Diego Varen Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I've recently made my own Forums, the Lord Sion Board, which was made for free by ProBoards. How do I attract people to my Forum? I know it isn't very good, but I wish people to still join. I hope this isn't advertising, since I really like LF, but I just want to know how and what I can do. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Master Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I think you should allow Jedi and Sith to both join your forum and have debates on their teachings, will be fun to see, due that I'm a Grey one. Also, make it more unique, more attractive, put something there that other forums don't have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChAiNz.2da Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 - Word of mouth (or mouse) is the very best thing. - Tell all of your friends about it. If you or they have blogs, websites or myspace accounts... announce it! (just not here as per forum rules.. hehehe) Ask for them to link your site.. and if they have sites of their own, tell them you will return the favor by swapping site links. Just make sure you do link their site - Put it in your signature file, which is allowed at LFnet provided it's not a "recruit" line - Take advantage of other people's comments or guestbooks that allow weblinks. This doesn't mean spamming their's, but rather respectively commenting on their site while providing a link to your site. As such, leave a comment about your site over at my site.. I have a comments section that also allows weblinks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego Varen Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 I think you should allow Jedi and Sith to both join your forum and have debates on their teachings, will be fun to see, due that I'm a Grey one. Like LF, Grey Master, my Forums are suitable for everyone. But I need some advice. Please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anakin Skywalker Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Just wait........ your fics draw peoples attention, and with the Link in your siggy then people will see it and click on it...... IMO Pottsie, I would make the Link bigger and easier to find Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SithRevan Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Well I say just wait and they will come. A lot of people know who you are on these borads and I am sure a few other places so everybody is naturally going to gather to your boards in due time. I just registered myself and I can't wait to start posting. Good luck wiht your boards man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoffe Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Think through why you would want your own forum. Why would anyone want join your forum, out of the hundreds of thousands available on the Web? If you can give that question a good answer to yourself and you have a good reason, then people with that same interest will likely join for that same reason. Most people I know don't join any forums they come across unless they see any compelling reason to do so. Which likely means specialization to a specific set of subjects, like how LF specializes in discussion about Lucas related products. When you know your desired target group of people, hint at its existence in places where those people meet; present your forum and why they might want to join. In a subtle way (like this thread I presume ), most people don't respond too well to in-your-face advertising. Just my thoughts on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Det. Bart Lasiter Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Become an internet celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anakin Skywalker Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Good Idea, jmac, but Pottsie is already a celeb here on LF all of his fics.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego Varen Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 I'm no celebrity Anakin. Nice thought though and it makes me feel a bit better. Thanks for the advice all, by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth InSidious Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Do something highly embarrassing, and very shallow, vapid and stupid, preferably in public. It seems to work for most 'celebrities'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Word of mouth is probably my favorite method to attracting members and guests to my own forums. You have to give them a reason to join. I think that general discussion boards are much harder to drive traffic to because there are so many of them out there. If you choose a niche and work on spreading the word among your target audience you will be much more successful in most cases. Once you get people to click the link to your site they need a reason to join. Having a call to action on your welcome message is usually a good idea. There are so many forums out there, so you need to offer something unique. And I'm going to be perfectly honest with you here. I don't think I would join a board that doesn't have their own domain and hosting. Maybe that's just me but having hosting and a domain shows the admin is dedicated to their board. One more thing: I also would never join a forum that doesn't allow guests to view the forum unless the content is so exclusive or it's such a great board that I need to see whats there. This is how most users are, if they can't see what the board is about and what content is there they're likely to just move on to another one of the thousands of forums out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Obi-Wan Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Join other forums. Let them know about your forum in an appropriate way. And maybe they'll join. And if they don't threaten them you'll not be an active member. And some forums, let you advertise your site on their site. I know a few, PM if you want them. But, Word of Mouth is the better way to get members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabretooth Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Ha, DISGUISED ADVERTISEMENTS, like this thread!!! Word of Mouth is a good idea. Another good idea is to look at your forum skeptically. Does it have a primary topic, a purpose, a reason why people would post in it. Rope in a few friends and have them make some cool threads. Start some interesting discussions, maybe a few forum games, debates, fanfiction, and yes, roleplaying, nothing beats roleplaying. The more posts and rate of posting your forum gets, the more popular it will get. Have your friends spread it as wildly as possible. If you find an area where free advertising is allowed, go ahead. Just spread that URL WILDLY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego Varen Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 Well after all the advice I've recieved, I've decided to delete my Board and start again in the near future. I won't delete it yet, but I'll see what you all say. If that fails, then I'll stick with this Forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anakin Skywalker Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Ahhh........ Pottsie don't.......... I joined, because I wanted to...... I like your Forum.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaelastraz Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Unless you have something unique to offer, (or a lot of your friend use the forum as chat) I doubt you will get a somewhat big community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrotoy7 Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Lucky Pottsie, a whole thread about another forum and it hasnt been even closed yet you want your forum to grow ?? >>> enlist the aid of naked women(or naked men if you want to attract ladies and others), in pics, posts, testimonials, ads... it's what worked for my site mtfbwya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 you want your forum to grow ?? >>> enlist the aid of naked women(or naked men if you want to attract ladies and others), in pics, posts, testimonials, ads... it's what worked for my site mtfbwya And then the police come knocking on your door for contributing to the delinquency of minors since he's only 14.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego Varen Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 And then the police come knocking on your door for contributing to the delinquency of minors since he's only 14.... You must have been looking in my profile Jae. Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'll keep it and see if anyone joins. Thanks for the help everyone and feel free to close or delete this Thread. Well, you've also mentioned it at one point or another in a thread. --Jae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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