw3some! Basically, i think gossip pages are sUper FuN and alot mre exciting.

4 my 1st post, I wanna tlk about guest. More of a rant really. We all know how much drama they have been causing, and it's lyk getting on everyonez nerves! so just stop. k? 10x.

...or, not! Collaborite isn't going gossip, and I really never have intentions to turn this GC blog into a gossip page, so no worries! April Fools, all! Scroll down a bit to see my real post for April Fool's Day. [NOTE: The username above is generated from the visitor code, so everyone sees their own username in that spot.]

Posted April 1, 2010
Edited April 25, 2010
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Happy April Fool's day everyone! In celebration of this fun day, I decided to create a post about it.

I think that April Fool's is a great day for guild leaders and council to take advantage of! Because of its natural comedic/fun mood, it fits well with a lot of Neopian guilds. On top of that, April Fool's jokes, if in good humor, are great for a guild's energy by surprising members, making them laugh and giving them all something fun to talk about.

To give some inspiration for future years, here are a few things that Neo Fusion, my past guild, did on April Fool's Day, as well as some other ideas I've come up with:

• Neo Fusion 2008 (Where's the guild?) - We made the guild look like a Neopets 404 page. When people went to the guild, they thought it was missing! Good news, when they scrolled down, they could see a layout that displayed "April Fool's!" and had all of the guild links. I loved this joke and I think it really tricked some of our members for a minute! It gave us a fun memory and was something to laugh and chat about. I know that with the coding skills in the GC, something like this could be executed magnificently!
• Neo Fusion 2009 (N00b Attack!) - We made the guild seem like it was overrun by n00bs, making a super crazy, blinding layout, changing all the guild ranks and filling the guild homepage with chatspeak. Being that we were a semi-literate guild, this was a fairly good joke, but it definitely could have been better.
• Other (Mascot) - Introduce a guild mascot that no one would want
• Other (Feature Shut Down) -"close down" or "retire" a popular guild page or feature (but bring it back on April 2nd or at the end of the day).
• Other (Good-bye Webbie) - Tell your guild that you decided there's no longer a need for a guild webbie, and "delete" it (but maybe just move it and provide a hidden link to the new temporary page for the day).

It is important to remember to keep the jokes in good humor, meaning that they will not offend or upset anyone. While you want to make it a good/elaborate joke, you don't want to create a hassle for people and frustrate them. Also, DO NOT do anything that you can not be undone, fixed or changed back the next day.

I realize that this post is late notice, and I wish that I would have thought of creating it earlier to remind everyone and allow enough time for you to brainstorm and create some April Fool's jokes. As a bit of a consolation, I'd love for everyone to share with the GC some of the best April Fool's jokes that they've heard of, on or off neo, past or present. Just post them on the Collaborite board to share and join in the discussion! I hope some guilds out there pulled some great pranks! :D

Posted April 1, 2010
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My message to guilds: Don't be unique; be different. Some of you may have read that statement and thought "aren't being unique and being different the same thing?" I am here to offer another perspective.

Many guilds come out today claiming to be unique, and by most people's standards, they never are. Normally, I imagine unique as something never seen before, but guilds do not need to be ground-breaking or revolutionary, [and they certainly don't need to make the claim to be]. It is natural for guilds to have common concepts or ideas. After all, the GC has been around for many years, so many ideas have been generated over that time. I know this makes generating new ideas a difficult task, but it has also helped us identify the ideas that have proven popular or useful. Take advantage of what time has given to the GC, and use the ideas that have been generated to your advantage! Don't fear reusing ideas! (This does not mean stealing. I do not promote stealing!)

As for being different, I am going to pull a term from marketing: Differentiation. Basically, differentiation is the process of setting yourself apart from the others. [I believe that differentiating yourself can be very positive], but know that this can be done with even one attribute. Perhaps your guild uses a different style for layouts, maybe you choose to role-play with a new type of characters, or maybe your guild atmosphere is abnormally lively. This is where everyone in the GC gets to be creative to help generate ideas that will keep the GC fresh.

The big takeaway from this post is to try to be creative and do something new that will make your guild stand out, but at the same time embrace the ideas that have proven to be good ones. You do not have to make your guild completely "unique."

Posted March 30, 2010
Edited March 30, 2010
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For this post, I've decided to stray from guilds, and focus more on people both in and out of the GC. There are certain people whom I admire, and I see themes of traits amongst these people. Here's a list of traits that I find admirable and that I believe people should strive for in every aspect of their lives:

Integrity - This is the big one for me. Someone who sticks to their morals (and has good morals) is undoubtedly someone that should be admired. I guarantee that sometime in everyone's life, they will be faced with a difficult dilemma that may test their ethical principles. The person who chooses the ethical route will always, in my eyes, come up on top.

Honesty - Remaining honest in your daily activities is important. We've all been taught that since we were young, but I want to talk about a more demanding type of honesty. It's easy for someone to hide from the truth. People oftentimes lie to themselves or others in order to cope with a problem or difficult situation. The person who owns up to their mistakes, or speaks of their worries of what's to come is an admirable person. It's easy to "sugarcoat" or hide things so that a situation doesn't seem too negative, but in doing so, are you really preparing those who are listening to you well?

Courage - To go against the odds and take an unpopular but right stance is extremely difficult, and that takes courage. To knowingly face ridicule to defend someone or something that you believe deserves it is big, and whenever I see someone in the GC acting this way, I automatically have a great deal of respect for them.

Perseverance - It's a lot easier to give up than to push through a difficult time. I believe that people persevere for 3 main reasons: (1) because they don't want to let down the people who depend on them, (2) because they know that they are the only person who can get them out of a tough spot or (3) because they don't want to push their troubles onto someone else. The people who continue through difficult times in an attempt to make them better for these reasons are all people whom I admire. I stated in one of my first posts that perseverance is one of the most important traits for a guild leader. I still believe that, and always will, but I believe that perseverance is important beyond that. It's a trait that will prove useful in all aspects of your life.

