If you get a chance, take a look at my forum. Obviously it isn't as great as the vBulletin ones like you see here. However, is there anything specific about it that is scaring away posters? http://www.dotdesk.com/portal/FreeHelp/Forum/tabid/174/Default.aspx
I'd put a description below the Forum Names (The category names). It looks friendly enough though - not many posts, but nothing about it really warns me off..
It is the start of a Help Desk forum. Windows/PC related questions. I am trying to keep it simple for now and then grow the categories as they are needed.
There is a huge lack of other posters. It's stikes me as odd that people are registering, but not posting.
The lack of posters is the single killer of new forums. I suggest you at least have a friend or something reply to your threads and create some fake discussion.
Here are a few areas to consider: 1) menus - there three different bars to consider the top site bar, the top free help forum bar, and the forum bar. Given that this is not phpbb, it takes some time to figure out which one to use. 2) ad space - too much white space around the banner - perhaps putting in a background color would bring the freehelp forum bar / ad / forum bar / forum posts together. Or place the ad above the freehelp forum bar. 3) footer text - Font should match the font used in the forum. I'd change the copy to a more positive stance by removing the "unfortunately / reason" text and accentuate the free. Seeing the registration requirement upfront makes one assume that the forum cannot be accessed. 4) perhaps add in an existing question / answer database of FAQs - gets people to go into the forum and add in their own opinions / experiences. Or perhaps a "rate the answer" where a someone reviews existing answers and debunks them (lots of bad advice out there). Whatever you do - best of luck!
I seriously think getting people to post is the biggest issue - kind of a catch 22 - you need people to post so...people will post.. but its really the case. I posted in the SEO thread you had going, but that was the only thread I really had anything I could contribute short of "This is a really neato forum". So maybe additional catagories for additional areas of interest might help. You might consider hiring/paying one of these 'Forum Starters' I see posting around here. for a fixed rate, or a flat fee they can help you get your forum started by responding to posts, and starting relevant threads. Lastly, I joined one forum just to help kick it off, and they had a sort of incentive/contest - first person to 150 relevant quality posts would get an Ipod, 2nd an Ipod shuffle and 3rd...something else anyways - I won an Ipod shuffle and the forum had like 500-600 relevant posts in a very short period of time. With the right combination of all of those things I think you could get the forum kicked off pretty well.
I might be into doing something similar. What is the best way to advertise this? Can you think of any better derivations of this concept? Do you remember the Url of the site that had this?
lack of posters and it does not say which board its using at the footer strange!!! u made ur own board LOL
As said before lack of posts If your not posting then why would anyone else mate Post and post some more , always leave the post open like - any ideas | what should I do and the list goes on Just because you know the answer does not stop you asking the question Also if you are getting regs then why not send them a pm saying looking forward to your post Just to repeat a very easy answer to your question If your not posting then why would anyone else mate
Ack!!!!! Last post: In July for three boards. *Gets scared away!!* When you allready got one dead board.... http://forums.thinkbling.com/ You don't make a second dead board that's made for the same people (webmasters/internet business!!) Quick, combine them!!! Ack!! And there not vBulletin...scares about 100,000 more webmasters away!!!! They want AJAX!!!! Nothing less!!!!!!!! AJAZ is KING!!!! *Doesn't dare register and find out if it has AJAX. Has Goose bumps!!* And wackos don't get scared easily!!!!
When you register some of the styles seem to be mismatched and the button to submit looks like an afterthought. I just posted at http://www.dotdesk.com/portal/FreeHelp/Forum/tabid/174/mid/509/threadid/33/scope/posts/Default.aspx (yeah Mike, scary url) and the style for the link makes the post look funny. I also had to code the link using the html option as the hyperlink button didn't work with Firefox. But Nino has a point, if the first board didn't work why will this one? And where does my avatar go? Sarah
I think the point that Mike made is a very good one. If I registered on your forum, and forgot to bookmark the forum or deleted the email (which I regularly do!) and a few days later I want to visit it, would I remember the URL.. definatly not. If you can't change the URL have a think about doing mod-rewrite to change the URL to something more user friendly. Darren
Thanks for pointing this out. It seems if I don't display the "Container" around the forum, all the user's buttons like "My Settings" and "My Posts" disappear. I now show the container. I also show the footer which may be too busy. The forum looks pretty different right now. Do you think it is too "Busy" looking?