darkriver1988
New Arrival
whats peoples thoughts on creating fake accounts to get content to begin with
fake users to start with
- Thread starter darkriver1988
- Start date
I think it’s weird, but if you’re desperate to make your forum look legit, then I guess you gotta do what you gotta do. Just don’t do it forever.
fantanoice
Madly Diligent
I never did it myself, always seemed like cheating. Some people swear by it, though. Different strokes. I agree that it's a good way to get content early on though.
KnownSyntax
Resident
I don't think it's really a good idea since it can cause for a fake environment on your community.
I have done this before - and it's honestly not the worst idea in the world. It's not really "cheating" if I am being candid, though. Creating a forum and getting it up and running with content is already hard enough - and it's going to look rather stupid if you have a ton of topics and posts all by you and another staff member. You don't want your first topics to be filled with colored usernames and banners, and people want a sense of community when they join. If you go the route of creating multiple accounts to jump start your forum, you have complete control over how people think about the community - you have control over all the topics and posts. It's a pretty smart decision in a business sense - and sometimes you need to think like that in order to manage your forum anyway.
Absolutely no harm in seeding 🙂
Paid forum posters are available from sites like DigitalPoint (Content Creation Subforum) or Fiverr. With a relatively small budget (<$50) you can start a small community of paid posters, combined with some packages or exchanges available from promotion sites.
It really only takes a small handful of members to start a thriving community. Just, don't make everyone staff so soon 🙂
Paid forum posters are available from sites like DigitalPoint (Content Creation Subforum) or Fiverr. With a relatively small budget (<$50) you can start a small community of paid posters, combined with some packages or exchanges available from promotion sites.
It really only takes a small handful of members to start a thriving community. Just, don't make everyone staff so soon 🙂
I think it is better to get one or two members to start a simple discussion and few other long posts or tutorial.
Because one person having two three accounts is difficult to use and soon lose interest and patience.
--Ask someone to join or you may reward them to do so. So few activity and do paid ad if possible.--
Because one person having two three accounts is difficult to use and soon lose interest and patience.
--Ask someone to join or you may reward them to do so. So few activity and do paid ad if possible.--
InderSingh
New Arrival
Please guide me some suggestions for our forum ? How do we get members. We are ready for paid ads as well but where ? Looks like we are in the right direction but doing very slow.
Please guide me some suggestions for our forum ?
Even starting up, I think Puppet accounts are not without risks. Depending how good and consistent you are with your alteregos it can become too obvious for the rest and you become a mockery or you can be so good at it that you will end up having to hold a charade longer than expected because of people bonding too quickly and/or risk losing them if they learn the truth.
I think this method works better in conjuction with other genuine other people around to help blend better. Otherwise it becomes an echo chber consuming a lot more effort than what you will get in return.
I don't think I have ever used this method to kick start my forums.
I think this method works better in conjuction with other genuine other people around to help blend better. Otherwise it becomes an echo chber consuming a lot more effort than what you will get in return.
I don't think I have ever used this method to kick start my forums.
Shannon Apple
Resident
Sockpuppets don't fool the "quick" members. Those are the people who are likely to expose your little charade and they don't even need much proof. You'll feel like an idiot if that happens. I've never done it, but I've seen where some of the smart alecs on our site have quickly spotted alter-egos of banned members before the staff did and reported them. Those are the super active folk who never miss a trick. lol.
If you can find one or two people to help you out in exchange for some sort of help in return, it's much better than risking your reputation as an admin. You can find people here on forum promotion to help with that actually. All you have to do is make good posts on their forums in exchange.
I haven't done that either, but I have asked for packages from staff here to boost our forum's activity a bit.
If you can find one or two people to help you out in exchange for some sort of help in return, it's much better than risking your reputation as an admin. You can find people here on forum promotion to help with that actually. All you have to do is make good posts on their forums in exchange.
I haven't done that either, but I have asked for packages from staff here to boost our forum's activity a bit.
ForumsGroup
Resident
It's really no different than paying someone from Forum Promotion to post new threads and posts on your forum.
Chances are, that paid account won't be an active user on your forum. They quit posting once they've reached the amount necessary to be paid.
So yes, in a way, it is necessary and not a bad idea to create some fake accounts and startup a forum with topics that will get your board active and chatting.
You're going to have a hard time setting up a new forum and waiting for actual users to come put content on your forum. Best to create content and have it ready for people to talk on.
Chances are, that paid account won't be an active user on your forum. They quit posting once they've reached the amount necessary to be paid.
So yes, in a way, it is necessary and not a bad idea to create some fake accounts and startup a forum with topics that will get your board active and chatting.
You're going to have a hard time setting up a new forum and waiting for actual users to come put content on your forum. Best to create content and have it ready for people to talk on.
Whilst I've personally never done this, I can totally see how this might be beneficial. One of the first thing a user wants to see when they join a forum, is that communal sense which is created by the members; You need a careful mix of interaction and quality posts to get new users drawn in and involved and with fake accounts you can get to control what users impression ultimately is as your the one behind the pupetting and shaping of the community in its early times. Though, there are associated risks such as people becoming "friends" or associates with these fake accounts meaning your stuck trying to continue the friendships on hand tie ends and if unmasked can make you appear quite ndesperate which may put members off. It's really upto personal opinion and whether you think the advantages out weigh the disadvantages
Too much work, too much effort. I'd rather just make twice as many legitimate articles to grab SEO and expand my marketing efforts. It's not even something you can really discuss without letting the cat out of the bag.
I'm completely transparent, or as transparent as I reasonably can be, I don't waste my time trying to create illusions of grandeur or other nonsense. If the site is dead, then so be it. It is what it is. It is what it will be.
I post when I post. I implement when I implement. I announce when I announce. Fake accounts are just a headache I'd like to live without. It would be far too psychologically draining.
I'm completely transparent, or as transparent as I reasonably can be, I don't waste my time trying to create illusions of grandeur or other nonsense. If the site is dead, then so be it. It is what it is. It is what it will be.
I post when I post. I implement when I implement. I announce when I announce. Fake accounts are just a headache I'd like to live without. It would be far too psychologically draining.
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