Respect - Put simply, someone who treats anyone and everyone with respect, no matter their status, color, culture, etc., earns my approval. A lesson that I believe way too many people have yet to learn is to treat each person as a human being - all of whom deserve respect. (We definitely need more of this in the GC, and in the world as a whole. Quit the hate.)

Reliability - Trust plays largely into my ability to admire someone. If they are undependable and unpredictable, I know that I cannot rely on them. If someone consistently breaks their promises, I become disappointed in them and cannot look up to them. On the other hand, if someone consistently does what they say they are going to do, I can trust them, and I respect the person a great deal.

Loyalty - To me, this means fighting for those who depend on you or are important to you. I remember a business man spoke to me about his work experiences, and he said that everyone wants to work for the boss that fights for his subordinates... and that's stayed in my mind. I think it's true! But it doesn't matter if someone is a subordinate or equal; it's important to remain loyal to and put forth effort for both your friends and others around you.

Confidence - I, along with most people, simply find it hard to admire someone who is meek or clingy. On the contrary, I have high regard for people who are confident in themselves and their actions. Keep in mind, there is a BIG difference between confidence and cockiness.

People who can admit mistakes - So this isn't a one word trait like the others, but I believe it to be a crucial action in life. It's so easy to deny your mistakes or pass the blame, but the people who look in the mirror for their mistakes ultimately are better off. Firstly, it shows that you're not a coward and that you can take responsibility for your actions. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, people who take responsibility for their mistakes can learn from those mistakes and better their future actions.

I realize that a lot of these traits overlap or seem similar, but I believe each to be important in their own regard. No, not everyone that I admire has every one of these traits, but I believe that everyone should aspire to be exceptionally strong in at least one of them, and then continue to try to improve themselves.

I'd love to hear your comments! Send in some admirable traits and a brief description of them (you can even list some of the same traits as I did if you have a different description). In April, I will be making a follow-up post composed from all of your comments! Neomail me if you have further questions.

Posted March 19, 2010
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Recently, I was asked the question "What do you think makes or breaks a guild?" After a few minutes, I found an answer, and I want to share my opinions with all of you.

What makes a guild? The people. Sometimes it's forgotten that a guild is a community - a group of people. I tend not to care much about the activities, the layout, etc. While good activities and a good layout don't hurt, ultimately it all boils down to the members and the leaders. I've said many many times that members are so important to a guild - I even credit my past guild's success to the members. Ultimately, if the members and leaders are the type of people that I can consider my friends and who I enjoy being around, then I'd say it's a good guild.

What breaks a guild? The people. While people can make a guild a huge success, they can also be the guild's demise. If there is drama, people are immature or if I can't trust the members, I can't say I would be happy in that guild.

Each type of community is good for a certain type of person (think guild culture), so you must find the guild that fits you best. If you already have a guild, great! If not, a great suggestion is for you to chat with the members to see if you could get along with them before you apply or join.

So to everybody in the GC, don't let the extra features, hype or misguided way of the GC make you lose track of the core purpose of a guild and the gift that it provides (the friendships and the community). It's all about the people.

(Post inspired by ciaoann)
Posted March 7, 2010
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."Be relevant or be gone." That's a quote that was told to my Introduction to Advertising class about a year and a half ago, but it's stuck with with me since. Recently, I've found application of that quote in the GC. I feel that the strongest use of this idea is through board creation, most specifically for GC pages.

Typically, when I go to the GC (and I'm sure this is the same for many people), I briefly skim through the topics to see if there's any board that I'm interested in stopping at or reading more about. Sure, a catchy title might draw me in, but ultimately, you should be trying to answer the age-old question "what can you do for me?" People look for boards or topics that are relevant to their interests and will somehow tend to their needs or add value to their life.

The big takeaway from this post is to carefully plan your board titles. Make sure people will want to stop by and read more. Once again, answer "What can you do for me," and keep in mind that your title should be informative of what's inside.

Posted February 27, 2010
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To conclude my series, this post will discuss the application and purpose of guild cultures. If you haven't already read my posts which define and discuss how you can influence culture, please refer to them in the January 2010 section.

According to the textbook listed below, it's known that when people are effectively socialized into the group and culture - that is to say, if they adopted or fit with the guild's values and norms - they tend to be much more satisfied and have a greater intention to stay*. A guild culture contributes to the overall happiness of its members. If the culture fits well with each of the members, members should feel more connected, committed and more a part of the guild.

Many times, the guild culture is what determines for a member if they will stay in a guild or not. Everyone has their own preferences, and each person fits into a different environment best. Some guild leaders get mad or upset if a member leaves, but they should realize that there may not have been something specifically wrong with the guild. Instead, perhaps the guild just wasn't the right one for them; perhaps the guild's culture didn't match the person. Realize that there is no one guild that would be able to happily house everyone in the GC, no matter how great it is.

I do not believe that any type of guild culture is good or bad. I do, however, believe that some guild cultures are more popularly sought out than others. While not everyone would fit with these cultures, from observation, I've found that more people would choose an active guild over a slow-moving one, a light-hearted/fun guild over a serious-toned one, and a graphically appealing guild over a design-starved one. Some areas that I've noticed are equally popular is literate versus semi-literate, private versus public, new versus established, and of course, theme preference varies from person to person. Each of these examples is a very broad description of a guild culture, and usually more factors come into play when defining your guild culture.

I will end the discussion on guild culture here, and I will leave it up to you to define and develop the culture that works best for your guild and its vision. I hope that this series will prove useful to your guild and its future.

*Some of the information from this blog post was found in the 2009 edition of the textbook "ORGB" by Nelson, D. & Quick, J.

Posted February 14, 2010
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Before I explain the ways that guild culture can be formed or changed, please read my earlier post which gave a background definition of guild culture. The post is from January 2010 and titled What is a guild culture?

