First some clarifications,
Don't most people who get the Public beta email, get a private Beta one first?
Hey everyone!
The Code Golf & Programming Puzzles Stack Exchange site, for code
golfers and for those who interested in code golfing (from beginners
to experts), and programming puzzles, is now in private beta.
Since you committed to the site, we’ve granted you access at:
http://codegolf.stackexchange.com
Please help us fill up the site with awesome questions and answers so
that when we open to the public, the site will be stocked and ready to
go. The questions on the home page when we launch to the public will
set the tone and topic of the site for a long time, so make them
great!
FAQ
Q: Why am I getting this email?
A: Because you committed to support
this new site on Area 51.
Q: Who can access the site during the private beta?
A: Only the 211
people who committed to it.
Q: How do I log in?
A: Use the same Open ID you use for other Stack
Exchange sites. You will be creating a new account on
codegolf.stackexchange.com, but it will be automatically associated
with your account on other sites from the network.
Q: When will the private beta end?
A: The private beta will end and
the site will be opened to the public in exactly one week, at 7 PM UTC
on Thursday, February 3.
Q: How can I help the site succeed?
A: During the private beta, ask
questions, answer questions, tag questions, edit questions, and vote.
Q: What else?
A: The minute the public beta opens on February 3,
invite your friends. Spread the word via Twitter, blogs, and email far
and wide. Hang out on the site answering incoming questions during the
first few hours so that newcomers understand what a great experience a
working, popular Stack Exchange site can be.
Remember – the private beta is now open, but the public beta will open
on Thursday, February 3: US Pacific - 11 AM US Eastern - 2 PM UTC - 7
PM London - 7 PM Sydney - 6 AM Friday
Q: Where do we talk about the site?
A: We don’t want to talk about the
site on the site itself, so we set up
http://meta.codegolf.stackexchange.com as a place to talk about things
like what questions are appropriate, what tags we should use, etc.
Q: How long is the beta?
A: The beta will last at least 60 days. At
the end of 60 to 90 days, if the site has enough ongoing traffic and
enough questions are getting answers, it will graduate to a
full-fledged, permanent Stack Exchange. At that time the community
will decide on a web design and a logo.
Q: What else?
A: Nothing! Go to it! Here’s the URL again:
http://codegolf.stackexchange.com
Yours,
The Stack Exchange Team
That did not seem obnoxious at all to me, so most people got a relatively alright email the first time around. So the second time the SE Team, thought the user was comfortable with the environment? Not really sure. You will have to ask them about it.
What's the second way to get the public email invitation?
There is a cartoon rocket... next to the link, if a professional still wants to click that link then I think it's fair to say he/she is okay with the email.
Third way? He/she gets the invitation another way?
Okay sure then,
Maybe the SE team needs to tailor the public beta announcement emails based on the specific topic and age group of the audience. And maybe with the same tone as the first Private Beta announcement email. For a site like WebApplications, it was casual, it was one of the first sites to launch (we didn't even know it would make it this long). The same goes for Gaming, this announcement worked well there.
Now knowing, that this is a problem for the more academically/professionally oriented sites that care more about the flow of information, rather than the reputation itself then yes, this message comes across a little over the top.
Parts that I think can/should change change
We’re off to a good start, and it’s time to unleash this baby on the public and see if it flies. (Sorry; mixed metaphor.)
This could definitely use some custom tailoring, not sure what but I get what it is saying, just wished it came out differently.
write the URL (http://webapps.stackexchange.com) in chalk on the sidewalk in front of your neighbor’s house. Or paint. No, never mind, better use chalk.
So the post used humor more than once, a little pinch is good but not too much so either dump the humour in the first or the second. Cannot have both.
http://webapps.stackexchange.com <-- that is the URL again
http://webapps.stackexchange.com <-- it has not changed in the last 10 microseconds
Yeah, I could see how this could be a push in the face, there needs to be some balance of emotion. AppSumo is an example, in my opinion of someone who goes over the line. But it works for them.
We need professionals to build communities but communities are not made up of just professionals. So say, this one professor throws away this message or he/she doesn't , it's still up to the community to make the site itself something professionals want to contribute towards. Remember the period after private beta is still public beta then launch. So yeah, I think the email may need some work but that one email is not going to change the success of a SE Site.
