Recently, I have started a niche forum, with two big competitors with similiar content. Both of these competitors have 200k plus posts - my site is getting near 2,000. I have paid posters, done a lot of posting myself and done a lot of posting on the other forums. I also have a network of four information sites that are similiar to the niche. Site gets about 100 unique visitors a day 2-3 forum signups and 50 posts. What else next, other than patience?
tell everyone that you'll bring pamela amberson for a "live show" in your forum. when people realize its pamela amberson, i'll be too late and you can always tell them that this one is for real!
Start posting in your competitor's forum and put your site's URL in your signature! Always works, as members of their forum will be looking for a place to go to, should they ever become disappointed.
I want to write a press release. Do you have some samples of press releases for web sites similiar to it?
Send a PM to Jenn (I forget her username offhand) or wait for her to respond. She'll give you some links and tips. Basically, make sure the PR is NEWSWORTHY. Heres a good link I just found http://www.usd.edu/urelations/pressrelease.cfm
buy more inbound links. especially get a link from your competitor site. Use Adword to get link from his site is possible. Contest wont work if those posters are paid posters (I have done that myself just to learn the mistake)