Which is most likely to get visitors to contribute?

I am interested in what will entice visitors to contribute to a community.

Prizes.

Money.

Page Rank.

Possibilities of Backlinks.

A Sense of Community.

 

Prizes that relate to the site. Because then you know you're getting quality posts from people who actually enjoy the subject...

Vs. PR or $ which could just be anyone who wants to earn a buck.

 

A sense of community would be the best. But you need to build the community to get started. So from that list, prizes might be your best bet early on.

The average visitor probably doesn't care about PR or backlinks.

 

I think monetary gains and possibilities of backlinks would entice most visitors to contribute to a community.

 

Prizes absolutely. Like dastuff mentioned...give only things your community would be interested in. Otherwise you're gonna get a bunch of jerks and freeloaders trying to win money. Also, unless it's a webmaster/seo community, no one is gonna know wtf a backlink is, much less join your community to get one.

 

I would also say community. That is one reason why Myspace, Bebo, and Youtube are so popular is because they have a good community.

 

sense of community , thats the reason you are posting on this forum ... noone wants prizes , i get over 100 spam mails daily telling me i have won this or that . and i simply delete them without reading.

 

I think a forum thats done well and provides a sense of community and deals with important issues will natuarlly get contribution, even without offering carrots.

 

Yes thats exactly it, obviously it depends on the market, if the visitors are say webmasters looking to improve websites then - backlinks and PR, but if its the average user then for me probably Community.

 

I think this is only really true if you have a site that has to do with visitors that own sites...

The general public really isn't out looking for backlinks, actually I am forever explaining to my freinds what the heck a backlink is heheh

Whoops, see I always find something that catches my eye, then i can't wait to reply.. saying exactly what the guy above me said ... *blush*

 

It all varies depending on the site - theme, content, community size, trust.

 

How do you send prizes if you members are in different countries?

 

People don't really look at prizes as much as they used to - because of all the things like popups, viruses and all kinds of things that they worry about.

So i think its moved on from that - not unless its a prize thats a bit different from the rest.