Best Way to Get People to POST in a Forum

[Andrew Maule]

I've got a health related site that's very "sub-niche" but I've got a loyal following and about 700 users. Problem is this forum is a few years old and only about 800 threads, and 3500 posts.

Any idea on how to get people to post more threads and start them as opposed to just adding onto old posts. I want people to post more product reviews, recipes, etc. How can I do this...?

Things I've tried so far:

• Added a plugin that automatically emails people when they've been absent from posting for 30 days
• Added a post/rank system so the more you post the higher your rank increases
• Included in the welcome emails/PM to please post product reviews and recipes
• Added an image hosting plugin that makes it easier to post pictures for product reviews

Anything else I can do? I'm thinking of using actual physical incentives like a cool wristband with the site name on it if you post 20 reviews or recipes or something. Any suggestions? At a loss here...

[4morereferrals]

Some hobby sites use COOL pic of the Week.

Like a picture of their remote control helicopter or boat or offroad truck

Recipe post of the week - wins $xx off at GNC / WalMart/Nordstroms - or something.

Make it a big prize and for the MONTH contest. Like the one where the photographer lets the parents post the first sitting shot of their kid, and has a Cutest Kid contest. The parents are offered a free $750 sitting that costs the photographer like $200. And the parents hit everyone in their address book to go Here and vote for my kid - so I can win! Isn't little Suzy cute!

Well make the voters Opt In to vote ...

There's like 10-15 kids per contest - people were getting 1,000's of votes to win!

[George Wright]

Hi, Great Post,

My thought is to Reward desired behavior. Every time someone posts the kind of post you like, thank them publicly and or privately for it.

It happens here, It's just not Allen Anymore. The members encourage each other. LOL I remember on the old, old forum getting regular Private Messages from the senior members and some from Allen saying "great idea" "nice Post" that's how they got me hooked. Well, allen's were mostly "watch it George" but you get the idea.

George Wright

[Andrew Maule]

Thanks George that's a good idea, and thanks for the best of the month idea I might use that...hmm...

[SylviaHeins]

Maybe you could you set up a twitter (have the forum as the website) and invite your readers to join you there, and then tweet about whos talking about what, or scintillating threads that you or pseudonymous 'yous' start + that will help positioning about how the forum is a valuable networking tool for between memebers.

I've really appreciated blogs that thank you for posting (strategic profits does a really nice job) after you've made a comment. It's a nice touch and it brings me back from time to time.

[WinsonYeung]

You can try pay per post forum, take a look at sizeofpaper.com