I'm trying to jumpstart my forum and need some help/guidance. I am already offering a contest (based on this forums contest) with a little smaller cash prize ($750).

What else can I do? Im looking for content but having trouble. Is RSS good?

The site is the second one in my sig.

Have you tried advertising in-game?

Are you talking about NerdPoint (cool name by the way)? Keep in mind that i'm biased, but what about adding a social networking script like Zoints Local to it (see my sig). You can then market it as, "Join the forum based social network for nerds". How cool would that be? It would certainly differentiate you.

That's a great idea! Although, to be honest I have NO IDEA how to install it. Actually, the site I was referring to was talk second life (one word). com. That's my new site. I invite everyone to come see it and help a successful launch!

Anyone want to install that zoints local script for me???

I always use other forums that I have, and friends with other forums to send mass emails. Since, we don't saturate the email list, users aren't bothered by getting an email once in a while and they tend to register. This usually gives me anywhere from 200-600 users within the first week.

You can actually have some posting-companies to keep the forum busy, by posting with lots of people. It costs some, though.
But people tend to join busy forums, so it's good to keep it busy at the beginning, even if you have to stimulate it, some how. In the long run, the forum will stay alive by itself.