I have just started a new forum website, http://www.rantsandslants.com, and I am unsure about how best to market it. I know that posting on other forums with a valid signature link is a good way to find people who are interested in participating in forum discussions. What I am looking for is other ways to produce significant results. I am not just after "Hits" and have no interest in just watching my counter spin away as some autosurfers stare blankly at their screens. What I am looking for is ways to find active members who enjoy participating in a forum format website. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
http://www.scotttaylorsblog.com/index.php/2006/07/02/forum-administration-how-its-done/ Is an article I wrote on forum administration coving everything from how to get members to how to maintain them.
Here is a list of things I would do: 1. Have a ranking system for the users to create competition. 2. Start a contest with prizes. 3. At the very start you won't have many members so when someone posts something it is unlikely to be responded to and the user will find another fourm. To help this hire forum posters and be active yourself. 4. Advertise with adbrite, adwords and other cpc programs if you really value memberships. 5. Start an affiliate program. Maybe pay $0.50 if for a referal to the forum. 6. Get a new design! Not to be mean but the site looks like crap. Good luck with your site!
Yo Johny, do you work or have any other obligations? Because to protect your return on investment your best bet would be to talk to yourself if you have lots of time on your hands (like me, i just got laid off). Open up multiple browser windows, log in as 6 or 7 different names, and start conversations with yourself. Post articles that are on hotly debated and controversal topics, then talk to yourself. Try to fill up every forum section so when somene comes to the front page they dont see "no posts ever" or whatever, ( i think you have this covered) If you really think about it, talking to yoruself wont take long, just make it interesting and controversial, espcially with your forum name. Then I suggest going around to social / political sites /forums and posting there with a link in your sig (AFTER you have some talked to yourself posts up).. Make sure your posts are very knowledgable, and rant and rave in them Also it could be imperative for you to create at least a single home page / content page. Just make a front page with some type of unique picture perhaps, something that looks like someone ranting / raving, and have a nice lil logo with your site title. DEFINITELY create yourself a blog with very controversial topics. As a matter or fact, dont even post a link to your forum in your sig. Post a link to your home page / blog, then when ppl read the blog they will THEN go to the forum. Remember, ESPECIALLY with your site, very CONTROVERSIAL!! Thing of things ppl argue / debate about and blog about it, rant rant rant. Go watch Dennis Miller for 10 hours and copy him in your blog Post 1 or 2 polls on the front page of your blog that you update every single day, to give users a reason to come back. Remember, create a trickle effect. Even if you have very little content (a blog / polls / rss feeds), ppl will visit your site if its interesting, THEN they will sign up to the forum and start to tell their friends. Its very very hard to just start a forum only site. Remember, simple home page / controversial blog / controversial polls, and talk to yourself in your forum for a few days (I know it could get monotnus, make get drunk before you do this) With time and effort I can see your forum being successful. Just follow the above steps.
woahdolla Thanks for the great advice. I think I'll try this tommorrow, maybe I'll get up and start drinking, then later I will start talking to myself. I think its a good idea, like you suggested, to start a conversation that appears to have several people, then others will join and I can stop talking to myself. Thanks for the reply
Lol, NP. And again, if you can, I strongly suggest creating a very simple blog for the front page also, just look at the guy who gave you advice earlier, his blog. ppl looooooovvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeee blogs If you need good blog software you can try wordpress, it's free. Good luck man.
i would invest in vbulliten.. PHPBB doesnt have as smooth of a feel. I know its free and thats appealing.
Also: your ads are a bit intrusive and clutter the site. It might be a bit frustrating for a first time poster.
You should also try post exchange. Most forum owners will be happy to post on your forum if you reciprocate.
wow thats a great idea, I never even thought of that. I wonder where one would find NON-COMPETING start up forums? Great great idea!... much better than talking to yourself
Even better than paying someone when you dont have any incoming revenue, would be post exchange! Damn Im glad he mentioned that... Makes the future much brighter for the forum Im thinking of starting.
I pay posters to do some postings and starting of new threads for me earlier when my forum is still quite young. It will keep activity up for quite a while. Ultimately, I think having some incentive in return of posting will benefit your forum, eg. credits to get something.
I have created a forum and had only a few visitors. After that i created a website that has succes and i asigned that forum to it. Now the forum is starting to get members and posts
like people have said, its hard to get excited about a site when there aren't a whole lot of posts. Get some friends to post or people you know from other boards. Paid postings is always an option.