Welcome to Moderator Training!
Welcome to moderator training for Houseplant Addicts! We are so happy you are joining our team. Our network is growing every day with over 100,000 members on several different social media platforms. We are so proud as to how far we have come and the many opportunities that lay ahead.
Here you will find tutorials, answers to commonly asked questions & learn about the many ways you can grow with us! We are all volunteers and are here for the love of houseplants and sharing knowledge. So let’s begin!
Getting Started
Thank you for taking the first step to becoming a Moderator and potentially an Admin!
Our Houseplant Addicts Street Team is a training group to help better understand what it is that you will be doing as a Moderator. There will be training posts to help train you for those duties so that you can feel comfortable! The purpose of the Houseplant Addicts Street Team is also for you to see if you’ll be able to have the time commitment that is needed. We are a fast pace group and need all hands on deck – but remember – we are a TEAM!
Okay! I’m ready to get started, but how?
First and foremost, PARTICIPATE! Be a part of the several groups we have and interact with them. Don’t forget to participate in our public fan page: Houseplant Addicts as well as our private groups!
In our private group: Houseplant Addicts Street Team, you’ll find a post about which day you’d like to participate. Potential mods will choose which day is open and works for their schedule! Those posts will be done on our public fan page Houseplant Addicts . Potential mods will be responsible for posting 4 posts. It is not as overwhelming as you think. Here’s what we mean👇🏻
Houseplant Addicts ‘Fan’ Public Page
Creating A Weekly Post
But what do I post?
Glad you asked! IT’S UP TO YOU! Our topics to choose from are:
- Share two blog posts/pages from our blog site ‘HouseplantAddicts.com’
- Make a caption that draws attention to the blog post!
- Example of blog post share 👉🏻’Blog Post Share’
- Make a caption that draws attention to the blog post!
- Post a funny/informative meme, ask questions, create a theme (Sansevieria Saturday – anyone?), share a plant picture, start a conversation! ENGAGE our readers!
- Example of meme post 👉🏻‘Meme Post’
- Example of engaging question post👉🏻 ‘Engagement Question Post’
- Example of plant share post👉🏻 ‘Plant Share Engagement Post’
- Example of sharing one of our private sister groups👉🏻 ‘HPA Sister Group Share Post’
- Example of an informative post👉🏻 ‘Informative post’
- Example of theme post👉🏻 ‘Theme Post’
- Promote our need for moderators and writers/contributors.
- Example of moderator help👉🏻 ‘Moderator’s Wanted’
- Example of writers/contributors 👉🏻‘Writer’s Wanted’
- Remember to add our hashtags! #WeAreHouseplantAddicts and #HouseplantAddicts
Make yourself shine! This is your moment – get creative! When using pronouns please use: us, we, our; as WE are a team! And your post is representing ALL of us! (How neat!)
Awesome! But I still don’t understand how to actually post on the fan page.
Technology is a beast so here’s a video of how to do it on desktop and mobile!
- Click on ‘Houseplant Addicts’ PAGE
- Click on ‘Create Post’
- Create your engaging topic.
- Insert graphic/photo to grab attention.
Creating Hyperlinks
Hyper links are really helpful when creating a post. It looks so much cleaner and less overwhelming to the eye.
To create a hyperlink, simply input ‘@’ immediately followed by the group name. Example : @HouseplantAddictsTurnedUp. Facebook will immediately create a readable/clickable link that is easy to find instead of seeing a bunch of numbers. Simple right?
Be sure to check out our main public page ‘Houseplant Addicts’ that is known as our ‘Fan Page’ for great inspiration to help get you started on creating your very own weekly post.
Houseplant Addicts Group Rules
There are some general rules that are across all of our groups. These include:
- Be kind & respectful
- Treat others how you’d like to be treated.
- No blocking Admins & Moderators
- We need to be able to communicate with everyone!
- Do not post any links
- No advertising business, groups, pages, social, youtube, etc. – this also includes NO HASHTAGS. We don’t want outside influences in our group, the possibility of having corrupt links or non-family friendly material links – just us, plants, and some good old knowledge!
