Internet Marketing Tycoon

**XkevinX** · 06-12-2007, 11:08 PM

Hey... I am just starting the long process of building up a forum. I haven’t even planed the site out fully yet. Well... I have a fairly unique idea for a forum but first I want to know how I can get users to stay at a new forum when there is not much to offer in the beginning. So, what can I offer to make it worth staying and waiting for. I know if I go to a forum and its dead I won’t bother signing up. So tell me what you think. What will drive users to stay and a newly released forum? What will make users want to post more and more and stay active?

**nickharper** · 06-13-2007, 12:57 PM

First of all you need a decent set of users who know a lot about the stuff the forum is about and are willing to help.

Then you need to grab hold of people who join by giving them reasons to come back, new features, new sections and generally exciting stuff.

What sort of forum is this going to be?

**XkevinX** · 06-13-2007, 05:43 PM

Its on the lines of graphics but a specific thing... And you really didnt help I kno I need new features, new sections and generally exciting stuff. But, what are some good features, section, exciting stuff

**nickharper** · 06-13-2007, 07:23 PM

Tutorials, Downloads, RSS Feeds, Competitions are just some!

Try and thing about the forums you use and think "what is it that makes me view it every day" and try and get that in yours (not saying copy) but you get the idea.

**scorch** · 06-14-2007, 01:04 AM

Im having problems too. But it's getting better. Im advertising by word and by craigslist.org.

Using craiglist does bring people to the forums. Also advertising on my space works!

**oracleweb** · 06-16-2007, 05:54 PM

I have found forums take off when there are already discussions that attract people's attention happening. I have noticed people hiring folks to make short posts that are not very..err..deep.

This does not work to do much but attracts lot's of spam and maybe gets a temporary boost in google. However since the conversations are not high quality it doesn't last.

To build a forum long term I tell clients to allow my team to post for several MONTHS before advertising the forum.

We post based on a vision of the client's IDEAL FORUM two years from now. We organize the categories and forums to fit the desired style and goals and set up high quality discussions.

In setting a tone strongly we have found the months to be well worth the time, effort and cost.

If you don't want to hire a professional team or can't afford it then take some time and decide how you want your forum to grow and get people to make high quality posts and interact with one another the way you hope it will go naturally when it takes off.