Game Forum w/no real traffic. How to get registrations??

by gunna_make_it_work

Posted: 12 years ago 21 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hi all! I need your guy's help. My son has a website with a forum. He really wants people to register and talk and participate. HE's added alot of categories and topics and tries so hard to get people to go there and sign up and yet, there are just lurkers and no one to talk to. What do we need to do to get people to talk/register? It's a no pressure virtually no sales site, he just wants people to use it. This is the site: - - gamescornerinc dot cm, which we revamped and are working on getting going good so excuse it's nakedness, but this is the forum: gamescornerinc dot info - I asked for help on another forum but no one really answered much at all. I really need help. I want to make this forum busy as my son is trying so hard. What do you guys think? FB ads? Adwords? (Don't have a bunch of $, maybe $100 to do adv) He tweets, and it copies to his facebook page for the site and he tells people about it in game chats in other places where he hangs out, but still, no one comes.

Thank you very much for you time and insight.

Gwen

p.s. sorry bout the covert linkage, i've been part of this forum for probably 5 years or more but apparently dont have enough posts to do it the right way, but i'm obviously not trying to do anything wrong, i just don't talk much!

#forum #game #real #registrations #traffic #w or no

HKSEO Jonbones 12 years ago

Getting a forum off of the ground with nothing to really pull the users in besides content is going to be tough.

Most of the forums I'm on ( besides SEO and IM forums ) are pretty much successful because of the mass of users on them.

The site needs to be known as an authority on the subject, or have something that other sites don't.

Honestly, try driving traffic with memes. Funny game picture with funny quote on image--tag them to your sons forum, and then have him share those--that will get some of the younger crowd in, they'll want to see more memes, and will eventually register...just something to get started, but without selling anything, it's going to be hard driving traffic.

Good luck to you and your son!
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
Letmeknowseo.comSEO News and tips From real SEO'ers!
Linklicious- Get your links crawled, so they can count
SEO Black Book By: R.L. Adams An Insider's Guide to the SEO Industry
Glowing Reviews- Get your Online Business Reviews to STICK!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7199921].message }}
crissie 12 years ago

Here's one small idea - Set up a FB page and start by connecting to other FB pages in the gaming niche. Share posts and connect with their fans. Its a good start for your son's forum.

Good luck.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

THIS IS WHERE INTERNET MARKETERS FIND THEIR BUYERS
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7199926].message }}
WarrenPeterson 12 years ago

Here are a bunch of questions to consider and talk with him about...

So he wants people to use it, but do they? Why should they use it? What is there that they are already not finding elsewhere? Who is he targeting? What is the profile of his target forum member? What is unique about the forum? What makes it different from all the rest of the gamer forums? What problem does the forum solve for the visitors?

I wouldn't spend a penny on advertising until you get some of these core/foundational questions answered.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

Do you really want to build a real business?
Then you need this: 21 Days To Business Success
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7199957].message }}

gunna_make_it_work

12 years ago

Thank you guys for your responses! Ok, so, basically the site doesn't stand out and we need to corner some kind of market to make it different. Right? Any idea how to do that with such a broad spectrum site? He really like roll playing and thats where he has most of his focus on in there, Do you think we should try to get popular for that particular niche? or a deeper niche in that one ? I love the idea about the memes, we will do that! Thank you!. Anything else you guys think? Thank you again.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200059].message }}

WarrenPeterson

12 years ago

Originally Posted by gunna_make_it_work

It isn't so much trying to corner a market as it is finding the market and learning from them. You need to focus on who the market is. If he wants to focus on role playing games, then start there. Role playing itself might even be too big, maybe just focus on one specific game.

Spend time really understanding that market. Keep going back to this, until you can answer easily: What do those role playing gamers want? What do they need? What could you offer to them that they cannot find elsewhere?

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Do you really want to build a real business?
Then you need this: 21 Days To Business Success

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200083].message }}

Indecision 12 years ago

Not sure how to make your forum active but one thing I will say is do not spend a penny on advertising it.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200253].message }}
- gunna_make_it_work 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Indecision
  
  Not sure how to make your forum active but one thing I will say is do not spend a penny on advertising it.
  
  How come? What about paying some fiver gigs to post and sign up so it looks busy??
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200258].message }}
  
  Indecision 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by gunna_make_it_work
  
  How come? What about paying some fiver gigs to post and sign up so it looks busy??
  
  You are trying to break into a niche that has an extremely loyal/purpose built communities. With things such as Steam and the official forums/clan forums for a lot of games you are going to find it almost impossible to break into the gaming forum niche.
  
  Just wondering, do you know what Steam or clan forums are?
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200277].message }}
  
  gunna_make_it_work 12 years ago
  
  Yep, I do actually! OK. Thank you for your feedback.
  Still gotta try, it's his dream and he wants it soooo bad.
  
  Thanks
  
  2 replies
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200285].message }}
  
  Indecision 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by gunna_make_it_work
  
  Yep, I do actually! OK. Thank you for your feedback.
  Still gotta try, it's his dream and he wants it soooo bad.
  
