The Best Icebreakers to Get New Members Engaged Instantly

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One of the biggest mistakes Skool community owners make is not getting new members to engage immediately. If someone joins but doesn’t interact in the first few days, there’s a high chance they’ll never participate—or worse, leave the community altogether.

The solution? Strategic icebreakers.

Ryan Duncan has helped multiple Skool communities improve first-week engagement rates by using simple but effective icebreaker questions that make new members feel comfortable, seen, and excited to participate.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

✅ Why icebreakers work to kickstart engagement

✅ The best types of icebreakers to use in your Skool community

✅ How to structure your welcome process to maximize responses

Want to see real-time onboarding engagement strategies? Join Ryan’s free Skool community here and experience a structured new member activation system.

Why Icebreakers Are the Key to Activating New Members

When a new member joins a Skool community, they’re often:

Excited, but unsure of how to participate.

Observing but hesitant to post.

Worried about saying the “wrong” thing.

If there’s no structured way to get them involved, they passively consume content—and eventually fade out.

What Icebreakers Do for Your Community

✔ Reduce the fear of posting – Icebreakers give permission to engage in a low-pressure way.

✔ Make new members feel included – People feel welcomed when others acknowledge their posts.

✔ Set the tone for participation – Members who post early are more likely to stay engaged long-term.

✔ Increase long-term retention – A first interaction creates a psychological bond with the group.

📌 Example: Communities that use structured welcome threads with icebreaker questions see 40%+ higher engagement from new members than those that don’t.

Pro Tip: If a member engages within their first 24 hours, they’re far more likely to stick around long-term.

The 5 Best Icebreaker Strategies for Skool Communities

1. The "Introduce Yourself" Thread (With a Twist)

Most communities have a basic “introduce yourself” post, but if it’s generic, engagement is low.

Instead, make it specific and fun.

✔ Example Icebreaker Post:

"Welcome to the group! Drop a quick intro below, but make it interesting: What's one weird or unexpected skill you have?"

Why This Works:

✔ Gives members something unique to say (not just "Hi, I’m John").

✔ Encourages other members to reply (more interaction = stronger retention).

✔ Makes the post memorable and fun.

📌 Example Response: "Hey everyone! I’m Jake, and I run an e-commerce store. Fun fact: I can solve a Rubik’s cube in under a minute."

Pro Tip: Tag the first few members who respond so others feel encouraged to jump in.

2. "This or That" Quick-Response Polls

Many people are hesitant to write a full introduction—but they will engage with a simple poll or choice-based question.

✔ Example:

"What’s more important for business success?"

🔹 Marketing

🔹 Sales

🔹 Networking

✔ How to Use It:

Pin the poll in the welcome section so new members see it immediately.

Tag active members in the comments to spark replies.

Follow up with a question like, “Why did you pick this answer?”

📌 Example: Communities that use quick-choice polls see higher engagement from lurkers because it removes friction from participation.

Pro Tip: People who vote in a poll are more likely to comment—so always ask a follow-up question in the comments.

3. “What’s Your #1 Struggle Right Now?” (Problem-Focused Engagement)

One of the best ways to increase participation is to get members talking about their pain points.

✔ Example Post:

"Let’s get straight to it: What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing in [your niche] right now?"

✔ Why It Works:

Gets people talking about themselves (which they love).

Reveals valuable insights about what members need help with.

Creates engagement loops—other members can reply with advice.

📌 Example Responses:

"I can’t figure out how to get consistent leads for my agency."

"Scaling my Skool group past 100 members is tough!"

Pro Tip: After members reply, DM them a helpful resource or tag them in a relevant post to build relationships.

4. The "2 Truths and 1 Lie" Game (High Engagement)

This classic icebreaker works amazingly well online because it invites curiosity.

✔ Example Post:

"Let’s play a game! Drop 2 truths and 1 lie about yourself, and we’ll guess which one is the lie!"

✔ Why It Works:

Encourages storytelling and humor (which build community bonds).

Increases comments because members interact with each other.

Makes it fun without requiring a long response.

📌 Example Response:

"1. I once met Elon Musk at an airport. 2. I’ve run a marathon on every continent. 3. I’ve never eaten sushi."

Pro Tip: Jump into the comments and guess members’ answers—this increases engagement and keeps the post alive longer.

Encourage new members to immediately provide value by sharing a quick win or tip.

✔ Example Post:

"What’s one strategy you’ve used recently that actually worked? Share a quick tip below so we can all learn from each other!"

✔ Why It Works:

Encourages contribution instead of just consumption.

Positions members as experts, boosting their confidence in participating.

Creates valuable user-generated content for the group.

📌 Example Response:

"I found that DMing my first 100 followers on LinkedIn led to 10 booked calls!"

Pro Tip: Summarize the best responses in a follow-up post and tag contributors for extra recognition.

How to Structure Your Icebreaker Strategy for Maximum Engagement

Icebreaker Type	Best Time to Use	Purpose
Introduce Yourself (With a Twist)	Right after joining	Creates connection from Day 1
Quick-Response Polls	First 24-48 hours	Easy, low-friction engagement
What’s Your #1 Struggle?	Week 1	Builds discussion & reveals pain points
2 Truths and 1 Lie	Week 2	Fun, personal engagement
Steal My Strategy Thread	Anytime	Encourages value-sharing & networking

📌 Example: Communities that use 2-3 of these icebreakers consistently see higher engagement rates from new members than those that only have a generic welcome post.

Pro Tip: Rotate different icebreakers each month so they stay fresh for new members.

Join a Community That Uses Icebreakers to Keep Members Engaged

Want to see how structured icebreakers create instant engagement? Join Ryan’s free Skool community and experience how new members start participating right away.