- We are a family-friendly group
- If you wouldn’t want your kids or grandma to see it – don’t post it in most of our groups.
- This does not apply to Houseplant Addicts Turned Up. This is our adults-only group that is 18+. This page contains adult humor and language and is intended for those not easily offended.
- No porn, politics, or religions
- Let’s just keep it civil and in our pants.
- No personal attacks
- Negative comments are a no-go, as mom always said “treat others how you’d want to be treated”.
Sounds about right, anything else?
Yes! We have other rules specific to our numerous groups!
Our Sister Groups: What You Need To Know
Houseplant Addicts Turned Up
As mentioned above, Houseplant Addicts Turned Up is our adult group, so all the rules apply – just not the family-friendly rule. This group is adults-only, so naturally, there is adult humor and fun happening in this group!
Houseplant Addicts Buy, Sell, and Swap
In addition to the group rules above, the list below applies to our sister group Houseplant Addicts Buy, Sell and Swap.
- All posts are to be removed within 30 days.
- No multiple posts – that’s just obnoxious.
- It clogs up the group and we like to make it as easy as pie – yum!
- First to comment is first in line.
- This doesn’t have to be a “sold” or “me”, just the first person gets it! Easy peasy!
- If the first person doesn’t get back to the seller in 4 hours, then the seller can move on to the next person.
- Once the item sells, the seller should mark it as sold & delete all sold items. That way there’s no confusion.
- Include your location!
- We are all spread out – this group is worldwide! So when approving posts for this group, make sure that there is an included location, shipping costs, and where they’d be willing to ship to.
- Use of this group is at your own risk.
- We can’t be held responsible, however, we will always be willing to try to help!
So that’s all the rules?
Yep! That’s it!
Get To Know Our Groups
Moderator Duties
Okay, so now I’m a moderator, now what?
Well, this all depends on what jobs you’re given – we’re a TEAM after all!
Approving Posts
If you’ve been given the job of approving posts in certain groups, make sure you know the rules of that group! This will make it all the easier for you to breeze through approving and declining posts.
- When approving a post, just simply hit “approve”. And you’re all set! If there’s a ton to approve, just do 3 and then take a break so the group doesn’t get overloaded!
- When declining a post, instead of just hitting “Decline”, there are 3 little dots known as the “More” button. Click that and hit “decline and give feedback”! That way that member knows what to change so they can post again and get it approved! Once the page pulls up with our list of rules, check off which have been violated from that post and remember – always press “More Info” so they can refer to our rules page if they have further questions! (This doesn’t apply to Buy Sell Swap!)
- Click on the ‘Shield‘ icon in the upper right hand corner or ‘Moderate group’ tab if on a desktop.
- Click on ‘Pending posts’
- Sort from ‘Oldest First’
- Click on ‘Approve‘ for posts that follow the rules.
- When declining, click on the 3 dots (next to the decline button) so you may choose which rule was broken as well as add a note to send to our member.
Reviewing Keywords
Keywords are certain words that admins have already created, that alerts the team when that specific word has been posted.
These include things like:
- Links
- Cuss words
- Stores and private sellers A mention/recommendation such as: “Oh I bought it on Amazon” is okay, but remember, no outside links or business tags!
- Group/Page
- So that no one recommends other groups and pages – which is breaking a rule!
- Drama
- We don’t like drama! (it’s against our rules!)
- #admin
- That way when an admin is needed, it alerts!
Approving Keyword
- Click on the shield in the upper right hand corner, or ‘Moderate Group‘ if on a desktop.
- Click on ‘Keyword Alerts‘
- Review the posts that have been flagged and check to make sure the post follows the rules and click ‘Keep‘
Declining Keyword Alert
- Same steps as above, except click the more option, and then click ‘Decline Post and Give Feedback’
When the keywords alert, check out the comment and see if it breaks any of our rules.
- If it does not break the rules, go back to keywords, and hit accept – done!
- If it does, click the “more” button – the three little dots and hit “decline post and give feedback”, when the rules pop up: click which rules it violates and delete it.
- When you delete it, head back to the main page, click on the shield that pulls up controls for the group and hit: Admin and Moderator Activity.
