The hardest question of all... how do you get new users?

SubZeroMan · Post by **SubZeroMan** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:20 am

It seems like 99 out of 100 boards go no where. What does it take to get a good sized user base? Is it all in the name? What did the people that were successful do that the many, many that were not, didnt?

Anon · Post by **Anon** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:34 am

By not posting support questions in the wrong fourms 8)

starfoxtj · Post by **starfoxtj** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:36 am

Honestly, people should not just make a board to make a board...it needs to serve a purpose.

I run like 5 boards and all of them are successful. Why? They are needed.
One is for my game server, one is for my toolkit support, one for personal use and a couple for business customers.

If you just make a board because you want a board...your going to find it very difficult to get members because there is not set purpose for it.

Maybe other people are different, but I never join a board just because its there.

starfoxtj · Post by **starfoxtj** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:36 am

Anon wrote: By not posting support questions in the wrong fourms 8)

Its not support. Its just discussion, he is not asking WHERE to advertize his board.

SubZeroMan · Post by **SubZeroMan** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:22 am

starfoxtj wrote:
Anon wrote:By not posting support questions in the wrong fourms 8)

Its not support. Its just discussion, he is not asking WHERE to advertize his board.

Yes, thank you. And I'm not about to post a link to my board here. I'm just talking. And yes I think my board will server a real purpose but its still a challenge to get it know to the people that could use it.

starfoxtj · Post by **starfoxtj** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:36 am

Well I dont know of any special tips really for getting your board users.

My most popular board is for my game server (20,000 posts and about 800 users). Users found it because they would play on my server, and see the banners.

My business boards gain users because they are my customers and I gave them the URL. Similar with my toolkit board (although its still tiny).

Do you have a similar use? Is it specific for support/products etc? Or is it like a general topic/chat board?

Swizec · Post by **Swizec** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:38 am

I think startfoxj is right, if a board has a purpose and is presented to the right group of people it will gain many new members simply by word of mouth. If you achieve that then you're set because word of mouth beats any other advertising technique.

XeRo^ · Post by **XeRo^** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:33 pm

Also.. Keep a link to the site in your site on all the sites you post in the forums. Its very useful for referering people to your site. Who knows.. They might just stay.

Millennyum · Post by **Millennyum** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:22 pm

My forum is part of my website. People find useful info on the website and often decide to visit the forum as well, to post questions of to have a discussion with people with the same interests.

Indeed, think about the purpose first. Also, a narrowly defined subject will perhaps attrackt less users, but those users will be more devoted and post more often than those that see your forum merely as one of the many places where they can chat.

I opened my board for one-time-only guests, but also made it possible to register and gave registered members access to an off-topic member-only forum, which makes them feel more special.

Charlie Argueta · Post by **Charlie Argueta** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 2:03 pm

You also need publications and quality.

If you are starting a game related board, do reviews, look for news instead of waiting for users or users start topics.

A good website is the one that has what the user needs, if they need info in a certain topic, you should provide them this info.

See Ya

solid · Post by **solid** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:33 pm

Just offer money for new members. That's a quick way to do it.

crazyasses.tk · Post by **crazyasses.tk** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:46 pm

solid wrote: Just offer money for new members. That's a quick way to do it.

Lol, so what happens when your wallet runs out?

f(x)=sinx · Post by **f(x)=sinx** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:50 pm

crazyasses.tk wrote: Lol, so what happens when your wallet runs out?

Beg?

xdarkday · Post by **xdarkday** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:58 pm

Sex favors.

Kidding.... Content of the site is what brings users.

HossFly · Post by **HossFly** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 12:58 am

A couple of items needed to grow a community website/forum is to offer needed content and content should be the primary focus. What are you going to give members to read that they can't get elsewhere. What is making your site "special"

After you get your content up...spread the word about your site (no spam) Make sure you put a link in your sig. on all the forums you visit. Buy some banner space on related sites...if your site is dealing with a local issue/theme...contact the newspapers and local websites (they are starving for content for their own sites)

Then the wait game begins. Be polite to the people that start to join. Give them a reason to stay and to pass your info along to others.

If all else fails...try the sex favors

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The hardest question of all... how do you get new users?

The hardest question of all... how do you get new users?

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