A guild culture can be influenced in many ways, most of which lie in the hands of the leader. (Keep in mind that the leader may or may not be the person in the #1 council spot. This will be addressed in a later blog post.) The textbook listed at the bottom of this post states 5 main ways that leaders influence and establish culture*:

1. What leaders pay attention to*: That the leader focuses on, comments on, etc gives signals to the members as to what is important. (Do they focus on graphics? The literacy of members? etc.)
2. How leaders react to crises*: How a leader reacts to a crisis reveals again the values of the leader. The true side of someone may come out when they are thrown into an unfamiliar situation in which they have to act quickly. (For example, when a spammer comes on the board, what is their reaction? Or if there's a sudden decrease in members, how does the leader act?)
3. How leaders behave*: Members who oftentimes emulate the leader's actions and they look to the leader for cues for appropriate behavior. (Are they goofy? Chatty? Literate? etc.)
4. How leaders allocate rewards*: The types of rewards and purpose for rewards show what is important to the leader. To build a culture with rewards, the rewards and values must align with each other. (Are members shown appreciation for their efforts? Do members get trophies or a banner for participating in an activity? Does the leader give item or neopoint prizes? Note: item and neopoint prizes are against the Neopets Terms & Conditions.)
5. How leaders hire and fire individuals*: While this seems more like an business and corporate concept, it can also be applied to guilds in regards to referring. Number 2 in the next section of this post may further explain how this can be applied to guilds.

After a guild culture is already established, it can be difficult to change. How deeply ingrained a culture is in the group or the people is what causes this difficulty*. Acting against the guild culture may oftentimes feel unnatural to people. Furthermore, going against the behavioral norms established by the culture is usually shunned by the group. Unless there is a huge problem caused by your guild culture, I typically wouldn't recommend that you try to change it. Nevertheless, here are some ways to change a guild culture:

1. Get current members to change their values: This can be difficult because values of an individual are typically closely connected with their beliefs, thoughts, etc. Behavior is considered an artifact*, and can be easily changed, but for someone to adopt the behavior as part of themselves instead of thinking "I do it because I'm supposed to," you must give justifications for a change in behavior*. This way, members may understand the benefits of the change in behavior and adopt the values as their own.
2. Change the people: Get rid of the members who do not fit in with the guild culture, and work towards adopting new members who do*. I wouldn't recommend this method, as I believe it may cause conflicts. I do, however, believe that when referring, it's important to consider if a member will fit with your culture before you invite them or recommend that they join. (I will touch on this more in a later blog post).

To ensure that the culture you've established is reinforced, make sure that all aspects of a guild culture are consistent and parallel*. Ensuring that all artifacts send out the same message and that there are no conflicts is a great way to reinforce the culture and to avoid confusion.

*Much of the information from this blog post was found in the 2009 edition of the textbook "ORGB" by Nelson, D. & Quick, J.

Posted January 30, 2010
Edited January 31, 2009
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The concept of guild culture is present in every guild, whether you are familiar with it or not. In fact, guild cultures play a large role in determining the happiness of your members and the success of your guild. Some people might compare this concept to a corporate culture or organizational culture.

Put simply, a guild culture includes the underlying values, social norms, atmosphere, etc of a guild. Overall, a guild culture sums up the way members think, feel and act. According to the textbook listed below, there are three main levels of organizational culture (in this case, we're calling it guild culture). The three main levels are artifacts, values and assumptions*, each of which are described in more detail below.

The first and most visible aspect is the artifacts. Artifacts include things like guild mascots, guild stories, customs, traditions, etc. For example, when a member has a faerie quest, is it a custom for other members to help? Artifacts are usually easy to spot, but also less deeply ingrained in the culture of the guild (i.e., they can easily be changed)*.

The next level is the members' values. These can be evaluated on what members say are important and also on how members act. A lot of times, the guild welcome message is a good starting place for interpreting the guild values. The welcome message usually states the vision of the guild and lists what's important (How important is activity? or literacy? or being funny/goofy? etc)*.

The deepest level of a guild culture is the assumptions. Assumptions can be difficult to pinpoint because they are in the subconscious of guild members (i.e., members are not necessarily aware of them). Because of how deeply ingrained these are into each member, the assumptions may be difficult to change *.

Some examples of what might be included as aspects of a guild culture are as follows:

• Do the members believe that their input is often used?
• Who do the members hold to high esteem? People with graphics/coding skills? People who chat or post a lot? The council/leaders/owners?
• Is it usual to be online and in the guild for hours a day?
• Is lack of literacy or chatspeak frowned upon or accepted?
• Do the members respect others and/or expect the same level of respect in return?

Essentially, every way that the members act and everything that they believe about the guild form the guild culture.

This post is a very brief, very basic overview on what a guild culture is to help you to become more familiar with the topic. I will save the implications of guild cultures for a future blog post. For now, perhaps try to identify some aspects of the culture in your guild. Does the culture fit well with your goal/vision of the guild? What would you like to change about your guild's culture? These are some questions to consider. I find the topic of guild cultures - or organizational cultures - to be very interesting, and I hope you will too. Enjoy!

*Much of the information from this blog post was found in the 2009 edition of the textbook "ORGB" by Nelson, D. & Quick, J.

Posted January 17, 2010
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Having looked at a lot of guilds during my time in the GC, I've caught on to some codes that have become extremely overused. I hope to bring the use of these codes to your attention and to encourage you to find the right uses for them. Note that some people still love the effects that these codes provide, and some of this post is a matter of style preference.

DIV Hover Codes (aka Hover Blogs, etc) - You may be using this code to increase opacity or make a DIV visible on hover. For a while, this was a cool code to use, but it's become much less impressive as it's turned into a very conventional code. Furthermore, I often see DIV hover codes used when the layout would look better with the DIV fully visible. Make sure that your use of this code actually enhances your layout instead of detracts from it.

