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Any advice on how to populate a forum/community?

by Tom Lazenby
16 replies
I'd love to build up a populated forum for one of my niches, the trouble is I have no idea how to get it off the ground without making 100 accounts and having conversations with myself all day until enough people sign up. Any ideas?
#advice #forum or community #populate
  • Profile picture of the author dog-mad
    I guess what you have suggested could be a good start, or getting people you know to post in there until things pick up. Im sure ive read on here somewhere you can pay people to do things like this also.
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  • Profile picture of the author Shakul
    You have many options:

    1. Use auto forum filler script or software, there are many out, and some even are shareware which you can try, They will make accounts and will post the threads and replies

    2. You can hire the people

    3. Do it yourself = Not easy

    Regards
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  • Profile picture of the author Mac the Knife
    Are there other forums on this same niche? Does your product or service handle a different aspect of this same niche? Birds of a feather flock together...find out where your people are and tell them about it. Obviously, you have to respect the communities rules and such, but I have over 8000 on my site from all over the world...ONe person invited another, and so on...if they dig it, they will tell others. Maybe offer free banner space for the first few that join and get 10 of the people in their network. There are many ways. good luck!

    Mac
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    • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
      What about good old fashioned SEO. Watch it grow naturally over time.
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      • Profile picture of the author Scott Burton
        Originally Posted by Marhelper View Post

        What about good old fashioned SEO. Watch it grow naturally over time.
        The problem with relying on SEO in this context, is that few people want to come to an empty forum. If they do, and find good information, they may come back. But if they come back in a week to find only 1 or 2 new posts, the forum will quickly fade from their list of 'places to go'

        SEO is fantastic for long term growth, but for a new forum, it just isn't feasible. What is needed is good content, multiple repeat visitors who register, participate and contribute good content.
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        • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
          Originally Posted by Scott Burton View Post

          The problem with relying on SEO in this context, is that few people want to come to an empty forum. If they do, and find good information, they may come back. But if they come back in a week to find only 1 or 2 new posts, the forum will quickly fade from their list of 'places to go'

          SEO is fantastic for long term growth, but for a new forum, it just isn't feasible. What is needed is good content, multiple repeat visitors who register, participate and contribute good content.
          In that case, I would recommend using Get a Free Lancer dot com. You can find someone that would be willing to do it for you at a reasonable price.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jay Moreno
    what forum script are you using?
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  • Profile picture of the author hotlinkz
    Cham,

    You could also offer a niche related ebook, audio or video. Make it so visitors cannot access the goodies until after they register. The other tip about 'forumpromotions' is very good advice.

    Market a page that describes the bonuses, plus market the forum itself.

    Good Luck
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  • Profile picture of the author britishidol
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author Megas
      If you have a list then the best thing is to annouce it to your list.
      You can also start posting alot of relevant information and content for your niche, that will help people see the value in the forum and sign up.
      If you don't have a list then what are you waiting for?
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Lazenby
    Wow thanks guys! There's loads to think about there, have any of you guys got a forum? Any tips for the first couple of weeks after you put it up?
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    • Profile picture of the author Jay Moreno
      Originally Posted by chameleon View Post

      Wow thanks guys! There's loads to think about there, have any of you guys got a forum? Any tips for the first couple of weeks after you put it up?
      let me know what forum/community script you are using and i can provide better help for you

      thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    I own a large, 100,000+ registered member niche-specific forum that started as a list-serv email group. ;-)
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    • Profile picture of the author my_addict_mind
      why not try mturk? you can ask people there to submit posts/threads in your forum for pennies.
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  • Profile picture of the author VegasCoupons
    Giveaways seem to work, but make it easy to obtain and hopefully you will get people to stick around.

    Make it like no more than 3-5 posts. I see some forums asking for 100 posts for a giveaway, probably won't happen. Especially if it is a new forum...
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  • Profile picture of the author Samuel Lee
    As an enticement to your new forum or blog, you could offer a free product in the niche related such as a free report, or brief free audio or video clips. And maybe treat it as a squeeze page so that you can gather their membership details and then give them your free gifts. Start maybe by marketing and constructing a page that describes the free bonuses you're offering as well market the forum you are selling as well. Hopefully this will ensure you have some good forum members ready to go. Hope this assists!
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  • Profile picture of the author daisuke75248
    just the usual ways to generate traffic. if you can rank hogh for a highly searched keyword people will flock to your forum.
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