We all know new forums are notoriously difficult to get started. Since they are 100% user created, there's not much one person can do to liven up a forum. What are the best solutions for brand new forums to get active members? Also, what are some good expansion tactics to get more members active? I have used paid forum posting before and it has worked out quite well to build up a foundation (because let's face it, no one will join/post in a dead forum with no topics or posts) so that's the tactic I am using this time around as well (for instance, look at my signature). What are your best advice to all the forum owners?
Hi Coyotioo, I suggest a partnership (joint Venture) with another popular forum to get started. Get in contact, with some other forum owners and get ideas from them and listen to thier suggestions about starting a new forum. Here are some tips, ( press releases and contests announced ) regards, LASSE
Is Youtube a viable source of traffic when it comes to promoting forums? Anyway, I just find it hard to get the "ball rolling" so to speak, that initial active traffic you know =S
Forums are very people oriented (ha, imagine that). People will congregate where there are other people of a common interest sharing ideas/advice. Make new connections in the niche and get them to use your forum as their means of communication. Force people to register to view the content that may have been found through a search engine. If people register just to look at something, they're still more likely to post something later. Give a sense of exclusivity in that only members can view the good content. Its really hard to get a forum going in the beginning, sometimes you gotta "fake it til you make it" and make posts under false names to give the impression that its an active forum. The hardest part is getting it started.
Ah, I see The "fake it til you make it" sounds like a good idea actually, hadn't thought of that myself. However, sounds very time-consuming.