How do you guys/gals do it? I am starting up my first forum: http://dogfoodchat.com/forum and I can't decide what to work on... Promoting.. Content.. Links.. Posting.. ETC.. I love the challenge, but I am always torn as to what part to work on. When I decide to work on something say, link building I always come across post that say link building isn't necessary, so I start working on content blah blah blah. For anyone who thinks Marketing a Forum is easy.. ITS NOT! Sorry just had to vent for a second... Back to writing some content... wait.. should I build some links.. naa I think I will promote.. Never mind I'm going to bed.
Yes link building is one of the important step to get your site more traffic. And content is the complement to it. So it mean content and link building is the important way to gain more traffic
Many personal webmaster encounter such problems, I am not exceptions. Think carefully and plan seriously about the forum. good luck with you.
Marketing is the easiest/hardest thing to do It takes so much energy, time, and dedication that you end up not focusing on what's important to you. The best thing to do right now is network your ass off. I know it sounds lame, but building your network and connections to as many people will definitely allow you to see some results. As mentos said, add content, and make it yours... there's nothing worse than bad, already written content.
you should focus on getting lots of posts before doing serious promotion because if people come and see its empty they wont stay. Start off with getting friends to post daily to make it look active
I wouldn't really say the forum is empty... I gauged this by asking myself if I would join the forum..