Bold, Italics, Strikethrough, Underline, etc - These text effects, if used too widely in a paragraph, can become extremely distracting and make your text hard to read. Instead of using a text effect every few words, only pick important words to enhance (perhaps a heading, username, etc).

Before you add a code to your petpage or guild layout, ensure that is has a purpose. It's not a good idea to add a code just because it's impressive, but it must work with the other components on your page. Usually, codes that are added to a page for pizzaz or flash do not quite fit and should not be used. With that in mind, good luck with your future coding!

Posted January 09, 2010
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In the spirit of the holidays, I've decided to give a small gift to the GC. The gift is that of feedback (and you all know how much I love feedback!). I've decided that I will spend time evaluating guilds in detail and giving feedback to leaders/owners/council members of the guilds. Hopefully, with the feedback, they will be able to improve their guilds for the future.

Here is how I intend for this to work:

1. You may neomail me to request to be reviewed.
2. I will then neomail you in return with an estimate of how long you would have to wait until I am free to evaluate your guild. Once I am ready, I will neomail you again to inform you or ask for an invite.
3. I will spend perhaps a day or two looking around your guild, and I may join (on a side) to take a look at the inter workings of your guild.
4. I will neomail you my overall impression of the guild and give detailed feedback, as well as possible ways to improve.
5. The results will NOT be posted on Collaborite as I intend for this to help you to improve your guild, not to give free promotion.

Here are some requirements:

• You must be a leader, owner or council member of your guild (and noticeably so - such as by a having a spot on council or being named as an owner on the webbie).
• If your guild is private, I must receive an invite on a side (which will be told later).
• Your guild must be at least a week old. This is to ensure that the guild is at least somewhat started, giving me something to evaluate. Also, this increases the chances of the guild remaining open while I review it.
• You must fill out and neomail me the request form below.
• Be patient! I want to give detailed feedback to everyone, and that could take time.

Request form:
Neomail the following form by clicking HERE (click) 1. Are you a leader/owner/council member of your guild? Please provide a link to prove so. (If you have questions on what would suffice, just ask) 2. Would you accept if I temporarily join your guild on a side account in order to give you a more detailed and accurate evaluation? 3. Is your guild private? 4. What are some things you would like me to focus most specifically on when evaluating?
Everyone who meets the requirements and sends in a form before January 1st, 2010 will be evaluated, but once again, please be patient. Happy holidays! (Requests for reviews closed on January 1st, 2010)

Posted December 24, 2009
Edited December 26, 2009
Edited February 27, 2010
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In this post, I'm going to play a bit of a devil's advocate. I notice that, typically, when people are on break from school, there is a sudden increase in guild openings. While this is a good idea because you get more time for preparing and recruiting, there are some down sides that I urge you to consider.

There are two factors that I believe heavily play into a decision to open during break. First, you must consider your ability to continue your responsibilities after break. Second, you must consider the effect that opening over break will have on your guild's activity in the long run.

If you have time to create a guild during break, decide if you would have the time to continue the work after your break is over. Opening a guild is a lot of work, but running a guild is a continuous commitment which takes continuous effort; your responsibilities as a leader do not end when your break ends. If you would be unable to sustain the level of dedication to your guild once your break ends, perhaps you should reconsider opening a guild.

Opening a guild over break may have long-term effects, as well. (Note: This fact is based on my personal observation and insight.) Since many people are on break at this time, there are many more people online who are not usually active in the GC. Because of their newly found free time, they may have decided to find and join a guild. Again, once school starts back up, will they still have that amount of available time, or will they go inactive?

Furthermore, if you open a guild during break, you may have a sudden burst of activity and an increase in members that may lead to a false impression of your guild. Once break ends, activity will most-likely decrease because members get busy. Some members may then start to complain that the guild has turned for the worse. In short, the sudden growth and activity in your guild which is provided by the break may set the bar high and be hard to maintain.

With these considerations brought to light, think about their application to your guild opening. Perhaps these considerations will not be relevant for you, but I hope that they will at least help a few people make a more informed and prepared decision before opening a guild during break.

Posted December 21, 2009
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For this post, I will be referring to another document, written by Jessitude: Jess's Guide to Guild Advertising (click). I find this guide to include some of the most important tips about guild advertising and would like to share it as well as comment on some of the suggestions. In an attempt to be concise, I sorted these tips into three groups: (1) represent your guild well, (2) give people your time, and (3) pay attention.

Represent your Guild Well: This group includes my comments about Tip #1: Do NOT Complain and Whine, Tip #4: Don't Beg and Ask Questions, and Tip #7: DON'T SPAM!
You are a representative of your guild to the GC. People who are not in your guild will most likely associate your actions with those of the entire guild. Whining and complaining on the GC will only give people a negative impression of you as a leader or member, as will spamming or begging. I very much agree with all of the comments from Jess on each of these issues so I highly recommend that you read them and follow them when advertising.

To add on to Jess's tip about spamming, don't post an advertisement on a board of someone who is not looking for a guild, as it is considered rude and accomplishes nothing. Save the time and just don't spam.

A general summary of these rules: don't act immature, as it will only drive potential members away.

Give People your Time: This group includes my comments about Tip #2: Don't "Ad n Run", Tip #3: Stay and Chat, and Tip #5: At Least Have an Ad
When advertising, I tend to find it more effective to make conversation than to simply post. If you "ad n run," you're showing the guildless person - as well as anyone else around - that you don't care about them as a member. Rather, you are showing everyone that you care more about the one point addition to your member count (whether this is true or not, this is the impression you give). A premade advertisement has the same effect, but a custom message shows that that you are willing to spend some time on each person. If you give someone your time, you show that you care. This will help you get members, as people tend to desire a guild where they will be valued.

