Starting a Forum / Discussion Board

real life · 04-22-2009, 02:44 PM

Hi Warriors!

A long time admirer of this forum, I've always been impressed at the attitude of the people who post here. The optimism and willingness to help is fantastic!

Now it's my turn to ask for a little advice...

I'm about to launch a new forum. It's completely free and hopefully will prove very useful in the future, but at the moment the discussion boards seem quite empty.

Does anyone have advice on getting new members and encouraging them to post?

Thanks in advance!

Mark Brian · 04-22-2009, 02:47 PM

Jump starting a forum is very tough. You need to hire forum posters to keep things active. You should also provide incentives to users (like contests) to encourage posting.

LMC · 04-22-2009, 02:59 PM

Lots of Joint Ventures will aid in the development of your forum.

When this forum started, I believe a lot of people were promoting it, in fact, it was a paid forum originally I beleive.

-Hire Forum posters to keep things active
-Create free e-products that promote the forum activity
-Create landing pages and push to the forum
-PPC campaigns for the forum
-Grab as many JV's as you can (offer them advertising throughout the forum and special announcments for their products)

For keeping members:

-Rewards
-Contests
-Member Spotlights
-Unique Gift

Good Luck!

Sleaklight · 04-22-2009, 03:02 PM

I would recommend to visit other forums in your niche. Use a signature that links back to your forum. But don't be promotional on the forum you are visiting.

Become an asset to that community by posting helpful posts. People will appreciate that and will be interested what you else is in you. By posting your link in your signature, people will become interested and click on it. If you forum povides even more help and info in your niche. They are most likely to register, stay, post and ultimately become frequent visitors.

This role model has helped me accumulate more than 20,000 members on my own forum.

ehicks727 · 04-22-2009, 03:04 PM

I've tried to start forums in the past. Getting over "critical mass" is REALLY hard. There's really only two models that work that I know of. You either have to be some sort of support forum for a product or service, or you have to start with a large group of committed people who will begin filling up the forum with meaningful content.

Good luck... there is no easy way to jump start a forum.

04-22-2009, 02:44 PM	#1
real life Feeling Happy Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Starting a Forum / Discussion Board Hi Warriors! A long time admirer of this forum, I've always been impressed at the attitude of the people who post here. The optimism and willingness to help is fantastic! Now it's my turn to ask for a little advice... I'm about to launch a new forum. It's completely free and hopefully will prove very useful in the future, but at the moment the discussion boards seem quite empty. Does anyone have advice on getting new members and encouraging them to post? Thanks in advance!
	Interested in Self Improvement, Personal Development, NLP, the Mind, Philosophy or Being Happy? Philosophy Happiness.com - a forum for sharing Growth and Joy - absolutely free and everyone is welcome!

04-22-2009, 02:47 PM	#2
Mark Brian Spartan Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: PH Posts: 903 Thanks: 122 Thanked 144 Times in 72 Posts	Re: Starting a Forum / Discussion Board Jump starting a forum is very tough. You need to hire forum posters to keep things active. You should also provide incentives to users (like contests) to encourage posting.

04-22-2009, 02:59 PM	#3
LMC 520+ sites and counting War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,550 Blog Entries: 16 Thanks: 312 Thanked 1,318 Times in 303 Posts Contact Info	Re: Starting a Forum / Discussion Board Lots of Joint Ventures will aid in the development of your forum. When this forum started, I believe a lot of people were promoting it, in fact, it was a paid forum originally I beleive. -Hire Forum posters to keep things active -Create free e-products that promote the forum activity -Create landing pages and push to the forum -PPC campaigns for the forum -Grab as many JV's as you can (offer them advertising throughout the forum and special announcments for their products) For keeping members: -Rewards -Contests -Member Spotlights -Unique Gift Good Luck!
	NYC is my home.

04-22-2009, 03:02 PM	#4
Sleaklight Give To Charity War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,072 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 62 Thanked 134 Times in 102 Posts Contact Info	Re: Starting a Forum / Discussion Board I would recommend to visit other forums in your niche. Use a signature that links back to your forum. But don't be promotional on the forum you are visiting. Become an asset to that community by posting helpful posts. People will appreciate that and will be interested what you else is in you. By posting your link in your signature, people will become interested and click on it. If you forum povides even more help and info in your niche. They are most likely to register, stay, post and ultimately become frequent visitors. This role model has helped me accumulate more than 20,000 members on my own forum.
	WarrioForum Post: SEO Link Monster Review - From A Real Member

04-22-2009, 03:04 PM	#5
ehicks727 HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 225 Thanks: 6 Thanked 27 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Starting a Forum / Discussion Board I've tried to start forums in the past. Getting over "critical mass" is REALLY hard. There's really only two models that work that I know of. You either have to be some sort of support forum for a product or service, or you have to start with a large group of committed people who will begin filling up the forum with meaningful content. Good luck... there is no easy way to jump start a forum.