Well I guess the title says it all. I need people to join my social networking site submit their stuff. Does anyone have any tricky methods for making a brand new website look like it's populated and active? It's a link submission - social net site. Suggestions are Highly Appreciated.
I would say a brand new site you will need to maybe register accounts so it looks like there's people on it especially if its a social site as most of them have stats on homepage.
A trick i used when I started my dating site, was by creating a launch date. Make the website inactive till the launch date, but only allow people to register to the site. Have some kind of tour setup to give your members a sneak peak of the site (get a kick-ass flash tour designed or something). Give some kind of incentive, prizes, etc to people who pre-register to the site before the launch. Hype up the launch and spend a lot marketing the launch. Make press releases, make youtube videos, myspace and facebook groups, facebook ads, adwords, blogs, etc. Remember, you have to make people want to join your new site. Make their 5 minutes filling out the registration form worthwhile. Have prize giveaways, maybe free tshirts to the first 100 people who pre-registers to the site, etc. Don't make your site look established, in fact make it look new, fresh and happening. You have create that buzz. Have a count down on the homepage for the launch date when the site finally goes live. I have successfully started or help start numerous dating/social networks. The reason 99% new social networks fail is because they don't hype it enough. It is a lot of work, but will pay off. You need to also have a decent amount of money to spend on marketing if you want to do it right. NEVER create fake profiles, people will find out quick and your site will fail. Again launching a site "properly" is a lot of work, but if done right you shouldn't have problems getting a few thousand members before the launch. If you are new to this, I would hire someone to do the site launch for you.
Social networking website need to look active with members and submissions, so it would be great if you hire people for submissions in the starting o give it a kick start.
Good idea about the hype. I agree, if it's plain jane and not active people will not be interested. As for hiring people... Elance? Rent A Coder? Where a good start to get people rollin' for hire?
may be true. you can give good credit me. I can help free. why are you hiring but do some simple work but keep continue, after some time you will get famous in the world means people will attract your site. social book marking, forum posting, mail marketing and free ads marketing... many easy way, you can reach your target.
Join namepros, give them a few NP$ to ask them to spam your S.B. site to get things rolling and look busy.