To quickly go against Jess's tip, I don't think it's necessary to have an ad. While an ad is better than "PLZ JOIN!!!1!", creating your own message is better than any advertisement. Custom messages can be created in seconds, so it can usually be done even when in a time crunch. Just don't forget to include a guild link (or a webbie or information page) in your custom message!

Pay Attention: This group includes my comments about Tip #6: Read the First Post!, Tip #8: Pay Attention To Who You're Advertising To, Tip #9: DO NOT Offer Anything You Can't Give
Tip #6 is the most important and extremely easy to follow! When you go to a guildless board, first make sure that your guild fits the description of what the board maker is looking for. If you ignore their first post(s), you are being disrespectful. You are wasting your time and will not accomplish anything as far as gaining members, so please take those 5 seconds to read the first post; It makes a huge difference.

Reading the first post can also give you an idea of who the person would be as a member. Is that person someone you would want in your guild? Or do you believe they would fit in your guild well? It may sound rude, but it's important to only advertise to those that you want in your guild. Remember that advertising is a two way street, and if you don't believe that the person would be a good member, don't waste your time.

Furthermore, it's important to stay honest about your guild, as Jess says in her guide. Don't say that your guild offers something that it doesn't, and don't stretch the truth just to fit with that the board maker requests.

In Conclusion...
I think Jess has created a great guide for advertising and I recommend that you all read it! While the guide seems to be slightly directed towards guild leaders, the tips are great for all members who are advertising. Keep in mind that these tips and suggestions are just that: tips and suggestions. They may help you in your quest for members, but they are not going to work magic.

Posted December 5, 2009
Edited December 5, 2009
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There are many guild guides, but few of them touch on poll making. Polls are a great feature, but guild leaders and council members don't use polls to their full potential. In this post, I intend to give a few tips on poll making.

DO update polls often - Keeping a guild updated is crucial. No one likes to see a poll that's been up for weeks and is not accumulating any more votes. On the other hand, make sure to give members enough time to vote. My recommendation (depending on the activeness of the guild) is to add a new poll every 5-12 days.

DON'T feel required to fill up all of the options - Yes, you have 5 slots for answers, but don't feel obligated to use them all. It's better to have a few good options than a lot of irrelevant ones.

DO use polls for feedback - Polls are a great resource for you to get quick input from members. Since polls are anonymous, members can more freely share their opinions. Use polls to your advantage by asking about important guild issues and allow your members to have a say.

DON'T use polls as the sole resource for decision making - Poll results can be skewed or unrepresentative of the guild for a few reasons, so it's unwise to base all of your decisions on poll results. Furthermore, polls are only one component of information gathering, and when you have more information, you can make a better decision.

DO add some fun polls - Having serious poll after serious poll is not fun. Add in some silly polls to lighten the mood!

DON'T make loaded questions - Loaded questions are ones that have bias or sway people towards a certain answer. An example would be "Are you a good member who participates in activities?" Usually, these questions are not intentionally created to have a bias, but they should be avoided if possible.

DO include all members - Adding inside jokes to a poll could be fun, but only for the members involved. This also applies to featuring members in guild polls. Try to include everyone and avoid making your guild cliquey.

DON'T be afraid to go poll-less. I would say that it's better to have no poll than an inactive or useless poll.

Overall, keep these suggestions in mind when creating guild polls, and hopefully you can get as much benefit from them as possible.

Posted November 25, 2009
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How many of you have seen boards with the topic "stop spending so much time on Neopets because you're wasting your life"? I would believe that most of you have seen such a board at least once before. A little while ago, I was on a board with with this topic and I started a debate, listing off why Neopets, and guilds in particular, are not a waste of time (at least for me), and that sparked the idea for this blog post. In this post, I will discuss some of the benefits of Neopets guilds.

1. Friendship. Hands down, I've made some real friends on Neopets, most specifically from my guild(s). Guilds can provide an environment that allow you to form a close-knit, family-like group in a short period of time. I can name a few people that I'd met through guilds 2 or 3 years ago who I still keep in touch with. The friends that I've made on Neopets have had a positive impact in my life, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of you feel the same. Friendships like this are in no way a waste.

2. Design Knowledge. Guilds provide a great introduction to the world of design (this includes both graphic design and coding). Not only have I gotten joy out of graphic design and found it to be a real hobby, but my design knowledge is applicable in real life: I have used web design to create sites for class presentations, my resume includes "Proficient in HTML and CSS", and I will be using my graphics and coding knowledge to create an online job search portfolio. (For those of you who are not at this stage in your life, sorry to bore you.) Furthermore, I know some people who have found a love for graphic design starting in the GC, and end up going into that field for a career. Finally, I have seen many people in the GC who have real talent; some 13 year olds can design just as well as professional web designers and graphics artists. This says something good about guilds related to graphic and web design.

3. Leadership Skills. I owned my first guild when I was about 11 years old. Granted, I was a bit of a newbie, but being put into a leadership role so young is amazingly beneficial! You learn responsibility, time management, commitment, effective listening skills, organization, etc. Leading guilds is a great way to get experience and feedback about your leadership style in a virtually risk-free environment. In short, I think of myself as a good leader in real life, and guilds undoubtedly played a role in my leadership growth.

4. Cultural Knowledge. Being able to talk to people from all across the world is an amazing opportunity. Being in a guild allows you to speak with people who you otherwise might not, and you have a chance to learn about their culture and lifestyle. Business-wise, having cultural knowledge is invaluable because of the increasing amount of globalization. Otherwise, it's just generally interesting!

5. Communication Skills. Communication skills are something that you'll use in life every day. To some people they come naturally, but to some they don't. Talking in guilds and in the GC are great ways to learn [and practice] effective communication skills. [This includes literacy as well.]

6. A Place to Relax. I can't forget to say that guilds are a general source of fun, and they provide many people with a break from their hectic lives.

