Thats basically it really!! I think its hard when you only have 6 members! As soon as people are seeing that, they're off!! I have sent emails, I have a nice link on my homepage, and thats that!, I know you cant go round posting it up all over other forums so what are the other possibilities?? Many Thanks
Start with putting the link in your signature.. then start putting some very interesting things on your forum and post those links on social bookmarking sites.. this would help if your posts are strong enough.. put the link to your forum as the status msg in your IM.. let people see...
"BUILD IT & THEY WILL COME" <<~~Remember that terminology? Well, it's ONLY 10% true... Thats the starting point... Marketing a forum follows the same process as any other type of website. You just have a different Target Market. To be honest, most forums DON'T succeed. The net is saturated with so many of them that it kills the demand (Overly supplied). Most companies have forums specifically for customer service support (Great retention tactic). I just launched a forum myself in addition to my main site a couple days ago. If you like, we can exchange information, sign-up to each others, & make a few posts each (A joint building effort so to speak). Myself I am buckling in for the long ride & don't expect to see mass results within the first 6 months (At least). I am starting to target the areas a Newbie webmasters would go in order to draw their attention (If I tell you, I'll have to kill you Or another phrase I like is: Can you keep a secret? - So can I ) I would be more than happy to do a post exchange with you though, just let me know... I wish you & your business the best of success!
A lot of people start with fake members to give the impression the forum is busier than it actualy is.
How many email addresses do you think i have!! I know what your saying, i thought that the other day!!
Ok, Mine is the last Sig link to the right " Webmaster Mafia Forums" I assume yours is your Sig link.. so i will go get the Party started if you do... See you soon.
Depending on the forum, tell your friends, post comments with links on other websites (such as this) or articles on the web pertaining to your particular site.
Ok, signed-up & started posting, I left you a VERY lengthy text rich Post covering Online & Offline marketing in your ANYTHING Goes section....
You ain't kidding!! I have signed with yours and introduced myself, just whatch out for the gun in ya face!! nice avatars!!
Anyone else fancy registering?? upto nine now! you can do the introduction, list your website in the "your websites" and that will give you another link and let others see and find your websites.
give them quality content and they will come. use it as a blog. if visitors find the content good, they will register and post.
Just make fake members and do it that way for awhile, I'm still doing that but it's getting to the point now where there are enough real members that I don't have to do it AS much. Nothing else seems to work. Eventually search engines will see your unique fake post content and send traffic. BIG lesson I learned - Don't spend money on advertising (at least until you get content), you will get traffic alright but they wont sign up if there is no content to read, even if it's fake. I was hit really bad with about $12 in debt with 1000s of visitors and not 1 conversion in Adbright traffic.
I'm a noo-B... But, here's what I'd suggest... you could consider posting more content... you're targeting a specific niche, which is great... there are a good number of articles online, that you can post on your site, as they are... all you'll need to do is credit the author, and publish in compliance with the TOS of the source where you get the articles from... although this won't work as an SEO strategy, it will give you content, which is what the veterans above have said you'll need to get more members... you could even consider working up the design, maybe just work on a header that looks inviting and says that this forum is run by experts, etc. Tip #3, please contact me if you need help regarding my above mentioned points... this might seem like I'm advertising myself, or even spamming (maybe), but this is one of the things you could be doing in other forums to get people to read yours, if you're allowed to post links there... P.S.: Admin., Mods., or Members, if my post looks spammy, please let me know, and I'll edit it...
Forums are hard.. and it's also a niche market so it takes time. I agree with what people said here... you need good content and perhaps tap into an existing community and make yourself more visible.