(Free) How should we gain members?

[GamerPerfection]

Ok, Clarkey I don't know who would be stupid enough to make accounts and post on them, I would call that cheating just to make your forum look interesting, also if you do that to your site I won't join because perhaps the majority of members are you and that just put me off your site all in one, I really do not recommend doing what Clarkey mentioned.

Firstly i have 1 account on my site and 1 test account.

Secondly it is one of the most common recommendations on the net for people starting new forums because if people see regular posts and threads it will help to encourage people to join.

Thirdly please do not be so disrespectful to assume that anyone that does this is "stupid". -1 rep

 

[Lee Lawson]

I would classify that as cheating, cheating gets you nowhere. If this is the biggest 'recommendations' on the internet, please give me some examples. I think only people who badly want their forum to look good to either some top webmasters/mistresses, friends and family, and members. I just personally think that is a bad idea, well awful idea.

 

[GamerPerfection]

I would classify that as cheating, cheating gets you nowhere.

It's not "cheating", it's giving yourself a "helping" hand.

If this is the biggest 'recommendations' on the internet, please give me some examples.

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=14896&p=121023&hilit=fake#p121023
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2364&p=13169&hilit=fake#p13169
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=25116&p=223865&hilit=fake#p223865
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=33227&p=324326&hilit=fake#p324326
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=25082&p=225687&hilit=fake#p225687

There's some examples from this very site we are on now.

You may think it's "cheating", you may think it's an "awful" idea, but it doesn't make people "stupid" if they do it.

 

[Lee Lawson]

But I can bet you half the users here wouldn't take up that advice if it is badly needed which I doubt. I am not going to argue.

Chaos, let it kick in because you have only been open for a short period of time.

 

[bestforexbroker]

I think following methods will help you.

1. Involve yourself as much as possible with forum discussions as an Admin & with few fake user
names.
2. Ask your friends to join.
3. Search Engine Optimization.

 

[EssencZ]

lol fake user names D: thats a good idea.

I was thinking of merging my phpbb forum together with joomla like this http://forum.joomla.org/

More content, proffesional looks & such.. maybe u should try that aswell 🙂