How do I get people to join my forum?

I just started a new forum recently and only got 7 people to join not counting my own accounts in the past few days. I'm offering 150 free ebooks with resale rights so more people get tempted to join. Honestly, I think this is the main reason why anyone has joined. What do you think is the best way for me to get people to join my forum? Some people are telling me to make up a bunch of fake account and start posting things. However, I want the forum to build it's self up the normal way instead of trying to fake that the forum is busy. I think most people would catch on anyways. You can see my forum link in my signature and you can join if you'd like. If you can post a topic somewhere other than the "Introduce Yourself" section I would really appreciate it.

 

Well first off, I don't see a lot of posts for people to even join and reply to. You need to start adding content in the different area's of the forum to give people an incentive to post and join. Also consider that with my forum it is part of a larger program and is promoted to members of my mailing list so there is an interest there when people join my forum. I also have niche experts that have joined the forum and provide value to the members.

 

Starting new forums is tricky business. First thing I noticed is that you have too many topics for a new forum. Start with what you need and when you get some more members add everything else you wanted.

 

Hi, you can start first by hiring forum posters. Check out DP's Buy/Sell section. There are people who would contract their services to post. The idea is to get your forum going and active. You can use other traffic building methods as well like

1. Article Marketing
2. Social Bookmarking
3. RSS Submission
4. Directory submissions
5. Blogging
6. Viral Marketing with ebooks on forum marketing
7. Comment Posting
8. Forum Posting in related forums

You can pick up more details on powerful traffic driving and sales pulling
secrets from my free report in my signature.

 

You site is very slow,pages are taking lot of time to open

 

I'd highlight the free ebooks incentive much more prominent...

 

I had a forum with over 2000 members. I sold it after two years of working with it, I could share a wack load of tips but your site is way too new for it to be usful.

Firstly, I want to tell you that your forum is a mess. It will be very hard to get members the way it sits and for one reason. You are barely a member yourself. You have 27 forums that no not have a single post in them. No one will want to be the first topic writer ever, so you have to try adding pinned topics in each forum you have. A busy forum gets people motivated to join. There isn't even anything in that forum that a guest can be drawn to.

 

You have a looooooot of categories there. You sure you won't be turning away a good amount of people?

I'm sorry, but a lot of the categories you have there are really boring. But maybe they still bring in the visitors???

It just seems like it is a boring board. Sorry. That's just my feeling on it.

Anyway, go to other message boards to contact the members via e-mail to tell them that you are looking for more opinions, input.

Address them by their username. Try not to sound like a form e-mail.

Tell him or her that you have read their posts, and you would really value their opinion. Make them feel good. Hit their ego.

Try to contact X amount of posters per day, and, maybe, in a few month's time, you'll have a sizeable board on your hands.

Also, ask other board owners how they did it. Most won't help, that's just the way most people are. Set aside a certain amount of time each day to send off e-mails.

Big-boards.com is a good source.

Finally, find sites that match your board, and ask the owner if he would like to have a board as part of his site. Give him the benefits. Tell him that you will pay all costs of running it.

The rub, though, is knowing if that site has enough visitors.

Perhaps have several boards going at the same time, one on each site. Then, when you think you have enough going to each board, combine them all into one.

 

Another trick is to have dummy members or paid posters at first. You may also close the forum for members only but you must have a tempting landing page so that they will be attracted to join...

 

You need to create some threads to start things off - people are more comfortable in adding their thoughts to an existing thread than creating something new. Even if you just post about some recent news on these various subjects and allow others to share what they think about it.

As for "dummy members" this would get your membership count up and make your site look like you have many members - however these members do nothing lol

You could look into paid posting for your forum to get things going - You would be surprised how much it helps.

Promote, promote and yes promote!

Go to forums that are of the similar nature, post on various threads having your forums link in your signature. Find your audience and give them what they want.

 

Try GetAFreelancer.com. There are people who are ready to make 1000 forum posts for $30-$40..

Adding on..I think your niche is such that nobody's is inherently going to be interested..The niche looks like something where a visitor would come off a search engine, ask a question that he had, wait for an answer and then go back. I think you would require to have people who shall act as mods and answer all questions...

 

GrAveTzT, I'm working on a forum on fishing. You know, me and a few guys wanting to swap stories, and stuff like that.

I would like to get it bigger, if you wouldn't mind, can you please share how you got 2,000 members?

Thanks.

 

I took off the category of "Global Trade" with all the sub-categories because I felt this area could never be filled in. Also, some of you guys are saying that the subject of "product sourcing" is boring. Honestly, I think product sourcing is just as important as marketing. If you don't know how to find the right products to sell you won't be successful at business. The only things that are easy to find are products from China. And how do you know the person who listed the item isn't going to scam you out of your money? The reason I started this forum is to help people find legitimate sources for products and to avoid problems like this.

 

i agree with everyone else..you should hire some writers to get the forum going..and then people will come..

 

I totally agree. This is what makes a forum look dead to many topics. If you start with just 6 broad topics your forum will look much more active.

 

1) there are tooooooo many of categories, which mean no niche.
2) people will join your forum when they find there're a lot of useful knowledge or tools or software to be shared. Honestly.

All the best for your forum.

BsGuyz.

 

I might sound off-topic, but do forums monetize well? I've heard people saying that the only thing forums get you is traffic, but no clicks at all...

 

I'd like to know the answer to this as well. Anyone?

 

From my experience. I think you need to post as much as possible. Forum shows poor posts, threads will not make people registering account. Contact your friends to help you by discussing the recent issues...