How to market a forum

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by cgshelf, Feb 10, 2007.

  1. #1
    Hi

    I am new member of DP. But I was browsing through this site for the last couple of days.

    Recently I have started a site and a forum. Now I am getting only 15-20 uniques everyday. So I want your opinion on how to get 1000 uniques in a day. Also I need an idea how to get some posts in my forum.

    My site is meant for Computer Graphics. My url is http://www.cgshelf.com and my forum url is http://www.cgshelf.com/forum/

    Please comment.
     
    cgshelf, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  2. Muqadas.Wattoo

    Muqadas.Wattoo Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,104
    Likes Received:
    85
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    185
    #2
    i would like to know too...if there are some free ways to advertise forum.
     
    Muqadas.Wattoo, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  3. Richie_Ni

    Richie_Ni Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    10,721
    Likes Received:
    1,175
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    410
    #3
    Advertising.
    Buy ad spots on other sites,submit to dirs,try Adwords,buy blog posts.
     
    Richie_Ni, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  4. cgshelf

    cgshelf Peon

    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    Oh I forgot to tell. I need some ways other than adwords, yahoo search marketing etc. :)
     
    cgshelf, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  5. nizzam

    nizzam Active Member

    Messages:
    324
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    58
    #5
    i can suggest you these:
    1) submit your site to directories as many as you can.
    2) submit your site to social bookmarking sites.
    3) do link exchange with the related sites as yours
    4) Submit your site to as many search engines as you can
     
    nizzam, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  6. Smyrl

    Smyrl Tomato Republic Staff

    Messages:
    13,740
    Likes Received:
    1,702
    Best Answers:
    78
    Trophy Points:
    510
    #6
    Smyrl, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  7. limpit

    limpit Peon

    Messages:
    248
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    I'll give that a read as I'm looking to improve my forum also.
     
    limpit, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  8. TAshkar18

    TAshkar18 Peon

    Messages:
    167
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #8
    TAshkar18, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  9. SUP3RNOVA_

    SUP3RNOVA_ Guest

    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    Can't get live links, but here's an article I wrote on starting a successful forum :

    blog.profitgeek.com/traffic/the-secrets-to-starting-a-successful-forum/
     
    SUP3RNOVA_, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  10. mintdanny

    mintdanny Peon

    Messages:
    587
    Likes Received:
    17
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #10
    Lo,

    try decreasing the number of categories within your forum, it makes the forum look less active.

    If people can see 0 threads 0 posts in every category within your forum they are more than likely not going to join.

    Hope this helps

    Danny
     
    mintdanny, Feb 10, 2007 IP
  11. cgshelf

    cgshelf Peon

    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #11

    What are this social bookmarking site?

    I have submitted my site to a lot of directories and search engines.
     
    cgshelf, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  12. walaboom

    walaboom Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    406
    Likes Received:
    14
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    128
    #12
    I did a write up on forum management including how to prepare for a new forum, how to make people sign up all the way to how to advertise it.

    Here are the posts if you are interested.

    The main key is "how to prepare your forum" before you market it. Prepare it right can make people join and post.

    http://www.efishtalk.com/category/forum-management/
     
    walaboom, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  13. cgshelf

    cgshelf Peon

    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    I have taken out lot of categories from my forum. Now it is almost half in number of categories.

    Any other feedbacks comments?
     
    cgshelf, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  14. iceberg

    iceberg Notable Member

    Messages:
    1,751
    Likes Received:
    318
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    200
    #14
    Here are some -


