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How to make a popular forum thread

by Max Greenflame
36 replies
Those of you who participate in forums for years might have learned this secret from your experience. How do you make popular threads on forums and get more people involved in discussions? What makes forum users choose your threads from the others to stop by and spare a minute? Would you share some techniques? One can express the same thought differently. So how to make it work on forums? The step one is a title of course, should it contain a popular keyword from a keyword tool or just something weird that piques their curiosity or some forum formulas, black magic? What research do you do to make sure that the topic of your thread will be popular? Just look at other popular threads or explore the trending topics in your niche? Any more methods and advice, please?
#forum #make #popular #thread
  • Profile picture of the author datingworld
    Anything interesting you share / or something interesting to be discussed will get more exposure.
    I don't think anyone would have that much time to do a keyword research for thread title
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  • Profile picture of the author twister85
    I thought most of the people come here to discuss about IM problem and solutions. Nobody's here to make popular forum threads.

    It only matters in the WSO forum not in here. If you want to get popular, provide quality and indirectly it will work.
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    Go and search through the top forums in your niche and look for the threads with the most views and replies. See what sort of subjects they are. The success of a thread usually has most to do with the content of that thread and what you will probably find is most very popular threads were never started with the target of being popular. It's like viral videos. The best viral videos are those that were never intended to be viral, they just were.
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    • Profile picture of the author Max Greenflame
      Originally Posted by Art of Marketing View Post

      Great down to earth comments so far.

      There are really many ways to go about it. Hot topics, unique angles, humor, rant bait, many of us know how to push emotional triggers in every day life you just want to do it with that forums theme in mind.

      Here is a sure winner....make money online...share how you did it on a making money online type of forum..watch the views and comments roll in.

      Art
      Great, thank yo very much, Art, you're the first who understood me. Valuable tips.
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      • Profile picture of the author fatafat
        Originally Posted by Max Greenflame View Post

        Great, thank yo very much, Art, you're the first who understood me. Valuable tips.
        I agree, Art indeed has given the most simple and straight forward tip of the day for me too.

        Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author cgsnkvxxqler
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  • Profile picture of the author Willie Crawford
    Simply ask yourself what the people on a given forum really care about,
    and post on that topic. If a topic interests someone, and you title
    promises a solution, entertainment, or engagement, then people will
    read and respond to it.

    Willie
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  • Profile picture of the author Elsoft
    You dont make it, it happens.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyTorrents
    I think it all really comes to down to value. But what is value?

    For me value is information that I find useful. Something that I could benefit from. With that in mind, consider the niche of this forum, what is it? Internet marketing. Most of the people on here are looking for a way to make more money online.

    So to make a popular thread all you have to do is provide valuable information that is related to internet marketing. Like, detailed tutorials on how to make money with a certain method, helpful tips, helpful tools, tricks, etc. Provide as much detail as possible in your threads and make sure that your information is accurate. If you can do that, your threads will always be popular.

    A catchy title also works. Create a title that hooks viewers.

    Good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author DavidRozen
      Originally Posted by timbonitus View Post

      I think it all really comes to down to value. But what is value?

      For me value is information that I find useful. Something that I could benefit from. With that in mind, consider the niche of this forum, what is it? Internet marketing. Most of the people on here are looking for a way to make more money online.

      So to make a popular thread all you have to do is provide valuable information that is related to internet marketing. Like, detailed tutorials on how to make money with a certain method, helpful tips, helpful tools, tricks, etc. Provide as much detail as possible in your threads and make sure that your information is accurate. If you can do that, your threads will always be popular.

      A catchy title also works. Create a title that hooks viewers.

      Good luck!
      Well put, basic concept and quite frankly the most important... Applicable information is going to appeal to / value everyone on a thread geared toward a particular industry or niche. You could have the best post possible, but if you put it in the wrong place it's not going to generate any conversation.
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  • Profile picture of the author owais211
    Banned
    I would say anything that is resourceful or interesting or funny for that matter.
    Also being relevant would do a great deal.
    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Marc Rodill
    Totally disagree. You have to make it. As a newcomer, it's clear the easiest way is to be controversial and opinionated. I don't like it personally so I don't do it often but it works.

    For example, just declare something that has always worked to be "dead", make sure the general public really doesn't know any better which is easy to accomplish, but the old guards do...

    Fireworks usually.

    Another way to do it is to be highly respected in the community and everybody knows it, so your name carries strength alone. People show up in droves. I don't have experience with that one.

    I suspect emailing your list helps.