  You do? cool, sorry for coming over as a bit harsh but I tend to think you need to be brutally honest instead of just saying "keep trying". I would forget the gaming forum for now and advise your son to focus on creating a "niche" website for a new game and focus on building a community around that, allow users to submit hints, tips and cheats... have a detailed players guide, video walk through of the game etc.
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200316].message }}
  
  WarrenPeterson 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by gunna_make_it_work
  
  Yep, I do actually! OK. Thank you for your feedback.
  Still gotta try, it's his dream and he wants it soooo bad.
  
  His dream or not doesn't matter. I'm going to keep repeating myself here. It is ALL, as in 100%, about the visitors to the forum, it is not about your son.
  
  If you don't know who they are, what they want, why they would spend any time on his forum talking about anything, and what they would talk about, you will only be losing money and time. Slow down, step back, and really analyze the strategy of the business itself.
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Do you really want to build a real business?
  Then you need this: 21 Days To Business Success
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200379].message }}

ProSence 12 years ago

A forum needs to look active first so try to provide content as much as you can, you can also post in other similar forums with the signature of your own forum, it would really help.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

three great FREE tools - www.sitebeak.com, www.GAtective.com and www.impersonal.me
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200075].message }}
FirstSocialApps 12 years ago

Game play videos and game reviews. If you film it they will come.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
Create Facebook deals, sweepstakes, contests, polls, custom pages and more without a monthly fee!

Generate thousands of leads in any niche in under 60 seconds!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200629].message }}
O0o0O 12 years ago

Hey Gwen, nobody's talking because all your comments are closed on all your posts!
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

Do you offer digital/physical products, services, consultations, events or subscriptions?
Sell on our platform! We're better than Shopify (more affordable too!) [Warrior Discount Inside!]
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7200820].message }}
- gunna_make_it_work 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by O0o0O
  
  Hey Gwen, nobody's talking because all your comments are closed on all your posts!
  
  WHA?! OMG we have been changing the settings alot but I didn't know THAT! Going to go look right now, thank you so much!
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7201044].message }}
gunna_make_it_work 12 years ago

Thank you!!
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7201042].message }}
seobro 12 years ago

I believe I can answer this question because I was a video game programmer. There is an audience for games. It is not all the same. I created a new forum this year. It has over 5,000 members now. I spend a lot of time cleaning up spam. For example yesterday there was were over 1,000 posts in the moderation queue. 99%+ were spam. Mostly it hitting alice users. Also, there is the infamous rorex reprica. That one is very common.

Unless his life goal is to waste it deleting spam. Well, a forum I would not pursue. Also, many users will post hard core porn. This can cause serious issues. I do not allow any images. Also, only mods can post links now. Problem with bad links is that Google will clobber you. For a while I was not even ranking for my domain name any more.

There are all sorts of puzzles captchas, "what color is the sky green - yes or no?" Still, the spam goes on. Goal of spammers is? Trash my forum with ads for casinos or porn.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
http://www.seobro.com
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7203516].message }}
CBGraphics 12 years ago

Set up a FB page and start by connecting to other FB pages in the gaming niche
- [ 2 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7203871].message }}
pronostick 12 years ago

make 100-300 users and talk with all like real ones. Make 80% of them female profiles
- Thanks
Signature

I love to play jocuri mario and to get jocuri download games.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7214495].message }}
workoutstuff1 12 years ago

Just checked out the site.

Bottom line - when people go to a site, they expect to see pictures of the main topic of the site. If I go to a travel site, I expect to see pictures of airplanes, luggage, passports, etc.

You have a game site with no pictures of any games.

You will definitely want to add more pictures to the site, and some more games. PM me for info for game sites with affiliate programs that pay you to put their games on your site. That should help you with both content, and monetization.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
http://<font face="Arial"><font size...</font></font>
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7329641].message }}
- sethdrebitko 12 years ago
  
  Some thoughts:
  You have reviews that have no images or text only a link?
  
  Your "Game Forum" page leads to an empty directory.
  
  There doesn't seem to be a focus.
  
  No about page.
  
  Your youtube page, facebook page, and twitter link are at nearly the bottom of you page where we can't even see them.
  
  Runescape official trailer in the main bar. Why, Is this the "niche" game of the site?
  
  RPGs usually have loyal followings and people usually find one and latch on to that community so if your just providing reviews of them your essentially helping people find communities instead of forming one. Maybe focus on 1-2 actual MMO's and then do other game reviews like flash, computer, and console.
  
  Another thing to consider is that forums require active user bases pretty much from day one. It might be easier to build a dedicated following of blog readers and then spring the forum. Building a forum is tough enough start with collecting a following and know that it is going to take a long ass time. I've had a forum for a few years surrounding a game property I own and still only have a loyal dedicated fan base.
  
  One big thing would be that your son could get his friends active on the forum. Nothing like genuine friendly interaction.
  
  It's a tough mostly unrewarding project which can also lead to lots of burn out. In the end be positive, keep calm, and cary on.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7330019].message }}

Game Forum w/no real traffic. How to get registrations??

Trending Topics

Digital Marketer

Model Collapse

how to create new thread

Teacher seeking guidance/mentorship

Unfortunately we won't get a 'Following' feed option on IG