[CLOSED] Forum is always dead

[Umbreon]

My forum (My Gaming Forum) basically just keeps on dying. My moderator says "this site has never been alive). Its been open since May and I only made 1,000 posts. I tried exchanging and still doesn't work. I'm still exchanging right now but then I have to study for an exam. I hired an admin to take over the forum but he has other business to do right now. I tried posting in other places and half of them says that the site is dead.

What do I do now? I just don't have time to do any exchanges. And plus im not a good poster so it takes a long time just for me to make 10 posts.

*** sorry for bad grammar ***

 

[Panik]

Re: Forum is always dead

I would gain a dedicated admin that currently have no other business or work that they currently have online. This will gain you another user to gain posts via exchanges and such. Make him sign onto sites such as this and create exchanges and such. Use all of your FP$ for posts and topics of the like; I believe "Lee Lawson" has a topic offering low prices for posts.

Talk to your moderator; possibly ask him to join with the exchanges and such or create a mass amount of topics to fill up the boards and open the forum up for discussion. If you are in need of it; ask him to create other accounts to post in; to assume activity and users -- this should be asked upon of the admin and yourself also.

Attempt to gain other friends or webmasters to create an account and post; be it 3 or 4 posts, including the introduction topic.

Possibly create deals with users and such for post exchanges but offer a rain check to do them at a possible later date or such when you have more free time on your hands.

Another attempt at gaining activity would be to offer other gaming webmasters ad placements; backlinks or such in return for posts.

Hopefully some of these would aid you in your forum gaining activity. Sorry for my badly layed out post; I am sadly ill and have had a "pint" with my brother.

 

[hcfwesker]

Re: Forum is always dead

Stop advertising a gajillion sites in your sig, and advertise YOUR site only.

there are 1,000s of games, accessories, etc that can be talked about with gaming. You mean to tell me, that on the Wii system, only 3 games are interesting to talk about? There have been some great games released during the fall, and NOONE has made any discussions on these.

You need to make the topics, they will get replies. Newer members are usually shy about making topics, but are more comfy with replying. With only 6 topics in some of the gaming forums, the site does look dead.

And, honestly, if you don't plan on being one of the most active members on your forum, you're in for a lot of disappointment.

 

[SheepishWolf]

Re: Forum is always dead

It won't be dead if you are on it. Then there's a bit of life in it. As the admin, and staff in general you are the role model of the forum. If you yourself don't post, then why the heck would I when there's a ton of other gaming forums out there with many posts and topics from the admin?

 

[Guardian]

Re: Forum is always dead

Stay active! That's the key. Without you it is dead. But you have to promote it too.

 

[Umbreon]

Re: Forum is always dead

Stop advertising a gajillion sites in your sig, and advertise YOUR site only.

there are 1,000s of games, accessories, etc that can be talked about with gaming. You mean to tell me, that on the Wii system, only 3 games are interesting to talk about? There have been some great games released during the fall, and NOONE has made any discussions on these.

You need to make the topics, they will get replies. Newer members are usually shy about making topics, but are more comfy with replying. With only 6 topics in some of the gaming forums, the site does look dead.

And, honestly, if you don't plan on being one of the most active members on your forum, you're in for a lot of disappointment.

Those gazillion links are from my topic selling siggy links.

There's just too many things in the way for me to visit any forum. The only time I get to see my forum is weekends for a minimum time, thats it. As mentioned, "im not a good poster so it takes a long time just for me to make 10 posts"

Im creating tons of topics right now, hopefully that will help.

 

[Gizmo]

Re: Forum is always dead

I can't even find the damn thing. You need to make it more clear in your signature which is your site as someone could possibly want to join your site and be taken to another site. That site has the member, not your site.

You could pay people to join, there are alot of cash for posts (or whatever they're called) out there. Once you put the money in, that's all you have to do. You're getting active members for the duration you select and a few good topics and posts.

Another thing is do you have a domain name? Google is more than likely to index a domain name site rather than a subdomain site.

 

[Acorn]

Re: Forum is always dead

I think Ruko said the problem in his last post: he doesn't have time to devote to it.

My forum is of medium size and decent activity but I am on there several hours a day, I probably make over 100 posts to it per day. When its activity dies down I post up stuff for the members to do and respond to. When they seem bored, I ask them what they'd like to try, and/or post up stuff for them for them to do.

It is never ending. And if you think you are working hard now wait till your forum IS active, you will work harder.

 

[Umbreon]

Re: Forum is always dead

Thanks for the suggestions, ill try to work hard.

Some stats (in average):
0-7 posts per day
.20 users per day

EDIT: Now im starting to get ill, and also my time is cut off from a few hours to 10-45 minutes for this month, 🙁

 

[The Visitors]

Re: Forum is always dead

I've read your thread and then visited your forum....

Please know that I mean this with the most respect...

You are a user.

USER? What do you mean?

I mean there are those who have what it take to make a forum work and then there are those who just come online once in a while, reads through things, and make a few quick comments....ie... A user.

Then you have forum owners, who make the time to read through things, make detail replies, but also nothing over the top (do not want to spam your own forum with nothing but your own post). And takes the time & sometimes money, to promote their community (often by joining & actively posting on other communities).

There is nothing wrong with being a users. But looking at your forum (which does look nice by the way), you hardly post there, you replies are not thought out, and you admit that you do not have time for it really.... And it would seem neither does your staff.

That is not to say, that at some point you may have the will, time, and affect to becoming a real "forum owner" (in the since of taking on the role). But as it is now, you are a "user".

 

[Dylan]

Re: Forum is always dead

1) Consider a redesign
2) Create content – and lots of it
Your forum probably died a slow death due to a lack of content.
3) Set yourself targets
4) Email current members
5) Continue to market, create content and nurture your community

Time is against you
Not everyone has a lot of time to spend in your community. Parents are busy raising their children. Fishermen are busy fishing. Gamers are busy playing games. They need a reason why they should give up their spare time to contribute to the community.

 

[Jake]

Re: Forum is always dead

This is what I do from time to time..

I make FAKE conversations.... register about 5 accounts and activate them all through admin control panel.
Then I sign in to them and make fake conversations... it works for new forums mostly, but it will also help build member count and possible members.
You can also do what dylan said 😀

 

[Loopy Legend]

Re: Forum is always dead

If you really don't have time to run the site maybe you should close it and start over when you do get more time, making a forum active is not easy and requires time, and you to do lots of posts (which you don't like to do). I don't want to sound mean, but if your heart is not in it, I would recommend you don't do it.

 

[Umbreon]

I put my heart and soul into this site, so there's no way I'm shutting it down. I'll try do do what Dylan and Zephix says.

I'm planning something big for the site. I'll be busy working on the project. For now, I'm closing this topic.