Guild Recruitment: How to Find and Retain Members

The Recruitment Challenge

Every guild needs a steady stream of new members to replace those who naturally leave due to burnout, real life, or game changes. But finding the *right* members — ones who fit your culture and stay long-term — is an art.

Where to Recruit

In-Game - Trade chat / global chat recruitment posts - Performance in pick-up groups — recruit players who impress - Server communities and forums

Online Platforms - Discord servers for your game - Reddit communities (r/wowguilds, r/ffxivrecruitment) - Guild management platforms like CoGM's Discover page - Social media

Word of Mouth Your best recruiter is a happy member. Encourage (don't force) members to invite friends who play.

The Application Process

A good application process filters for fit while being respectful of applicants' time:

1. Public profile — Show potential recruits what your guild is about before they apply
2. Application form — Ask about play schedule, experience, and what they're looking for
3. Trial period — 2-4 weeks of playing together to assess mutual fit
4. Full membership — Welcome them properly with roles and access

Retention Strategies

Getting members is only half the battle. Keeping them engaged requires ongoing effort:

Onboarding - Welcome message with guild rules and expectations - Buddy system — pair new members with experienced ones - Clear documentation on how things work

Engagement - Regular events at accessible times - Recognition for contributions (not just top performers) - Feedback channels where members feel heard - Social events beyond just raiding

Warning Signs of Attrition - Decreased activity without explanation - Negative tone in chat - Skipping previously regular events - Removing game from their profile

CoGM's Recruitment Tools

CoGM provides everything you need for recruitment: - Public community profiles that showcase your guild - Custom application forms with conditional logic - Application management with review workflows - Discover page where potential recruits can find you

Create your recruitment pipeline — it's free.