The best way to give this forum the boost it needs

I've been running a general discussion forum for over a year and a half now (see: http://www.xtremeitalk.com) and it's definitely had it's highs and it's lows... and unfortunately this low has stuck for a while now. It used to be booming with activity because I had friends who were really addicted to it and they helped make it popular which made it attractive for other members. But for some reason they stopped and many left and... it's just been very downhill. It's very unfortunate because this place is my dream. I won't give up though... never ever ever.

So what do I do? I've paid posters (something I said I'd never do...), I've paid for advertising, paid for links... I just don't know what to do. It's already at a stage where it should be less difficult to get more activity... over 25 thousand posts... almost 500 members... a few dozen active members... but I don't know it's just not at the point I want it to be at yet.

Basically what I'm looking for is people who care about the forum as much as I do. Short of giving everyone admin, there's no way to do that.

So what do I do? It's a general discussion forum so advertising in specific niche's is very difficult since I don't really have a niche for my type you know..

 

That's quite the successful forum, since you've tried a lot of marketing ideas already, why not look for a partnership with a popular site?

 

dont give up, optimize your site with seo and also send newsletter to members for updates, keep contests

chk this link : http://forumrating.com/blog/2006/12/04/want-to-boost-your-forums-learn-how/

also true, partnership can also be a nice alternative as said by 8
if u have 2-4 partners u have 4 more hands to contribute to growth of the forum.

 

You should consider partnering with another forum.

- Prilep

 

What is a partnership about though? And why would I want to give another forum exposure on mine when I'm trying to get my own popular.

 

You should find a forum in the same category as yours and combine the posts together on one domain. Like that it will get more exposure and 2 people would be working on getting it active.

- Prilep

 

I was mainly thinking a partnership with a site (not sure which though) with members that don't have a forum.. so maybe they can migrate to yours.

Forum to forum partnership is a tricky one! Since one will be more dominant than the other in the long run.

 

I'd never let another person take the reigns of Xtreme iTalk.

 

Hey you asked us where just telling you what we think. What you do is up to you.

- Prilep