- In there see the link you deleted and click “Add Note”, a simple note like “#3” for links, works just fine! It just allows us to look back and see why it was deleted if we ever need to answer them about why it was deleted, or if we’re looking at repeat offenders.
- When you delete it, head back to the main page, click on the shield that pulls up controls for the group and hit: Admin and Moderator Activity.
Adding a Note After Post Was Deleted
- Click on shield icon.
- Click on Admin and Moderator Activity
- Find the post that was deleted.
- Click ‘Add Note’
Member Reported Comments
These come along every once and a while, it’s a member of our group, alerting us about a comment that they find breaks our group rules. It’s easy to check!
- Head over to the group
- Hit the shield logo for duties
- Click on “Member Reported Content” (Don’t see it? It won’t show up until there is a comment!)
- From there click on the comment to see if it violates our rules, if it does, click the “more” button, (or the three little dots), and hit “delete and give feedback” then click the rules violated and delete the comment.
- Don’t forget to go back into Admin & Moderator duties to “Add Note” for future reference!
Locating ‘Member Reported Content’ icon
- Click on shield logo in the upper right hand corner.
- Click on ‘Member-Reported Content’
- Review the post.
But, what if I’m unsure?
No worries, just leave it and an admin or someone who knows will handle it – we’re a team after all!
Can I report comments for admins?
Absolutely! When scrolling through the groups, if you see something that needs to be alerted for admins, go ahead and report the comment, and admins will be on it to take care of it! Or you could also alert a keyword by typing “#admin”, that’ll work too!
To report a comment:
- Find the comment you wish to report
- Click the “more” button, or the three little dots and click “Report Comment”
Reporting a Comment
Grow With Us
Our Blog
Wait, there’s a blog?!
Yessiree! We have a blog! Interested in writing and sharing your love and knowledge even further? Join our writer’s team! You only need to post 100 words (or more) and share content that you’re passionate about! It’s a great opportunity for you to get your ideas out into the world that has a great, supportive following!
Check out the blog at: HouseplantAddicts.com
Interested in joining our blog writers team? Connect with us here for more information!
Our Store
Whoa, first a blog and now a store???
We aim to have every houseplant addict’s desires! Need a supportive group to bounce knowledge off of? Check! Need a blog to follow and bookmark so your plant wish list grows? Double-check! Need apparel so you can rep the best hobby around? Yep, we got it! We’ve got everything from stickers to shirts to hoodies to coffee mugs and appeal to all types of hobbyists!
Check it out at: www.houseplantaddicts.com/shop
Becoming An Admin
Becoming an admin is easy.
- Participate
- Be actively involved with our community! Start conversations, help diffuse drama & help with new moderators.
- Show initiative
- Show that you want to grow with us! Have great ideas to help grow our community? Want to be involved with our blog? You may be the right fit for our Admin team! We are looking for motivated self-starters to help make Houseplant Addicts even more amazing than it already is!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the Houseplant Addicts fan page and Houseplant Addicts🌱🌿?
I don’t know a whole lot about plants. Am I a good fit to be a moderator?
Of course! A good moderator understands our group rules and Facebook community standards. Using good judgment, interacting with community members, diffusing difficult situations, and sparking general engagement all make a great moderator! We are all still learning every day about the green life. Houseplant Addicts is a place to learn & grow in a safe community.
How much time should I be dedicating to moderator duties?
Our goal is to create a large enough team to where 10 maybe 20 minutes a day can really help us. If you can dedicate more time, that would be amazing! Reliability and consistency are what we are looking for! Our moderator/admin team are from all over the world. So you can volunteer your time, day or night, we have no set schedule!
I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. Who can I talk to?
Reach out to any seasoned moderator or a member of the Admin team. We are here to help!
Remember we are in this together! Jointly, we can continue to create an amazing network for houseplant hobbyists ALL OVER THE WORLD. This is a team to be proud of. We are so glad you decided to GROW with us!
Check out our entire Network!
Socials
- Houseplant Addicts on INSTAGRAM
- Houseplant Addicts on TWITTER
- Houseplant Addicts on GIFY
- Houseplant Addicts on FACEBOOK
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