Does anyone have any advice on how to get a community/forum site's ball rolling? It seems like this is the hardest part...getting those first few users to make their posts. I am developing one now and I plan on using Adwords, but I was hoping someone here with more experience might offer some suggestions! Thanks!
I had the exact same question. Would love to hear the answer to this. I remember seeing one of the guru's here has a "self-help" forum? I think its YSR1?
I think you may be thinking about my Self Help products...They don't have anything to do with forums though Member Joeychgo also has a pretty good resource if you use vB Its something like www.vbwebmaster.com Cheers
Hello, Please read my article that i wrote on this topic at the following link might help you start off. http://theadminforum.com/showthread.php?p=2#post2
Well as said many time before by many guys and girls 1 - Youve got to love your subject matter as its a live site and not a put up and forget 2 - Visit forums and see how they do it i.e subject matter cat lay out ect 3 - POST LIKE MAD and make them good ones and leave your posts open ( remember to reply to every post at first ) 4 - You can set yourself up as several different people at first and talk to yourself 5 - It is a big bonus if you are adding it to a site that gets traffic already 6 - There are many forums on running forums but goto the good ones that have a good traffic and growth that way you know your in the right place . This one is good for the starting bloke http://www.theadminzone.com/forums/index.php? 7 - Good luck
well people this pay per post to get their forums get rocking start and once it gets good amount of posts there is no looking back if you maintain the quality and discipline around your forums.
Great information from all of you. I have a website and I decided to add a forum to it. Its not a forum with categories like this one - its comes free with my network solutions hosting package. So far only 1 "real" person has posted. Is it beneficial to keep it up or do you think I should take it down. My website is a financial information website so the forum is not the main focus but I was hoping that once it gets going - i will be a position to attract repeat steady traffic. What are your thought?
IF your thinking about taking it down now then do it as you will never keep it up OR post and post some more plus on your main site make sure the forum link is in a great spot or in an eye catching banner If you find it hard to think of something to write about every day on your subject matter the subscribe to google news and this will give you the latest news to talk about un till natural posts start
Forums can be tricky to get started. How do you get new members? Well, I wrote a song about it. Like to hear it go... 4 Ideas for Creating A Successful Forum
Getting the ball rolling after you've created a new board can be tricky - as is keeping it rolling! You might find something of interest here - make sure you read the 'ABC'!
Offer some freebies, incentives, prizes for a start. Or signup as several users and start "talking to yourself". Visitors see some activity on your forums and are more likely to hang around and start posting.