Forum Category... too strict?

[Toups]

Well I just recently opened up my new forum, it's strictly a forum for the new video game Bass Pro Shops: The Strike.

The game is for PC, Xbox 360, and the Wii so there is a good amount of players out there, my problem being reaching them as it isn't a multiplayer game, if it was I'm sure gaining more audience would be a lot easier as people would want to discuss the multiplayer online..

I'm wondering if maybe that's too strict and I should possibly expand it to more than just that one video game? Possibly a forum for several fishing video games and real fishing? Overall just a fishing forum? Interested in your feedback/ideas.

I know this gives the site a risk of looking too broad and too many forums for people to post in that can actually scare members away, but what do you all think?

Thanks. :great:

 

[Deleted member 4320]

Well that does narrow the audience down a bit, I think you could still get some members though, but make sure you have a general discussion area as well though.

 

[Callum93]

I think in this case expanding the forum niche will be beneficial to you, so I think you should go ahead with it 🙂

 

[Fredward]

I think fishing games in general would be a safer bet, you'd also attract an audience from incredibly popular iPhone apps like Flick Fishing as well that way!

 

[Toups]

Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to go ahead and do it.

Just pondering a good way to organize the forum.. Here's my current thoughts.. however it seems like there is a whole lot of categories with it..:

Site Discussion
   - News, Etc.
   - Feedback
   - Intros

Xbox 360
  - Major Game
  - Major Game
  - Other Fishing Games
  - General Xbox

Wii
  - Major Game
  - Major Game
  - Other Fishing Games
  - General Wii

PC
  - Major Game
  - Major Game
  - Other Fishing Games
  - General PC 

PS
  - Major Game
  - Major Game
  - Other Fishing Games
  - General PS

Other Systems
  - Major Game
  - Major Game
  - Other Fishing Games
  - General

Off Topic
  - General
  - Real Fishing
  - Forum Games

Here's another possibility..:

Site Discussion
   - News, Etc.
   - Feedback
   - Intros

Major Game
  - Wii Version
  - Xbox Version
  - PC Version

Major Game 2
  - Wii Version
  - Xbox Version
  - PC Version

Systems
  -Wii
   --- Fishing Games
   --- General

  -Xbox 360
   --- Fishing Games
   --- General

  -PS
   --- Fishing Games
   --- General

  -PC
   --- Fishing Games
   --- General

  -Other
   --- Fishing Games
   --- General


Off Topic
  - General
  - Real Fishing
  - Forum Games

And another...:

Site Discussion
   - News, Etc.
   - Feedback
   - Intros

Major Fishing Games
  - Game 1
  --- Possible Subforum
  - Game 2
  --- Possible Subforum
  - Game 3
  --- Possible Subforum

Systems
  -Wii
  -Xbox 360
  -PS
  -PC
  -Other


Off Topic
  - General
  - Real Fishing
  - Forum Games

Let me know what you think or suggest other options. Thanks.

 

[Raymond]

About reaching your audience, It's not as easy as say a Promotion forum. Why? Because gaming is one of the "most popular/hardest forums to start" Now from one game forum owner to another, I will let you know some of the best ways to gain your audience.

- Being unique if your game is about lets say X-men bring in some cool add on /features which only your "site"/forums has. Meaning such things as maybe if your user gains 50 posts they gain a figure on their profile.

Another note on being unique is not being that website when talking someone says "you know that forums that I wen't on yesterday" You want more of this " Yeah example.com yeah they had that cool feature upon figure on your profiles!"


- Organizing prices. Now this is probably gaming communities best skills, Meaning if you host contests regarding to your "game" than more people are going to want to win, Prizes as well are the main outcome people look for in contest in a (gaming community).


- Youtube / Twitter.
Both of these attract millions of people daily, Meaning your audience is viewing without you even knowing. Now you need to grab their attention!

A look into Twitter..
Now Twitter is probably going to be your second strong point. When using Twitter the first thing you want to keep in mind is "hashtags" now a Hashtag if you don't already know is something that keeps something stored within a server by clicking it.

For example if your website name is GTH than at the end of your tweets your gonna want to put #GTH meaning whenever you post all these "Tweets" are stored within the #GTH hashtag. Meaning your users can interact a bit more.

Also remember to tweet about your latest contests, member of the month, Or anything else the "gaming twitter community" Would enjoy to view and read about, This also could bring in more activity/views.



A look into Youtube..
Now with Youtube it's a bit different and a little bit harder, As people are constantly trying to beat someone else's "gaming" video. But one major way to bring in traffic to your website is by making videos on Youtube about the "game" your forum/website is currently about. Meaning if your site for example is about Modern Warfare 2, Your going to want to play some walthroughs throughout the game.

And maybe even some website montages regarding your users. However you want to find new and unique ideas that people haven't thought of for the game your website/forums are about.


Hope this has helped, It has helped me throughout my gaming forum/website years.

 

[Toups]

Thanks for the share raymond 🙂

 

[Raymond]

No problem always here to help 🙂

 

[Fergal]

Excellent suggestions there by Raymond. When looking at Twitter consider http://search.twitter.com/ look for people that are actively discussing the games in question.

Join larger general gaming forums, put a link in your sig and remain active in sections relevant to your specific games.

Ask the game producers if they will link to you, no harm in asking. Ditto, re blogs and fan pages for the game.

Leave non spam comments in reply to relevant blog posts. Link your name to your site.

Add your forum to relevant tops sites and directories.