What are some marketing strategies you have used to advertise a forum? I just started a webmaster forum at netpox.com and have used the following: I was paying $10 for each person that posts 10 new topics and 50 total posts- a lot of people liked that idea but thats a little bit pricey. Then i tried doing $0.03 per post for up to 2 months but not many people wanted to do that. Now i have a contest from feb.7 - mar.7 that pays $100 to the top poster, $25 to 2nd place and $10 to 3rd. What other things can i try to get more people to post and get the forum running?
I can tell you what got me hooked on the DP forums here. The webmaster tools were why i cam back to this site. And while i was here, i would stop in to the forums. If you can provide some useful tools that could gain some loyalty and return visits from some quality members that might boost your forums. Contests and giveaways are good, but often when the contests end the members dont return.
I don't think paying for posts is the best way to get users to use your forum it is almost like they force threads and posts that don't mean anything. I would advertise on other related websites.
Its only for the start. Who is going to go to a forum and register and post anything when there are only like 5 posts. No one..i wouldnt. So this is only done for the first month to make the forum full and look like its used all the time. Then its time to start advertising the forum for "REAL" members.
Yea your right, if I were to do it. Contestes would probably be my best bet. People go crazy over contests.
You need to have a certain number of members before starting a contest so that it would be cost effective.
Well, optimize your posts by posting content on them - hire some article writer and start making forum live with interesting articles! this will attract SEO traffic and soon also new members!
People do go crazy over contests, no doubt, but first stress is to be set on the website content. That is, attract as many visitors as you possibly can, find that talented and innovative author /just like MNSandy already said/ to feed your site, don't forget to work on linkability. And right after you have attracted visitors to your site, then is the time for a contest, which would keep you on top for a given period of time. However, it's not a permanent solution, like the ones listed above. Good luck
Contests are simply great to make traffic and new members. Post based contests suck because you will get lot of abuse and non interesting posts, while the activity will reach zero when the contest ends.
Ok, I am also in same boat as you and looking to kick my forum. Here are few of my views - Paying for forum posters will NEVER help. Seriously, you can youself make 50-60 posts on your own in the time you are sending money to the poster and talking to him and telling him what to do. Starting a competition is not a sure shot way. Make sure that you know the economics of this. I am looking to make lot's of friends by talking to ppl personally and asking them to join my forum. I know its time consuming but I feels this is the surest FREE way of making a community. Keep us updated about ur progress