how do u ppl start a board?

Lorelei · Share | #1 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 07:31 AM

ok... i have a problem, my forum is one day old and has only 5 members...lol

serious now, my main website gets a lot of traffic, and following this lil` success i decided to add a board to it. now the issue is: ok, ppl visit, download free stuff and "go home". but how do i pull them into the forum?

another thing that seem like a problem (again, after the forum has online 1 day) is that who would want to register while the forum is still small? no one knows it's new, so people will only think it's dead...

any ideas how to make that very first start?

kwvarga · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 07:37 AM

one day old and 5 members, thats a success

Lorelei · #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 07:38 AM

Quote:

one day old and 5 members, thats a success

uhmm... that was in total, one of them is me

Xon · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 07:43 AM

Sometimes it helps to make some fake accounts. If you post with these accounts it can make the forum seem more active, which could entice new members to discuss. It's fairly dishonest, but it doesn't hurt anyone.

**Zap** · #5 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 07:57 AM

There are also forum posting services available. Pay people to post. I haven't tried it yet, so I can't recommend anyone specific.

My sister in law just came to stay with us for a while and she brought me some Балтика #9!!! WooHoo! I'm going to drink now.

Xon · #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:03 AM

http://www.forumelves.com/

I'm scared.

Trapper · #7 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:13 AM

I joined. Good Luck

Lorelei · #8 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:15 AM

20$ for 100 posts????????????
wow... that aint cheap, considering how hard, tiresome and exhausting it is: to post in someone's forum...lol

Xon, your idea is very original, but i wouldn't want to trick anybody there, after all it's all about fun, and i would feel like a real psycho if i'd post a joke and then under another account reply and say "wow, LOL!"

Балтика #9.....aarrrggg i love that beer ... enjoy

Trapper · #9 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xon

http://www.forumelves.com/

I'm scared.

Cool concept. I wonder if you are an elf, and you enjoy the forum after the contract if you're allowed to stick around.

indicaspice · #10 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:18 AM

If you build it they will come.

etech-peter · #11 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:19 AM

Ask your family and friends to join and contribute by making a few posts and threads daily till the forum gets going. Ask your friends to spread the word.

Lorelei · #12 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:31 AM

etech-peter, that is the problem.. no one of my friends are into forums, mostly chats and msn.
and those who are INTO forums, have their own boards to care for

indicaspice · #13 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:33 AM

Quote:

and those who are INTO forums, have their own boards to care for

I have my own forum and still manage to be a regular poster at about a dozen others I participate in.

Xon · #14 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorelei

Xon, your idea is very original, but i wouldn't want to trick anybody there, after all it's all about fun, and i would feel like a real psycho if i'd post a joke and then under another account reply and say "wow, LOL!"

Yeah that's the downside. It's also time consuming. I always found it hard to start a new forum, but if you have lots of visitors to your site, you need to emphasize the fact that you have a new forum. That way you can hopefully divert a few. I'm guessing you've already done that though.

I'll join anyways.

shahab6 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indicaspice

If you build it they will come.

Hope that was sure, but its not.

Lorelei · #16 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Hope that was sure, but its not.

yep, like i said... people come to download stuff, maybe they have little reason to stay further.

but anyway, the design I(!) built, so at least it looks good

noob_0001 · #17 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 09:04 AM

Can you include the last 5 posts on your website pages? Then people will see it and visit it.

Lorelei · #18 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Can you include the last 5 posts on your website pages? Then people will see it and visit it.

that is a really good idea! is it possible in phpbb though?

James Trotta · #19 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 09:06 AM

I pay people to post. I found my people at sitepoint, but you could try it hear. I offer 20 cents a post and that's higher than average. That means I can be more demanding in terms of word limits (I usually say 40 word posts or longer). Anyway, you post an ad on the forum and ask people to pm you if they are interested. You can tell which ones are reasonably OK writers and which ones are going to post nonsensical grabage on your board from talking with them on PM.

noob_0001 · #20 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 09:55 AM

http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic...ighlight=posts
Puts Latest active topics on index