How do I get people to use my forum?

[VilPietersen@]

Hey, I have a forum on my blog, well I will do and in the past I've had trouble getting people to post on it. Should I run some sort of competition or offer some sort of incentive to get it all kicked off.

Maybe someone has had the same problem in the past.

I just want to create a good resource for my users, so that they can share advice and tips with each other and what not.

Thanks for your help in advance

[Adam Carn]

I see you're on Twitter, you can tell your followers on there about new posts. Get them excited. If you have a subscriber list, email them when you have new posts. Interact with the forum users so they keep coming back. This can have a "word of mouth" effect too.

Thanks,
Adam

[VilPietersen@]

yea about that, I have about 8 followers on twitter and no subscriber list. I know it says I've been a member on here fo ages but I'm only just starting out.

Do you reckon people will just start organically introducing themselves and chatting? It's sort of like the sims!!

[Ralf Skirr]

Getting a forum busy is a very hard to accomplish.

So the first question I think about is:
WHY would YOU want to do this? Is it worth the effort?

Next, if you're talking about the blog in your sig, consider the user side as well:
- why would someone prefer a new, empty forum about IM when he can come to the WF instead?
- you don't even have comments on your posts. If your readers don't even do that, why would they go deeper and sign up for your forum?

I know it's not what you asked for, but my suggestion would be to re-evaluate the idea itself.

Some things are just not profitable considering the work they need.

[VilPietersen@]

ye fair one!

I haven't put it up yet and that blog is only two days old so it hasn't seen much traffic, maybe I'm just trying to complicate things too much,

thanks!!!

[Ralf Skirr]

I must say: I installed a forum at my blog to - but then i decided not to actually introduce it to the public.

I guess that's what we do when we are excited about our new stuff.

[GuerrillaIM]

Build traffic to it so you know people are seeing it then either create multiple accounts and talk to yourself or pay people to post for you. No one wants to talk in a forum where no one is making posts.

[erinwrites]

You might be trying to do too much too quickly. Build your readership and community and then start your forum--when you see that there is a need for one.

Do you have another site that is popular that you can use to increase your new blog's visibility? Do you have experience with blog promotion and building?

[VilPietersen@]

Ye I think I might just leave it out. I'll just forward people here! Don't really want to spend money or time on someting as trivial as that!!

Thanks for your opinions tho!!

[Lance K]

So you post on Warrior Forum asking Warrior Members how to get people to use a different Internet Marketing forum? Is that right?

If so, good luck.

[VilPietersen@]

Originally Posted by erinwrites

You might be trying to do too much too quickly. Build your readership and community and then start your forum--when you see that there is a need for one.

Do you have another site that is popular that you can use to increase your new blog's visibility? Do you have experience with blog promotion and building?

No I'm savagely new, I'm working on it. I think you're right though, establish a reader base and then consider "dropping" the forum in.

[VilPietersen@]

Originally Posted by Lance K

So you post on Warrior Forum asking Warrior Members how to get people to use a different Internet Marketing forum? Is that right?

If so, good luck.

Cheers mate!

[AlexNavas]

Once you have good traffic and a reader base, what you can do is offer things exclusively on the forum. For now though, since you're trying to get traffic to your blog, don't worry about the forum as much adding tons of value on your blog so people know what kind of information to expect from you!

Good luck

[Mr Money Maker]

what you need is about 10 people to comment every day....plus traffic.....sometimes when the topics get heated in exchange it draws crowds of people in.
I find topics that shock people.... like example - ( My wife ran off with 18 motorcycle dudes last night) watch the traffic come flying in.....of coarse my wife didn't...this is an example....people read that stuff

[mattlaclear]

I think maybe you are biting off a little more than you need to chew right now as erinwrites suggested. If you focus your efforts right now on the blog I think that would be a wiser expenditure of your time. Just lock on to getting great content on your blog on a consistent basis and everything should work out just fine. Provided you're doing your keyword research! Once you have a thriving community within your blog then you can consider setting up the forum.

Just try to keep from diving into the pool before you pump the water into it!

Good luck man!

Originally Posted by VilPietersen@

yea about that, I have about 8 followers on twitter and no subscriber list. I know it says I've been a member on here fo ages but I'm only just starting out.

Do you reckon people will just start organically introducing themselves and chatting? It's sort of like the sims!!

Now you have 11 - I just sent you a message - @VilPietersen (not an auto reply, I do not use auto tools for twitter)

James

Originally Posted by Mr Money Maker

what you need is about 10 people to comment every day....plus traffic.....sometimes when the topics get heated in exchange it draws crowds of people in.
I find topics that shock people.... like example - ( My wife ran off with 18 motorcycle dudes last night) watch the traffic come flying in.....of coarse my wife didn't...this is an example....people read that stuff

Would you join my forum please ... lol Maybe start a heated debate ..

James

[bingitbaby]

One way is to join other forums and groups. Join their conversation and then after you build a trust there, just ask if they will check out your fourm. You can also use free article sites and write articles about your forum, a press release type letter.

Originally Posted by Mr Money Maker

what you need is about 10 people to comment every day....plus traffic.....sometimes when the topics get heated in exchange it draws crowds of people in.
I find topics that shock people.... like example - ( My wife ran off with 18 motorcycle dudes last night) watch the traffic come flying in.....of coarse my wife didn't...this is an example....people read that stuff

Gee maybe it does work - EzineArticles Makes Changes - Authors Go Crazy And Shoot Themselves - I just got 23 visits in 2 mnutes from twitter ...lol

[Gary McCaffrey]

I made a post on my blog today about how I have started busy forums very easily and quickly several times. Getting 100's of legitimate posts from the very first day you announce the forum.

Link in my sig...

[DotComBum]

You can run a contest for example the first person who made 10,000 posts will get $100, that will help you get some posts in a short time.

DCB