Do visitors use the contact form for questions they should be posting to the forum?

One of my "forum annoyances" is when visitors--and sometimes even members!--will use the Contact Form to send me questions or announcements they really should have posted themselves. I added a paragraph to the text of the page asking them not to do that, to register and make a post, but I still get these messages. Do you answer as best you can in hopes of making a friendly impression, or do you try to get them to post?

 

That have never happened to me but if it would I think I would answer there questions and ask them to post in the forum in the future when they have similar questions.

 

I used to get guests (a.k.a. would-be members but don't know they have to register) use the Contact Us form to ask their questions. I have since modified the Contact Us template with a little note:

View attachment 186

Obviously, I would prefer that they ask their Lineolated Parakeet questions on the forum, so I give them brief instructions regarding how to register, and then direct them to the "How to create a post or thread" instructional thread/video.
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I get technical questions sent to my Contact Us email despite having a message on the Contact Us page saying any technical questions should be asked in Technobabble (and it is linked to the forum). At first I used to answer them, now I just say something like "As stated on the Contact Us form, all technical questions need to be asked in Technobabble - http://www.mysite.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4 . This is so the best person to answer your question may do so."

 

Nick, Lynne, has your contact form message cut down on the number of misdirected questions you get, or are you still getting them also?

 

If I'm recalling correctly, I don't think I have received any topic-related inquiries through my Contact form ever since I made the change. It has been 100% effective since I put the little note up.

 

I'm betting it's because you have a link to a tutorial on how to make a new post; that's the one thing I just realized my explanation lacks. I'll have to add one and see if it does the trick!

 

I have a message on my contact form and once in a while I'll receive one question on it. Another thing I'll often get is a reply to my welcome PM asking a question. I tell the person to ask their question on the forums so more people can provide answers.

 

Yep, the tutorial helps a bunch. It's very baby-step like, but you're welcome to check it out and use any sections you want: How to post and use the forum
I even made a short video tutorial, which you are welcome to use (if needed, I can send the files your way): How to post a thread - LineolatedParakeet.net

 

I don't think I get as many questions as I did before. I think sometimes users are just post shy. If I think it's a case of being post shy for whatever reason (a language barrier may be one), then I will try to help the user. One of the problems I have though is some users ask PC specific questions and I have to tell them I'm the wrong person to ask because I'm a Mac user. I'm not willing to go figure out PC things for users when I know my users in the forums could answer the question so easily.

 

Many visitors (possible clients) use the contact form at Setsou just for graphic requests; otherwise, if they're a member, they'll post on the forums.

 

Today I got spam through the contact form from a SEO company looking for work

 

It happens sometimes but I just ignore them. It's still important imho to have a contact form. I would say 40% of them are legit contacts but normally they are important such as login or account problems. At HF I get a lot of requests to "hack" for people but they get trashed.

 

Yeah, but if a SEO company has to drum up business by spamming contact forms, there must be something wrong with their SEO technique

 

I usually get a PM instead. Sometimes I will answer them and sometimes I will redirect them to the correct forum. But as a whole, my contact forms usual go unused.

 

I finally disabled guest ability to use the contact us form. I was getting everything from spam - questions - introduction post,,,,,,. People have to be a member and logged in to be able to use the contact us form.

Sometimes I will answer, sometimes not. When I do not answer I'll send them a link to the site information forum section.

I get so much email, I do not have time to read it all. My Youtube email account has about 10,000 unread messages in it. That is about 5 months worth. Then there is mt work email, my personal email from friends or family, then add to that the contact us form,,,,. One of my email accounts has about 15,000 unread messages. So that is a total of about 25,000 unread messages. I probably get close to around 25,000 - 30,000 emails every 5 - 6 months.

 

Interestingly enough, I'm having the opposite problem - my members don't (or won't) use the "Contact Us" form at all. Rather than contacting me by way of a private method of communication, the vast majority of my memberbase would rather post their personal issues publicly... for all to see. It's frustrating.

 

Yes they do.

I have a page for each forum service that I provide, with links to the private forums where they can post and only they and I will see it. - one for custom forum themes, another for forum services such as vB installations, mod installations, vB upgrades, etc; and another for customizations of my free themes. They're very visible, plus there are links to them all over the site.

Dontcha know, I get emails through contact us anyway.

 

Most of the contact we get through our Contact form are site-related issues. All I have is a simple message saying to not ask about game issues:

Below there are additional instructions about contacting us via the forums and where to post specific game issues. (Our contact page is on the website.)