i just started a similar thread.....believe me its very hard. I even started a contest within digitalpoint offering a 6 month, 3 month and 1 month free sitewide links to the top posters. Believe it or not I only have 2 contestants....one of which has only 5 posts. THis means that the 3rd prize is not even going to be given away! So contests are a bit fruitless in here....maybe offer cash or link all your other sites to the forum
you dont need cash you can submit to 100's of directories for free, try and get you mates to help you out and give your members something free to help them like you more also SEO would help alot and you could do with sorting some keywords out on your links
Trading links yer thats been around for a very long time, you can aslo trade posts. you two at the top could help each other out
submit the forum in all forum directories, create a unique design, be active on the forum, tht should help.
I would start by personally inviting all your friends to participate. You can also promote your forum on other forums if you do it a non-obnoxious way. Most importantly, make sure the forum is either useful, interesting, or entertaining. People should WANT to participate.
One thing that make it hard is that most people who comes to your site/forum and see an empty forum wont register and start writing. So you have to work a little with the content of the forum and make it look active. This will also make it more easy to find by SE and such. Start relevant threads yourself, invite some friends and people on your contact list and after a short while you have a couple of 100 of posts. Thats the start, after this it is much easier to promote it. I hope this can help a little. //Andreas
I am in the same situation... I am willing to trade posts to all forum owners who are willing to post to my forum... Simply PM me with your username and forum url so I will know the deal. For every topic you start, I will do the same+ on your forum. For every post you make I will reciprocate+. Lets get some threads started! Please no blantant SPAM... Family Friendly genuine contribution... Signature links are OK... Announce your forum today...
Well the forum is literally less than 24 hours old and i have'nt finished designing it yet! The forum is about Cricket in the UK, so some of you probably would'nt be able to participate. If anyone is interested in exchanging posts drop me a PM with your forum and start posting on my forum. My web address is: www.countycricketclubs.co.uk
have the patient to submit it to as many directories as you can, that'll help in promoting your site. and also, join the forums w/c are related to your site, in that case, you will get the attention of those people who have interest in 'Cricket' (as you said, your forum topic)... update it from time to time and put interesting topics, just like what other DPers have said. Goodluck to you!
actually start a forum is very tough. some people even pay others to do the posting to start the ball rolling.
hah, if you say so. Sounds like a good idea.... Anyways seems that all of these ideas would work well....that and a little time.