The Welcome Classroom Is Dead 😵

I recently overhauled how I onboard new members to my Skool communities, and the results have been game-changing.

For a long time, I followed the standard process of creating a welcome post that directed people to a classroom with a series of steps they had to complete before engaging. I also used the auto-DM to make sure members knew to get their asses over to the classroom.

This approach created unnecessary barriers, and as a result, most people didn’t even make it through the first steps.

For some reason, I and many others thought this was just how it had to be done.

After hearing

@Calvin Hollywood

talk on

@Matthew Thompson

s podcast about how auto DMs should start conversations rather than give instructions, I decided to rethink the entire process. Here’s what I did instead:

1. Completely scrapped the classroom – No more arbitrary steps or confusion

2. Created a simple welcome post where people can introduce themselves right on the timeline.

3. Sent open question DMs to start real conversations instead of giving directions.

The impact has been incredible:

• 80% of people now respond to my DMs.

• HUNDREDS have engaged with the welcome post.

• Engagement feels natural and inclusive because people are participating directly in the community rather than being siloed into a classroom.

I launched my new community just over a week ago and it's become #5 most popular in the Music category on Skool. It’s clear that this shift - making the onboarding experience seamless and engaging - has been a major driver of that success.

A huge shoutout to Calvin Hollywood for the inspiration. If you’re still using a classroom for onboarding, I’d seriously recommend rethinking it. Focus on creating connection and momentum right from the start, and you’ll see a radical difference in how your community comes alive.

What’s working for your onboarding process? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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