Message Board Hosts

Host Guidelines
We appreciate the passion and enthusiasm of our message board hosts. However, to keep the boards consistent, we have developed these guidelines that all message board hosts must follow. Please contact community directors for the board you're interested in if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Rules of Conduct
Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page - for the full list of Message Board Usage Policy/Guidelines. Hosts are expected to familiarize themselves with these and abide by them. Our hosts are not required to enforce such guidelines, but we do ask that you notify a director should a situation come up that you feel is questionable. The P&B -Everything Pregnancy staff is available to make judgment calls at any time (see contact links below), especially when the line of what is appropriate isn't clear.

While browsing the forum index, you will notice that hosts names are listed for the boards in which they are acting as hosts under the column heading ˜moderator". "Moderator" is a common message board title assigned to individuals working in a leadership/assistance position within their forum, and is the term used by message boards when setting up the main page layout for this site. While moderator is a widely accepted and understood title, difficulties have arisen in the past where the name 'moderator' was mistakenly perceived to mean 'mediator'. This misconception left our forum leaders feeling dutifully compelled to solve disputes, act as a neutral, middle party, and resolve conflicts arising within their forums. As a result, in an effort to better define the expected role of the forum leaders, we prefer to use the term "host" within this community.

Heated debates and discussions will naturally arise within any given forum, and are acceptable, provided they do not evolve into personal attacks, derogatory comments or abusive conduct. Should hosts become aware of flaming between members or group, they are advised to alert the administrative members for the site so that the issue can be handled appropriately where needed. There is no need for hosts to intervene in the conflict, or feel compelled to solve the dispute.

Host Do's & Don't's
All site policies are set by SheKnows.

<>If a situation arises that you aren't sure how to handle, or you aren't sure how to answer someone, immediately contact your community director for direction, assistance and intervention, if needed. Never flame or scold another member. Take the high road or ask for help.

<>Maintain professionalism at all times. Anything you do as host reflects on you, on P&B, and on our other sites.

<>Never discuss any company-related information (including but not limited to, personal information about the staff, future plans for the site, or anything else like this). No member of the SheKnows staff will discuss this with you so if someone acts like they are part of our staff, please contact Betsy or Nancy at feedback@sheknowsllc.com right away.

<>Refer any site or section-specific questions, concerns, complaints, feedback, etc. to SheKnows staff, forwarding a copy of any such emails you receive.

<>When you post a note to a SheKnows message board as an approved Host, sign your emails as "Your Name, XYZ Host," or "Your Name, XYZ Message Board Host," where XYZ is the particular section you are hosting. Example, Betsy, Hot Button Issues Host.

<>You may learn personal, sensitive information about fellow community members. It is vital that you are careful to keep confidences. NEVER gossip about other members behind their backs in chat or private messaging.

<>It's okay to talk about your own personal web site inside chat or in the message boards, but not to the point where you promote your site over SheKnows sites. The point is to keep people coming back to our sites to build a strong community with common interests.

Tips for hosts
Hosts must adhere to our host guidelines to maintain their status. This ensures consistency, maintains the goals and purposes of the site and sections, and keeps our community positive and healthy for everyone.

We will work with our hosts to give them guidance with suggestions and tips. Tips for hosts:

1. Always introduce yourself to new visitors coming to your board. That way, people know who can help them should they need assistance, and they will feel more comfortable coming into a new place.

2. After greeting the newcomer, give the person a short bio on yourself and then encourage other regulars to do the same. This makes the person feel welcome. Ask them general questions such as where they are from, their age, and their interest in that particular topic. Depending on their replies, it is then much easier to keep the conversation flowing around the various topics.

3. You can be especially helpful as a host if you are able to refer people to articles and resources on the various SheKnows sites (Geoparent, Pregnancy & Baby, Chef Mom, SheKnows, Reality TV Magazine & Soap Opera Fan) that answer their specific questions.

We have no problem with people being referred to off-network links for information, when appropriate. But keep in mind also that we have thousands of articles on a variety of topics of interest to parents right on our sites, and they can be accessed through the search boxes prominently displayed on each site, or through the site directories. Take some time to browse the sites and acquaint yourself with what we have to offer, so that it comes easily to you when you are on a quest for information that might help out visitors to your board.

4. Update visitors on web site news, especially for those who don't frequent the site often.

5. Watch for inconsistencies in conversation. Sometimes people don't tell you the whole truth and support is given in areas where it shouldn't be given.

6. Be very careful how you handle touchy areas of someone's personal life. Know the difference between supporting and endorsing -- we can support a person while not encouraging or endorsing actions that we might not agree with.

7. Draw lurkers out of silence if possible, but don't badger them.

8. Try to keep the conversation flowing, but let people have their private conversations if they want. You don't have to do all the talking. Consider yourself a guide, and a valued member of our community.

9. Have fun!

10. If you would like to be a host, please fill out this hosting application:
Send an email to Littlemsmom with the subject heading "EP Host" and the answers to the following questions:

- Do you have a post count of at least 250?
- Are you a regular poster on the board you want to host?
- What board would you like to host?
- What is your first name?
- What is your user name on the board?
- Do you have any previous hosting experience?
- What time can you commit to hosting this board?
- Will you commit to checking into the Community Leaders forum AT LEAST once a week?
- What qualities do you have that you think would make you a good host for this board?

Everything Pregnancy contact info:

Community Director - Krystal (Littlemsmom)
Assistant Community Director - Heather Lynne (Airforcewife2008)

SheKnows Admin - boards@sheknowsllc.com
Feedback - feedback@sheknowsllc.com