Ok, I know a lot of this will be common sense, but I thought I would go ahead and share what I have learned about recruiting with everyone. Feel free to add your own tips and tricks, this is for the prospective corp leaders and rookies out there as well as the big dogs.
Recruitment:1.) Look for activity
As simple as this may sound, it is the absolute easiest way to find new members. Look for ships moving around areas where you typically hang out (anywhere in Sol is a safe bet) and make contact with some of the players you see. Also pay special attention to any independant players that attack your corp assets. That's an easy indicator of activity and it lets you know that they won't shy away from combat in the future. New forum users are also great to begin conversations with (try PMing in the actual game).
Try finding players right out of the gate. We may not have the mentor system yet, but I'm sure someone brand new to the game wouldn't mind having an active friend to show them the ropes.
2.) Check them out
Look up a player in the friends tab before making contact. If you are looking for well established players (as opposed to newbies) this will help you weed them out. Also be aware of players with old registry numbers and low power. They are either inactive or very slow at growth. Either way, that tells you something about them.
Note that while new players may not be very strong and may not be totally dedicated to staying active in the game, early investments in the growth of new players can reward you with loyal friends and fierce followers in the future (as long as you give them a reason to stay).
3.) Make first contact, be professional, friendly, and helpful
Don't just say, "Hey, wanna join a corp?" (although it might work sometimes...) Introduce yourself, let the player know you are in a corp that is recruiting and offer your help with anything they have trouble with.
4.) sell Sell SELL
There is no way to oversell yourself or your corp. Avoid outright bragging, but let them know all of the great things that are included in joining a corp. DON'T BRIBE... If a player needs to be bribed into joining they are not worth the effort.
5.) Stay in Touch
If they turn you down at first don't be afraid to keep in touch and keep trying. Remind them that
you want them and they will realize that
they want you.
6.) Incentivise Recruitment
Give any corp members who recruit other players a small reward for their dedication to the cause. Trust me, it works...
Retention:Retaining players, especially new ones, is a bit more tricky... You can't please everyone, and this is the type of game that will just not appeal to some people. Here are some things that might help corps with struggling commitment.1.) Check-In
Check in with
ALL of your players from time to time. Do not micromanage though, just make sure they are enjoying themselves, making progress where it counts, and that there are no glaring issues between members.
2.) War is hell...
But also fun! If a weaker player is being attacked by a much more powerful foe then try to make them see the good side of it. Constant skirmishes keep players on their toes and give them a reason to hit the weights from time to time. Don't knock it till you try it! (But don't let them get decimated...)
Also keep in mind that they should not take any war personally (unless they started it). Save the bitter hatred of other corps for the corp leaders with troubled histories.
3.) Cut the Cord
Meaning the umbilical cord. This relates to the previous tip but deserves it's own number. I have noticed that newer players are very attached to their little mines. Mining is fine depending on who you are and what your ambitions in the game are, but it's not the end of the world if they lose one MK I mining facility. Also convince them to stay out of the home sector. Think of it like boarding school or summer camp, a little time away from home will do a new player worlds of good. It will also make them harder to attack for potential threats.
4.) Invest in your Members
Whether it be a corp ship, nice modules, or a few QPs here and there; unless they REALLY want to build themselves up naturally and on there own, getting them stronger will open more doors for them and show them how much this game really has to offer.
Anyway, that's all I can think of at the moment. I hope you guys read it and please provide some feedback
these are only my observations and human behavior is largely unpredictable in an online environment. Share your thoughts!