    Stories of success and overcoming the odds typically go over well too, but that should be no surprise. It works in books and movies, it works on TV shows, it works anywhere.

    There are a lot of "content formulas" for posting on forums just for the sake of gaining attention and eyeballs to a thread, but they typically work less successfully in a marketing forum.
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    • Profile picture of the author Max Greenflame
      Originally Posted by Marc Rodill View Post

      Totally disagree. You have to make it. As a newcomer, it's clear the easiest way is to be controversial and opinionated. I don't like it personally so I don't do it often but it works.

      For example, just declare something that has always worked to be "dead", make sure the general public really doesn't know any better which is easy to accomplish, but the old guards do...

      Fireworks usually.

      Another way to do it is to be highly respected in the community and everybody knows it, so your name carries strength alone. People show up in droves. I don't have experience with that one.

      I suspect emailing your list helps.

      Stories of success and overcoming the odds typically go over well too, but that should be no surprise. It works in books and movies, it works on TV shows, it works anywhere.

      There are a lot of "content formulas" for posting on forums just for the sake of gaining attention and eyeballs to a thread, but they typically work less successfully in a marketing forum.
      Excellent thoughts, thank you. By the way now I've been searching for some content formulas on how to make titles that covert their best. There is a big science around it really.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lance K
      Originally Posted by Marc Rodill View Post

      Totally disagree. You have to make it. As a newcomer, it's clear the easiest way is to be controversial and opinionated. I don't like it personally so I don't do it often but it works.
      I was waiting for someone to mention the controversial approach. I don't care for it personally either when it's done just to start controversy. But if someone legitimately has a controversial viewpoint and can defend/debate their position in a civilized manner, it's often a good learning opportunity and worth at least monitoring the conversation.
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      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        Take WF for example. Sort the main forum by thread views. You'll see that a lot of the most viewed threads are questions about certain aspects of popular topics. Others are declarations/explanations of how people accomplished something of interest to others.

        Also, if you use the search function here, at the bottom of the page there is a tag cloud that shows you what the 100 most searched for thread tags.

        A word of caution though. Focus on adding value to the forum (this one or any other) first and foremost. It's usually pretty obvious if someone starts a thread with selfish motives (i.e. trying to start a popular thread to increase their exposure, credibility, etc.).

        You would probably be better off contributing value to an already popular conversation.
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  • Profile picture of the author MatthewWoodward
    Hi,

    Well on other forums all of my most popular threads are from when I share a tutorial I have made with the community directly.

    These posts have ~60k views and pages and pages of replies.

    BUT when I post similar threads on warrriorforum, I get banned so yeah lol
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    • Profile picture of the author Max Greenflame
      Originally Posted by MatthewWoodward View Post

      Hi,

      Well on other forums all of my most popular threads are from when I share a tutorial I have made with the community directly.

      These posts have ~60k views and pages and pages of replies.

      BUT when I post similar threads on warrriorforum, I get banned so yeah lol
      Thanks. It was important to know. Now I'll be sure to post only unique tutorials to each forum.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brannigans
      Originally Posted by MatthewWoodward View Post

      Hi,

      Well on other forums all of my most popular threads are from when I share a tutorial I have made with the community directly.

      These posts have ~60k views and pages and pages of replies.

      BUT when I post similar threads on warrriorforum, I get banned so yeah lol
      Can you explain this one a bit more Matthew. Why do you get banned if you share a tutorial??
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  • Profile picture of the author pingsters
    Banned
    If you can share a free report or free ebook. And make attractive headings, users will rush to your threat.

    But why you are creating popular threats ?

    Thanks
    Faye
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    • Profile picture of the author Max Greenflame
      Originally Posted by pingsters View Post

      If you can share a free report or free ebook. And make attractive headings, users will rush to your threat.

      But why you are creating popular threats ?

      Thanks
      Faye
      Interesting idea, thank you. Though, to my opinion it's easier for people to learn the content you share right from the thread rather than clicking an attached file and downloading it to get to the info. I'll try it anyway. Creating popular threads is crucial. Don't you want more people to join the conversations you start?
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  • Profile picture of the author PROmotions LLC
    Don't make threads just to get popular, that's counter productive to the forum. If you have a great tip or trick, then post it, but only if it's awesome. Don't be starting threads just to try and get a big discussion going.
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    • Profile picture of the author Max Greenflame
      Originally Posted by PROmotions LLC View Post