Learning the skills listed above and gaining those friendships has been nowhere near a waste of time for me, and I don't regret the time that I've spent on Neopets. Bear in mind, I used to spend hours upon hours at my guild every day. I am not suggesting that you all to do the same. Instead, find the right amount of time that works for you and your lifestyle.

Posted November 16, 2009
Edited November 17, 2009
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For this post, I decided to share one of my all-time favorite guild board activities: The Food (or item) Toss.

Much like a food fight in real life, you take food and "throw" it at other people. Item tosses are the same, but using non-food items - any item theme can work. I know some of you may have done this before or know a variation of these rules, but here's the basic set up for how I used to play:

When there are a large amount of members on the guild message board (works best with at least 4 people. The more the better), bring up the suggestion to start a food or item toss. Ask who wants to participate and explain how to play if needed. Make a list of all the members who are participating (don't forget to add your own username to the list!). Next, pick a time to start and end the toss. It's best to give people about 15 minutes before the toss starts to stock up their inventories. Also, I've found that a 10 minute food toss works best. Announce the times on the board in a format similar to "Food fight at 3:15pm NST! It will last for 10 minutes (until 3:25pm NST). All of the following members are participating: (Then list all of the usernames of the participating members.)".

While you are waiting for the fight to begin, stock up your inventory with items that you intend to throw. Once the designated start time arrives, announce it on the guild board and start sending your items to other members on the list. Keep tossing your items to other players until the time is up. Once the fight is over, you get to keep what you have!

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• You may regift! Keep items in circulation - this is easiest and still fun.
• Be nice... if someone sends you something, send an item back. This way, it's fun for everyone.
• If people send you items and you are not participating, it's common courtesy to reject the items to return them to the original owner.
• If you want, send some funny, laugh-worthy items to make the toss more fun.

I've checked all of the Neopets rules that I could find as well as the guild FAQ to determine if this is in accordance with the Neopets rules. So far, I found that there is nothing against it. Sending items to friends is allowed, and this may fall under that category. If anyone knows more information about the rules, please let me know.

Food tosses are common activities during guild events, but they can be played at any time. They are simple enough that any member can run it; a food toss doesn't necessarily require an owner on the board. It's generally a great way to liven up the guild message board as well as have some simple fun. So go out there and start tossing!

Posted November 8, 2009
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For those of you who are trying to learn how to make graphics or coding, I'd like supply you with some tips that may help you with your progress. As a little disclaimer, I realize that I'm not the best at graphics or coding, but I feel that my experience could potentially help some people out.

First of all, you need to possess the will to improve. Sometimes the progress is slow. It takes time and patience to learn graphics and coding so don't get frustrated and give up. Just keep working on it!

Observe others. If you see a specific style or technique that you like, give it a try on your own. One of the best ways to learn graphics and coding is to see what other skilled designers are doing and try to imitate that. If you see some great coding, try viewing the source code to understand how the code works. (Note: I stress the word understand because I do not mean to copy or steal code. Stealing helps you in no way. Instead, use the coding of others as a means to learn.)

Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you've run into a problem with coding or your graphics program, ask someone! You can usually get some help from the Help Chat, from neofriends or possibly from the Guild Chat. Please be patient when asking for help, and don't beg or pester people. Others won't appreciate it, and you'll probably receive less help in the end. Furthermore, I suggest that you first try to solve whatever problem that you have on your own. If you attempt the work yourself before running to others, you are forced to think critically and that will help you in the long run.

Actually do the work yourself. Asking someone to code a layout for you will not teach you how to code. If you choose this method, you will always be dependent on others to do your graphics or coding. Instead, perhaps ask someone to explain how do complete the task you're working on. I do understand that some people's ultimate goal is not to learn graphics or coding, and I am not referring to them.

Get as much feedback as you can... and listen to it. Put simply, everyone has something to improve on; No one's work is completely flawless. This is why everyone can benefit from feedback. Feedback can help you to spot areas of your work that need improvement. Feedback may also help you to spot something in your graphics or coding that you didn't see on your own. For example, if a petpage is not coded well for all screen resolutions, you may not realize this until someone else tells you. Furthermore, it's always good to get other perspectives. Of course, feedback is only someone else's opinion, so don't take offense to what other people say. Remember that you always have the choice to overrule the feedback. Ultimately, it is your artwork so make it what you want.

Finally, remember that practice makes perfect. Yes, that cliche quote does apply. Learning is a process, and you may see your skills develop over time, but only with experience.

I hope that some people can find use in my suggestions. Good luck and have fun!

Posted November 2, 2009
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I probably don't have to make a post like this, since most of you seem not to have such a problem, but it couldn't hurt to make people more aware. Before I write anything, I'd like to reinforce the fact that I never mean to bash anyone or their work and opinions... But this issue is one I feel needs to be addressed.

Gossip pages have an incredible presence in the GC. You can tell if a page is a gossip page usually if the writer hides his/her identity, promises to give you the "juiciest news," or actually calls the page a gossip page.

Sure, gossip pages can be a great source of entertainment or information if you decide to read them, but take the information on them with a grain of salt. Treat them more like tabloids. They give you the "news" but usually that news is exaggerated or one sided. If a recent event or happening is posted on a gossip page, be aware that you may not be given the full story. Don't believe everything you read on the gossip pages, but gather your own information and make your own judgments about the people and guilds of which they speak.

Posted October 25, 2009
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I'm pretty sure that everyone, or most people, want an active guild. Not surprisingly, active guilds require work and commitment on the members' part, not just the leader's. Here are some simple things that you as a member can do that may help make and keep your guild active.

