I want to start a forum, but dont want a "ghost" forum!

[Ashley Gable]

Hey all!

I want to start a forum on my site but am worried that it will be one of those forums where there are 3 posts and thats it. When I see a site with a forum like this I usually leave, not for any reason other than you feel lonely!

You know the feeling. Its not a hustling and bustling forum like the warrior forum (I have never seen a forum like this one!).

So how do you all with forums get members, get people posting, or at least create a feeling of a community?

I am not opposed to a "message board" either, one where dont have to join, if you think that is better.

So what do you think?

[jitterbug978]

you have to build a community.... of readers. You'll know when your ready for a forum. Right now I'm waiting to implement a forum into my membership site, that way it doesnt look like a ghost forum. Which might make members complain.

This forum is a rare occurrence, but I have noticed there has been a big dropoff in activity lately.. The threads arent as productive either.

[Mukul Verma]

What kinda forum do you want to start. I had a forum with 1800 members back in the glory days.

The best way is valuable content. The WIIF (Whats In It For Me).

Also a strategy that for 500 people signed up in a week. Everything was open, even the song reviews. Then one day just decided to make is private and all those guess became members, we had 500 people sign up that week

[cheesy]

First of all, does your website need a forum, are you trying to create a community or are you focusing on somthing else. That's the first thing you need to figure out.

If you really do want a forum, then a good way to star off is maybe hiring some forum posters, just to get the site active. Maybe you could offer somthing to people if they join the forums and post frequently, a posting contest maybe? with a small cash prize, should get people joining and posting.

[Jared Alberghini]

Here's how I would jump-start a forum:

People love to enter contests, it's a great way to attract visitors to your site.
Create a few contests throughout your forum and submit to contest directories like these:

Online Sweepstakes, Free Samples, Free Stuff
Contests and Sweepstakes Directory - ContestHound.com
My Blog Contest
Blog Contests, Link Contests, Any Contests
Blog Contests on the Net
The Contest Winner
My Blog Contests
A.B.C. - About Blog Contests

[MilburnMarketing]

It's a tricky one and there is some great advice so far. The forum you're planning, is it for members of your site/customers only or is it open to the general public.

I wanted to start a membership site within the IM community and I had to give away the first 1,000 memberships just to get it buzzing with people before I could justify the pricing of the remainder.

But even with those people signed up it was difficult to get them talking!

So there are some great ideas above...

[Marty S]

Forums take real commitment, but can be VERY valuable in your mix of online real estate. I run a successful forum and use it constantly in my marketing mix. I posted start-up tips here:

Does forum help?

[Ken Durham]

Originally Posted by Marty S

Forums take real commitment, but can be VERY valuable in your mix of online real estate. I run a successful forum and use it constantly in my marketing mix. I posted start-up tips here:

Does forum help?

There are some very good tips and ideas there. Thanks for posting them.

I find a forum can help with Google and SEM in a large way. It gives you virtually thousands of long tail keyword phrases with a lot of free related content.....over time
As mentioned you can usually find people to moderate it free of charge. Just gift them every so often and they will serve you until death. Or steal your database of users

Forums do take time to grow though and can be difficult at times to generate direct revenue from.

[Mohammad Afaq]

I think you will have to fill up the forum yourself or by paying someone. Believe it or not no one is going to post in an empty forum and if this is the case you forum will always be empty and will not have thread posted.

Hire someone to do it or do it yourself. On you forum make up 10 or so usernames and then use them to ask and answer question. This will get you started.

[Marty S]

Originally Posted by mohammad111

I think you will have to fill up the forum yourself or by paying someone. Believe it or not no one is going to post in an empty forum and if this is the case you forum will always be empty and will not have thread posted.

Hire someone to do it or do it yourself. On you forum make up 10 or so usernames and then use them to ask and answer question. This will get you started.

UGHHHH. Unless you like the feel kicking yourself in the groin do not do anything like this.

IP addresses are tracked and all moderators can see that you will be the ghost poster. The same person writing is SO obvious your forum and you will come off looking like a fool. Plenty enough of those online already. PLUS it is simply poor karma.

Read my tips above and you CAN start a forum.

[The Leader]

People join forums because they have a sense of belonging to what the forum is about. If they feel they can just read it and not join then it''ll go no where. So think about what will make them want to join!

[Ashley Gable]

Thanks for the comments so far.

Just to clear it up, I am not charging to join, in fact after I wrote the post I thought that maybe a message board would be more what I am after. I dont want people to have to register to post. So a message board is the answer for me I think.

I didnt even realise you could hire people to post on your forums! But is is interesting!

Originally Posted by Marty S

UGHHHH. Unless you like the feel kicking yourself in the groin do not do anything like this.

IP addresses are tracked and all moderators can see that you will be the ghost poster. The same person writing is SO obvious your forum and you will come off looking like a fool. Plenty enough of those online already. PLUS it is simply poor karma.

Read my tips above and you CAN start a forum.

I dont understand how it can be bad, seeing as it will be my forum. It will be small so I wont have moderators?? Will the people posting be able to tell you posted the posts?? If not then I dont see the problem with me jumpstarting the community with a few posts and threads.

I dont know yet, still thinking!!

Thanks for the replies so far!
Ashley