      Don't make threads just to get popular, that's counter productive to the forum. If you have a great tip or trick, then post it, but only if it's awesome. Don't be starting threads just to try and get a big discussion going.
      Of course there are people who put no brainer questions on forums purposely, just to attract some attention, they harm forums this way but what if you have a well worth question or idea to start a wonderful discussion with? I think both high quality tutorials and smart questions are good for threads.
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  • Profile picture of the author mfuji55
    well, judging from one really popular post, i'd say that quotes, decisions, make a great tag. i'm sure there are others.

    i'd say check out the most viewed threads and look up those tags, use them and test them out, i think it's all trial and error,

    i'm also trying to learn what makes a popular post.
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  • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
    Well, Max, you actually made THIS a popular thread. It already has the flaming "Hot Thread" symbol by your title.

    For me personally the title of the thread is probably 80-90% of the reason I open it up. What keeps me reading is if it has attracted some of my favorite posters.

    The one thing I see over and over again are thread titles that should have a question mark and they don't. For instance you are asking some interesting questions in your first post but you don't have a question mark in your title. I think more of the experienced members may visit the thread to contribute if they thought they could offer a suggestion or two. They may not bother opening it up if they think it is someone telling THEM how to make a popular post when they already know how to do that at will.
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    • Profile picture of the author Max Greenflame
      Originally Posted by Janice Sperry View Post

      Well, Max, you actually made THIS a popular thread. It already has the flaming "Hot Thread" symbol by your title.

      For me personally the title of the thread is probably 80-90% of the reason I open it up. What keeps me reading is if it has attracted some of my favorite posters.

      The one thing I see over and over again are thread titles that should have a question mark and they don't. For instance you are asking some interesting questions in your first post but you don't have a question mark in your title. I think more of the experienced members may visit the thread to contribute if they thought they could offer a suggestion or two. They may not bother opening it up if they think it is someone telling THEM how to make a popular post when they already know how to do that at will.
      Warmest thanks. Delighted to see you on board the thread, Janice. I should have put a question mark. But now I think this thread is already a tutorial that helps resolve this problem because fortunately it received really valuable tips from wise members I'm grateful to. I also appreciate your notes and advice, they add big value too. I also look for my favorite posters browsing questions. No matter if it's a guide or question, I'd like to attract as much experts as possible. Opinions extremely needed and valued.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mitch Barber
    Looks like you've done it with this one Max. It's already been marked as a hot topic with 177 views and 22 replies so far. Congrats!
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    • Profile picture of the author Max Greenflame
      Originally Posted by Mitch Barber View Post

      Looks like you've done it with this one Max. It's already been marked as a hot topic with 177 views and 22 replies so far. Congrats!
      Thanks, Mitch. I hope the party will be going on. By the way, how much views and replies do I need to get to make a thread hot?
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  • Profile picture of the author Max Greenflame
    As to tutorial thread titles, personally I don't like those that contain ''earn x money per day" or "get x visitors per day'' and similar phrases which offer quick effortless results. It doesn't seem serious reminding a get-rich-quick scheme. I'm more inclined to visit a thread that gives an idea on how things are done in its title. How about you?
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  • Profile picture of the author indiana jones
    Strange question. Why do you need popular thread? Make useful thread. People live longer when they eat not popular, but useful food.
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    • Profile picture of the author Max Greenflame
      Originally Posted by indiana jones View Post

      Strange question. Why do you need popular thread? Make useful thread. People live longer when they eat not popular, but useful food.
      Do you think that useful shouldn't be popular? I want valuable threads to become popular so that the value would reach a bigger audience. Useful must be popular. This is what the whole world fails at.
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  • Profile picture of the author MKCookins
    As everyone else said, to have a popular thread just provide Massive Value

    People love to learn new things, hear from people successes and failures, and read about the latest topics in their niche.

    For example the new update Google just made with their email inbox. This is a great example on a type of thread you could create -- if it has not already been created several times.
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  • Profile picture of the author samjaynz
    Just write something that grabs peoples' attention and either a) insults them b) teaches them something useful or c) has naked women in it.
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    How do you make popular threads on forums and get more people involved in discussions? What makes forum users choose your threads from the others to stop by and spare a minute?
    The universal "trick" which every marketer should know:

    EMOTIONS
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  • Profile picture of the author operationoffers
    I don't think there is a secret formula. Provide something of value, ask an interesting question or genuinely reach out for help. anytime a threat will start a conversation that will spark new ideas will naturally be popular
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    Look at all things that are popular in life. They are not popular by design. Popularity isn't something you give yourself, it's something other people give you.
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