To give some background, I noticed that people tend to post when other people are around (or they decide not to post when they think no one is around). The tips given below are ways to make the presence of yourself and others known so that some conversations on the guild boards can get started. (Note: This post does not cover recruitment, and it assumes that you already have other members in your guild)

1. First things first, actually check on your guild. See if anyone is on the message board to talk to. If so, post a message! If you can't stay for long, still stop by. If you're busy, try to multi-task.
2. If no one is on when you check, post anyways. An example of what you can post is as follows: "Hey! I'm just letting you know that I'm on. If anyone comes on and wants to chat, post or neomail me." Of course, check back on the boards often in case someone has posted, and if someone has neomailed you, tell them you're coming then go to the guild message board.
3. If someone was at the guild board recently, send them a neomail to let them know you're on. If they are still on Neopets, they may be lurking or wandering around on other pages. They might not know that anyone is in the guild at the moment. If you alert them that you are available to chat with, they may stop by, making the boards active again.
4. Always refrain from posting "ugg, no one is here!" or "Why is this guild so inactive!?" There is really no point to these messages, but they only bring people's attitudes down. These messages may also make the guild seem more inactive than it really is, discouraging other members.
5. Finally, don't just disappear. Yes, we all have those moments when we "poof," but it's common courtesy to let someone know that you're leaving ahead of time. Even if no one is on, leave a post saying that you're logging off. That way, people are not left wondering if you are present or not.

As a slight tangent, I also want to suggest that you be involved in the guild conversation. That means, once the conversation is started, focus on that, just as you would when talking to someone in person. Refresh the page regularly so you may supply a prompt response to your fellow guild member. This, I see, is a big determinant in the activeness of a guild.

All in all, a little effort can go a long way. Bear in mind that these tips are not a cure-all but may still help your guild's level of activity. Of course, you can spread the word about these tips to your fellow members. While one person can make a difference, usually it takes more to turn the guild around (or simply keep it active). Good luck, and happy chatting!

Posted October 21, 2009
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One topic that I've thought of many times before is what makes a good leader. While there are a lot of qualities and mindsets that a leader might need to make a good guild, there are three that seem to trump the rest: Dedication, perserverance, and having a vision.

Dedication: I also call this "commitment." Leaders need to be dedicated to their guild and their members. By dedicated, I mean they should feel that the guild is important to them. This includes doing whatever needs to be done in order for your guild to succeed (of course, stay within the rules and moral codes - don't steal, etc!). Commitment also means that you should not be leading more than one guild at a time, or be planning for your next guild before this one is even closed. Remember, leaders are always watched by their members, and they are often set as looked to as an example. If a leader does not make the guild a priority, how can the members?

Perseverance: I deem this the reason why some guilds only last a week or two. Some leaders lack the ability or willingness to push through the hard times. Maybe their own life got unexpectedly busy, the guild didn't get as many members as they expected, the members aren't as active as they would have hoped, or maybe a co-owner quit. Whatever the reason might be, leaders need to use their abilities and resources to try and push through the problem. If you don't think you can handle the hard times that you'll have with a guild, don't make it! I'm willing to bet that every leader has run into some difficulty some time before. Remember, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. They don't quit.

A Vision: Sure, this isn't a quality, but it's certainly a necessity for any successful leader. To define this more narrowly, by "a vision," I mean an idea of where the leader wants the guild to go. Why are they creating the guild? What do they want out of it? This should be determined before the guild is even created, and every action that the leader takes should follow this vision. For example, if your vision is to get as many members as possible, you should focus yourself on referring, encouraging your members to refer, and keeping your current members happy so they don't leave. I can go on and on about guild visions, but I'll keep this as a summary, and I might touch on it again in the future.

In my opinion, if a leader has these three things, their guild will be a success (whatever they believe success is). With these, everything else will follow and just fit into place. For example, if a leader is dedicated and they need graphics for the guild, that leader would find someone to help with graphics or give it a shot on their own. So please, before you create a guild, think about these three qualities/mindsets. If you don't have them, you may need to do some extra preparing before you open your guild.

Posted October 18, 2009
Edited October 18, 2009
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Hello everyone, and welcome to my GC blog! Some of you might be wondering what a GC blog is (I'm not sure if one has existed before), but let me explain it for you. This blog will be much like any other blog on the internet, except the focus of mine will be on the Neopets GC and guilds. On this page, you'll be able to read up on some of my views and opinions and I'll also provide some tips for leaders, members and the guildless.

I do want to make clear that this is not a gossip page. I typically don't follow the gossip in the GC and I don't intend to start. I also don't feel like seeing how much drama I can cause. Instead, I am looking to make a good-natured, helpful page. This is why I will not be hiding my identity; I don't plan to say anything that I'd want to hide from.

With that, let me give you a small introduction on myself. I go by Lucky, and I am a 20 year old college student studying marketing and advertising. I've been playing Neopets since I was 11 years old, though I have definitely taken some years off from playing. A couple years back, I created a guild called Neo Fusion. This guild lasted for about a year and a half, and is definitely one of the best guilds I've ever been in. I credit that to the members. I have not found the right place for me since, at least, not one that's been long-lasting. I decided to make this GC blog because I'm in a bit of an intermediary between guilds, so I have the time.

You can expect updates for this blog fairly often (at least once a week), so please stop by in the future! If you have any ideas, tips, suggestions, comments, etc, please let me know. I would definitely love to hear from the readers.

Posted October 17, 2009
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If you are sending a comment in response to a particular post, please indicate in your comment which post it is about so readers can more clearly follow (Indicate by post name, post date or both - both is preferred). If you wish to remain anonymous, please say so in your neomail, otherwise, your username will be displayed by default. Please be as literate as possible when sending a comment. Your comment will be dated by when you sent it.

