What is the best way to get people to a forum?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by nddb, Jun 14, 2005.

  1. nddb

    nddb Peon

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    #21
    Ok, thanks. I'll think about how to do it.
     
    nddb, Jun 15, 2005 IP
  2. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #22
    I was just revisiting your site and noticed this at the top of your homepage

    Apart from the lack of subtelty it's very bad practice
    <div class="hide"><a href="#content" title="Find a Family Doctor" accesskey="2">Find a Doctor for your family by name and location in our database, or rate your own family doctor and help others find a good doctor that is right for them and their family.</a>.</div>
    Code (markup):
    Sarah
     
    sarahk, Jun 16, 2005 IP
  3. Blogmaster

    Blogmaster Blood Type Dating Affiliate Manager

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    #23
    I do that in 2 minutes :cool: ;)
     
    Blogmaster, Jun 20, 2005 IP
  4. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #24
    have you seen my post about not counting posts in the chat section? or allowing rep to count if it's given in the chat section? I don't think Shawn was inspired, but we wary... very wary...
     
    sarahk, Jun 20, 2005 IP
  5. Blogmaster

    Blogmaster Blood Type Dating Affiliate Manager

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    #25
    No, where is it?
     
    Blogmaster, Jun 20, 2005 IP
  6. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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  7. BigEasy

    BigEasy Peon

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    #27
    Some of you might frown on this, but I think it's harmless. I get my forums going by going pschyzo (sp?). I create several users and have conversations with myself so that there will be content and the appearance of a community, and so that my efforts to drive people to the forum will result in a greater likelihood of a new user. Nobody wants to sign up for a forum that has little or no members/posts.

    It's worked out pretty well so far. Once I have a couple of regulars I slowly phase out the pseudo-users as they are no longer needed.

    For an example you can check out my new golf forums, which right now 100% of the posts are from me. Maybe I shouldn't be revealing my multiple personality syndrome... hmmm...
     
    BigEasy, Jun 20, 2005 IP
  8. Blogmaster

    Blogmaster Blood Type Dating Affiliate Manager

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    #28
    nah ... ppl are vindictive in here, they will track down your posts in other sections so they can red you for something you've said in general chat.
     
    Blogmaster, Jun 20, 2005 IP
  9. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #29
    So long as you love Michael Campbell and state it publicly (which you and your imaginary friends have failed to do) we'll let you get away with anything ;)

    The best thing about having real people, who aren't you, posting is you don't have to do anything.

    Sarah
     
    sarahk, Jun 20, 2005 IP
  10. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #30
    Erik - I registered (forum junkie that I am) and now the whole site seems to have died of shock. You might want to take a look!
     
    sarahk, Jun 20, 2005 IP
  11. BigEasy

    BigEasy Peon

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    #31
    Hmmm... not sure what happened. I just checked it out and it seems fine to me and I see that you are registered as the newest member. What error message did it give you?
     
    BigEasy, Jun 20, 2005 IP
  12. BigEasy

    BigEasy Peon

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    #32
    LOL - I'll get right on that! I haven't had much of a chance to post there yet today.

    Real people... they are the best. That's really the only way I've found of getting my forums off the ground successfully though - because the real people don't join up unless they find some other [imaginary, known only to us] people to talk to. :)
     
    BigEasy, Jun 20, 2005 IP
  13. nddb

    nddb Peon

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    #33

    What's bad about that? That's actually part of the Drupal template I am using. I obviously changed the title and what not, but that is the way it was when I got it. That seems to be the first text the SE's see, so they use that as the description when not using the meta tags.
     
    nddb, Jun 21, 2005 IP
  14. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #34
    Hidden text, with no mechanism for making it visible, is considered spam and will have you black listed WHEN you get reported. Fancy putting it to the test?

    On the other hand I have an experiment on Flash Simulation which uses hidden layers but there is a clear and very obvious mechanism for making them visible.

    Sarah
     
    sarahk, Jun 21, 2005 IP
  15. nddb

    nddb Peon

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    #35
    A CSS hidden anchor tag is spam? If you visit the site in lynx it gives you a clear description and a way to skip the pesky navigation and go straight to content. Otherwise you have to page down a lot. (Or you do if the menu is on the left, but mine is not.)

    http://www.cortextcommunications.com/pushbutton <-- the theme comes like that. But I suppose I can remove it.
     
    nddb, Jun 21, 2005 IP
  16. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #36
    sarahk, Jun 21, 2005 IP