I started a forum off my main webpage and am trying to build members. I am thinking of doing a contest. Here is the thought: For every 20 posts you post you go into a drawing for $10 giftcard or paypal cash Rules Must post relevant post of at least 15 words per post and they must be quality post. Contest will run for one month and for each 20 posts you will get one entry. Winner will be notified and posted on the forum and main webpage. I plan to post this contest in relevant forums and advertise it. the forum is www.frugalwiz.com/forum Is this a good idea to build the forum? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance Tom
I think its a good idea, although you'll need to market it elsewhere in order to get people to even hear about the contest.
Hi Tom, Sounds like a lot of "book keeping" on your part. Are you ready to do this? My suggestion would be to work on your "main page" or website to attract more visitors there. If they feel your site is of value, they will want to join your forum. I look for "windows of opportunity" to "associate" my forum with my main website and vis-a-versa by "tying" a fourm in with the complete 'website experience" no matter whether you are one of my "free" visitors or one of my paid members. I use this strategy on the one site where I have a forum....www.twopercentclub.com I am thinking of expanding my forum so it is the "general meeting place" for members of all my sites. This will give me "multiple sites" exposure. Just a few ides...Hope they help. Best of luck with your forum. BTW...you have a great niche topic in today's economy. Jim
Thanks Jim for the advice! I agree and I am working on the content everyday. I did a lot of research on this niche and 75% of the draw is the forums themselves that is the reason I am focusing so much on the forum. By the way nice site, I bookmarked it for later viewing.
I personally wouldn't run a contest on an empty forum. If you do it's possible that no one will enter or 1 to a few will and will result in low activity before it and no to low activity after it.
Any other suggestions to draw members? I am getting quite a few views but not many register. I was planning on advertising the contest on other boards, not just on mine.
Try to do some paid posts first. Forum Angels is a great service I was a part of for a little while. They do excellent work and are very worth the price, which is pretty cheap as well. Check them out, google it.
Hi Tom, Nothing attracts new members like having active members and posts. Another avenue you might want to explore is one of these paid fourm posting services to get your forum "jump started". You will get varying opinions on the use of this method, but I look at it as a marketing strategy. When I started my forum recently, I knew it would catch on faster if I could quickly establish a posting base of members. I used inbox.com which I found on http://www.paidpostingtools.com. From their site: For about $65 I received 300 posts written by 12 posters. Some posts were better than others, but they all were relevant and interactive....no quick one-liners. Having interaction early on helped me build up my forum faster. Some of the posters even stayed on as active members after the contract was satisfied. BTW...I first tried PostonMyForum.com. They advertise right here on DP, but I was told they did not have the expertise and it would take them over 2 months to get the posters I needed. Great business line for building their business..... Duh.... Yes, you may not want to spend money to get your forum "seeded" with posting members, but if your goal is to make money via your forum, it might be a wise investment and help you make more money sooner. Hope this helps. Jim
Thanks Jim, I tried making a deal on here for pay to post with a member who advertised and nothing from him then a got a PM that he was too busy with more important stuff (he is the one who advertised). I will try some paid for post soon but am looking for more reliable members than just to fill the forum. Thanks for your ideas though and I will check out the sites.
Hi Tom, It's not a matter of 'filling the forum". It is a matter of "priming the forum" like you would a pump. Good luck in whatever you decide. Starting a forum and getting it off the ground is not easy today. Jim
Good advice Jim. heres a little article I found too off google. http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/41/building-a-forum-community/ May help a bit...I understood the concept of doing such a marketing strategy but now I'm actually going to execute it.