    http://del.icio.us/
    http://www.digg.com/
    http://www.blinklist.com/
    http://ma.gnolia.com/
    http://www.furl.net/
    http://www.diigo.com/
    http://www.complore.com/
    http://www.tallstreet.com/
    http://gamingtags.com/
    http://indiagram.com/
    http://www.goesby.com/
    http://teachershare.org/openig/
    http://www.chaamp.com/
    http://www.a-webmarks.com/
    http://www.tektag.com/
    http://www.bookmark.it/
    http://www.wirefan.com/
    http://www.linkatopia.com/
    http://www.optimiz.us/
    http://www.webtoolbar.com/
    http://www.tagtooga.com/
    http://www.linklog.nl/
    http://www.wykop.pl/
    http://www.ineffabile.it/
    http://www.blogmarks.net/
    http://reddit.com/
    http://myweb.search.yahoo.com/
    http://www.connotea.org/
    http://www.taggly.com/
    http://otavo.com/
    http://joel.reddit.com/
    http://www.i.us/
    http://www.shadows.com/
    http://www.backflip.com/dir_start.ihtml
    http://www.meme-stream.com/
    http://www.getboo.com/
    http://www.blogmemes.net/
    http://www.netvouz.com/
    http://www.lilisto.com/
    http://www.linkologia.pl/
    http://www.bloglot.com/
    http://segnalo.alice.it/
    http://www.lookmarks.com/
    http://www.lifeslot.com/
    http://www.daytags.com/fresh
    http://imp.etuo.us/
    http://de.lirio.us/
    http://motor.crispynews.com/
    http://www.linuxquestions.org/bookmarks/
    http://www.dinnerbuzz.com/
    http://www.givealink.org/cgi-pub/mainPages/index.cgi
    http://www.leze.de/
    http://www.librarything.com/
    http://www.linkblog.com.br
    http://linkfilter.net/
    http://www.memestreams.net/topics/
    http://www.oyax.com/l
    http://www.urlex.info/
    http://www.web-feeds.com
    http://www.bloghop.com/
    http://www.browsr.com/
    http://mybookmark.gokodo.com/
    http://www.rojo.com/
    http://www.bibsonomy.org/
    http://blogmarks.net/
    http://www.bookmarktracker.com/
    http://buddymarks.com/
    http://www.connectedy.com/
    http://ezu.net/
    http://freelink.org/
    http://www.fungow.com
    http://www.gravee.com/
    http://ww.ikeepbookmarks.com/
    http://www.markaboo.com
    http://www.mobleo.net/
    http://www.myhq.com/
    http://www.mylinkvault.com/
    http://www.mypip.com/home/
    http://www.myvmarks.com
    http://www.pixelmo.com/
    http://www.searchles.com/
    http://www.shoppersbase.com/
    http://socialbookmarking.org/
    http://www.syncone.net/
    http://www.startaid.com
    http://wink.com/
    http://www.zoogim.com/
    http://bwsmith.com
    http://aboogy.com
    http://socialbookmarkingsite.com/
    http://www.putvote.com
    http://www.tagcloud.com/
    http://prosocialbookmarking.com/
    http://www.niallkennedy.com/blog
    http://kinja.com
    http://www.revieweb.info/
    http://www.markcarey.com/

    Enjoy :)
     
    iceberg, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  15. Jackie2006

    Jackie2006 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    647
    Likes Received:
    9
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    108
    #15
    1) First thing, don’t keep all your forums blank coz the users would think it’s a dead one and run away. As an admin you can post something useful which may help the information seekers. And this way your forums will look informative and alive.
    2) You can drop in some other forums, answers queries there. Don’t spam rather share your knowledge and offer help to them. But make sure they allow signature URLs like DP.
    3) As you said that your site is meant for computer graphics then I suggest you to start contest related to your theme.
     
    Jackie2006, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  16. cgshelf

    cgshelf Peon

    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #16
    Yes I am planning for some contest and all. Since I have only 20 users registered, I think I will not be able to go for any contest currently. Or is it a good idea to start a contest with this 20 members?
     
    cgshelf, Feb 13, 2007 IP
  17. betaalbaba

    betaalbaba Peon

    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #17
    Get (Hire) some enthuastic forum posters who will post regularly and do organic SEO ...

    Cheers
     
    betaalbaba, Feb 13, 2007 IP
  18. Jackie2006

    Jackie2006 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    647
    Likes Received:
    9
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    108
    #18
    It is a part of the strategy. I think, you have to wait a bit. And let the interested user come in. If you feel that the right time has come to announce the game, then proceed.
     
    Jackie2006, Feb 13, 2007 IP
  19. killafawk

    killafawk Active Member

    Messages:
    2,248
    Likes Received:
    36
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    90
    #19
    i have a question about page bowl...im doing a similar site thats up now but the thing is how can people make money off these sites if they only charge 1$ lifetime links? for mine its 1$ a month for text ads and that seems very fair. Also my domain name would be awsome for type of work. but id like to have a steady stream of income from the site thats why i do it monthly...

    i have banner ads as well which cost 10$ a month but now im thinking about 5$ a month is more reasonable and i think ill do 1$ lifetime links to get the buzz going..
     
    killafawk, Feb 13, 2007 IP
  20. Site

    Site Member

    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    11
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    48
    #20
    Concentrate in good content.
    Post here and use your siggy to advertise it.
    Pay members with large postcount.
     
    Site, Feb 13, 2007 IP