How to promote a forum?

I've built a few forums over the years (using phpbb even) -- one of them l'd even taken to over 1.2 million users (granted 70% of that are probably xrummer bots) but l still consider the forum a major success.

Couple suggestions for someone who's just starting out a forum, that apply to yours:

1.) reduce the # of categories and sub forums. The problem is that on your blog you have 20 different categories all with very few posts. If l'm visiting a forum and considering joining one of the biggest turn offs is an empty forum with no users. And seeing a huge list of categories w/out many posts gives me the feeling of dead forum.

2.) With your site specifically the template is a little dated. The font is too small. That small/pixel font stuff was cool 10 years ago, but now it's all about readable, usable user interfaces. I'd pick a different one if l were you.

3.) Offer something for free to your website visitors - but in order to get it they have to register on the forum. (for example an ebook). In my example l had a photoshop tutorial site, and in order to download the PSDs/fonts/graphics used in the tutorials you had to register and make a post on the forum -- it took off like wild fire.

4.) Create some high quality posts and do everything you can to get them indexed and ranking. So visitors find your post via google, and get drawn into the community.

A spin off of #2 -- create fake users and posts. Even if you're the one creating the accounts and posting manually; give visitors the illusion of a popular/active forum - not tumble weeds rolling through. I think there are services out there where you can purchase forum posters as well.

There are just some ideas I had when looking at your forum.
Good luck!

Thanks for your advice, I would follow them for sure but I can't change the template I hope you understand it.

Thanks Again!

Thanks for your advice.

Go to where your market is, and niche down. Making money is so general, why should I click there? Remember, though you know everything about your forum and ideas, everyone else has no clue who you are and what your site is about.

It's a lot easier to do well when you're riding a wave of interest, or stepping into the river of flowing prospects. For example, running a metal shop that makes custom gates and railings is a lot easier to do successfully during a housing boom. Where is your market?

Create a video tutorial and upload it on youtube with your url in the description or it is watermark. Put like "For more tips and tutorials visit and join out community" and something like that.