How do you write and pin a "Read this first" orientation post?

A pinned orientation post is the most efficient mechanism you have for onboarding new members before they post. Every new member who reads it saves you and your fellow moderators a moderation action — and every new member who ignores it tests the enforcement consistency of your rule set. Writing a strong orientation post and keeping it current is worth considerable effort. The post should open with a brief, welcoming statement that confirms the visitor is in the right place. Two or three sentences describing the community's purpose and the kind of people it serves accomplishes this. The welcome should feel warm, not legalistic — this is the first impression most members get of your community's culture. The body of the post should cover, in plain language, how the community works: what kinds of posts are welcomed, how to apply the correct flair, how to find existing discussions before posting a question that has already been answered many times, and where to ask meta questions about the community itself. Use short paragraphs and clear headers so that members scanning in thirty seconds can locate the section most relevant to them. A dense wall of text repels the very people you most want to read it. The rules section should summarize each rule in one sentence and link to the full rules sidebar. Restating every rule at length in the orientation post turns it into a legal document, which discourages reading. Instead, highlight the two or three rules that newcomers most frequently violate and explain why those rules exist. Context transforms rules from arbitrary restrictions into community values. Close with a call to engagement: invite members to introduce themselves, link to a recent popular post as an example of the kind of content the community appreciates, or direct them to a weekly introductory thread. Pin the post using one of the two available pinned-post slots, and note at the top when it was last updated. A stale orientation post undermines your credibility, so review it whenever you change a rule or significantly update the community's focus.