Note: I reserve the right to withhold any comments from display on this page. Bear in mind, I will not abuse this privilege, and I will be fair to all opinions. If your comment is too difficult to read (as far as literacy), I may ask you to retype it before I display it on this page since this page is a literate one. Also, please be patient. It may take me a day or two before your comment is added.

softballguardian » October 18, 2009 Hey, I love the GC! I really think that is going to help with my guild. theflightcaptain » October 19, 2009 I cannot express how vividly impressed I am by your blog. This is truly helpful to the guildies - and as a leader of six years, I know how hard it is to find information like this. ;P I look forward to reading more, keep up the excellent work! -Blazeh cammysmiles » October 25, 2009 Wow, I really like Collaborite! I will definately be keeping up on fresh blogs. Awesome job on the layout! Also; Literacy has always been a key for me, and I love to see someone use it as well as you do! -Cammy (cammysmiles) flyoddd » November 19, 2009 I completely agree with your new post. Being the owner of my guild, Alsos, is a great thing. Every day after school I can check in on my guild and see members making friends, working together and really just competing in a positive atmosphere. This is a vast difference from the cut throat world most of us live in. Keep up the good work love your blog! -Steve [This was in regards to the "Guilds are not a Waste" post from November 16th] reemacute97 » December 1, 2009 Wow Lucky! Your blogging skills are absolutely amazing. I'm very jealous. You're informative & descriptive; all things that make a good blog! Anyone looking to make a good guild? I'll always answer that question; look at Lucky's blog! Awesome blog, keep up the good work. =D sharming » January 16, 2010 I totally agree, couldn't agree more. I'm so sick of people overusing these codes, especially the hover code. It was cool and underused in like, november 09 but around now people just use "hover here" images waaay too much and they make it look like they've got no content on the front page. -_- Love the blog. xx Char [This was in regards to the "Coding No-Nos" post from January 9th] kiki_loves_chocolate » February 17, 2010 Wow! This blog totally knocks my socks off. Bravo, Lucky! I really appreciate all the effort you have put into Collaborite. I think it is really benefical to everyone on Neopets (from the illiterate n00bs to the older accounts) who loves to GC and be active in their guild. I find that it really supplies the reader with well thought out advice - which is just what Neopians need. Thank you for having such a great vocabulary and using it for the common people! ^^ pvingal » March 31, 2010 So many guilds say that they're unique & different. You can never really tell until you join & the guild has everything that every other guild in Neopia has. I just realized that I am one of those owners who calls their guild "unique." But, in my defense, everyone does say that my guild is unique. I've even created a new theme! (: I hope that counts as different for all of ya. ~Jenna [This was in regards to the "Guilds: Stop Being Unique!" post from March 30th] kiki_loves_chocolate » April 20, 2010 I just wanted to say (oh yes lurkers, I comment quite often on Lucky's blog) that Less Is More was a very good post. I had been thinking about that a few days before you wrote it. READING MY MIND AGAIN, ARE WE? Guilds are always trying to make new activities and such. And some of them are lame because the maker is trying to crank them out. So just stop making activities and concentrate on your current activities or pages or whatever. Anyway, as always, you ROCK Lucky. :3 ---Kat lickingbranches » May 1, 2010 I read a blog of yours that was about how you aren't wasting your time playing on Neopets. THANK YOU for saying that! I've been thinking that Neopets has truly given me better qualities (well, the people on it) such as how to communicate with others, leadership skills, decision-making skills, and of course graphic and coding skills. I was beginning to doubt that Neopets was really worth it, but after I read what I already know, it really helped. Thanks again.

o0avatar_faerie0o » October 19, 2009 OMG I totally have never met Lucky before (haha, just kidding). I just wanted to say that as long as I've known Lucky, I know that this blog will go far! Please continue to support her, and Lucky - "Keep up the good work!! vivasique » October 21, 2009 You're a very awesome and sincere person from what I know, and your page, /all of it/, is very well written. x3 miss_understood_3456 » November 17, 2009 Awesome page you have here. I'd prefer to read your helpful advice over a trashy gossip page any day. Keep up the great work! (: interestfree » November 26, 2009 Your page is very informative and I suggest younger GC users read about it, maybe we'd have some better guilds & chats in the GC. Keep up the great work! xdances » November 29, 2009 this is the most awesomes GC guide i've ever seen! excellent work lucky! you're awesome! ;D i hope heaps of people use it because it will really help! i like the food toss activity, it sounds uber fun! love ayla, toodles, xo. ballerinafaerie » December 12, 2009 Wow Lucky your blog has really taken off since I first saw it. Congrats and keep up the good work. (: katyownsyou__ » January 18, 2009 Your blog is amazing! I own a guild review site and after reading your current entry[Jan 2010] I agreed with most of what you had written, in regards to guild culture. This will definitely help me when I review guilds and will probably refer back to your blog for ideas or as a way to get me on track and to review the more important aspects of a guild rather than whether their guild layout is "snazzy". -Katy at Abstruse o0avatar_faerie0o » March 19, 2010 Traits of the Great: Excellent post! One of your best yet. Everyone will be able to learn something from this article. I can't wait to see the follow-up! kiki_loves_chocolate » April 2, 2010 In regards to the April Fools post, you totally had me there for a second! xD I really thought Collaborite was going to the dark side. Anyway, you are doing really good Lucky, keep up the work. ~ Kat flyoddd » April 19, 2010 (In regards to your post 'Less is More') While I agree with your statement that updating current activities can be beneficial to your guild. To gain new members on neopets sadly requires a set group of activities that many members almost demand. As a designer of guilds it becomes frustrating seeing that people aren't willing to participate in your well thought out activities and instead demand things such as 1 Neopoint auctions and newbie packs. It is rare I truly see a guild that is able to survive without the "basics" that all guild are demanded to posses. I have mailed you before and I still enjoy reading your work. -Steve Anonymous » April 28, 2010 Individuality: If everyone may be hating and gaining up on one person, do not be afraid to stand up to them and stick up for your friend. [This was in addition to the "Admirable Traits from the GC" post from April 27th] kiki_loves_chocolate » July 28, 2010 LUCKY! I'm so glad you are back. I need my daily dose of GC expertise. :] Thanks for coming back & keep up the good work, yada yada. - Kat

Neomail: Lucky6189 (click)

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