I'm always amazed to see 'little' forums that get SO many forum posts, while others which use name brand software and have huge budgets still struggle to even get a few a day. What's the secret of these small starter niche forums for getting so many daily posts?
How do some forums get so many forum posts?
- Thread starter Beverly
- Start date
I'm not quite sure what you mean by little... so I'd like more clarification on that.
But just because someone throws money at a project doesn't mean it will succeed. I mean paid software is nice, but it won't matter at all if the staff are rude or serial board makers (among a laundry list of other issues).
The secret to pretty much any forum's success is the right combination of a number of things, including:
- the staff team needs to have good content that interests people (really hard to do).
- an attractive skin/theme.
- active staff team.
- plenty of advertising (on many different places/locations).
- active members (since admins can't do it on their own).
- consistency. (That staff advertise on a consistent pace, posts happen regularly, etc...)
Though the niche also matters since niches that are over populated (like gaming) tend to die off because there are so many different options that are already well established and provide all a person's needs that there really isn't much point for yet another site of that type. Not unless it can really offer something drastically different or new.
(Even in roleplay sites, where people actively seek out sites because they want to post... there are still some genres that are over populated. For the longest time Harry Potter based sites were this type. Everyone had a HP site, often because they wanted to play <character> and they were always taken on other sites. Or they wanted <plot x> with <character y>. Which causes a massive surge of these sites and few of them ever got anywhere because they offered nothing new. And in most cases they were wish fulfillment for the admin... Which people wanted no part of.)
But just because someone throws money at a project doesn't mean it will succeed. I mean paid software is nice, but it won't matter at all if the staff are rude or serial board makers (among a laundry list of other issues).
The secret to pretty much any forum's success is the right combination of a number of things, including:
- the staff team needs to have good content that interests people (really hard to do).
- an attractive skin/theme.
- active staff team.
- plenty of advertising (on many different places/locations).
- active members (since admins can't do it on their own).
- consistency. (That staff advertise on a consistent pace, posts happen regularly, etc...)
Though the niche also matters since niches that are over populated (like gaming) tend to die off because there are so many different options that are already well established and provide all a person's needs that there really isn't much point for yet another site of that type. Not unless it can really offer something drastically different or new.
(Even in roleplay sites, where people actively seek out sites because they want to post... there are still some genres that are over populated. For the longest time Harry Potter based sites were this type. Everyone had a HP site, often because they wanted to play <character> and they were always taken on other sites. Or they wanted <plot x> with <character y>. Which causes a massive surge of these sites and few of them ever got anywhere because they offered nothing new. And in most cases they were wish fulfillment for the admin... Which people wanted no part of.)
darkotakusouls
Familiar Face
It weird I had to move my site to a different host, my old forum had almost no posts but lots of people, the new forum doesn't have as many people but there a lot of posting. You just need the right people that are willing to stay and chat all the time.
similar999
New Arrival
it can be a lot of possibilities... they can hire a forum posting service, or they truly offer sometime that's enticing, make people emotionally attached to the forum and they love the forum..
That's the hardest part, to make the forum live.
That's the hardest part, to make the forum live.
Luck might have something to do with it. Sure, a lot of people discount the idea, but there's definitely a certain level of luck in whether a site/forum becomes successful.
It also depends quite a bit on what kind of members you draw in. For example, the forum before my current one had far less members, but managed to get about three times the post count with minimal effort. Whereas my current one has far more members and quicker registrations, but less posts overall. That seems to be a pattern in a lot of places, you either get both members and posts at a fairly equal rate, a lot of members but less posts by them or a lot of posts by a smaller group of members.
Posting services and stuff too I guess. It's very possible a significant amount of those posts are being made because they signed up to some service or paid for them.
It also depends quite a bit on what kind of members you draw in. For example, the forum before my current one had far less members, but managed to get about three times the post count with minimal effort. Whereas my current one has far more members and quicker registrations, but less posts overall. That seems to be a pattern in a lot of places, you either get both members and posts at a fairly equal rate, a lot of members but less posts by them or a lot of posts by a smaller group of members.
Posting services and stuff too I guess. It's very possible a significant amount of those posts are being made because they signed up to some service or paid for them.
I’ve seen where forums just have about 5-10 friends and they are actively talking on it all day. That can also contribute to a small board having so much activity. Word of mouth is important.
Posting services though can also be a big thing as well as contests that incentivize participation on the forum.
Posting services though can also be a big thing as well as contests that incentivize participation on the forum.
They spam in the forum games section mainly which boosts the forum stats post count. I've seen that plus actually having an active userbase too.
Agreed. I use posting services and it does help.
As I said before, people just want instant gratification nowadays. If they are not being paid IRL money or a forum currency they likely will not even be active or post on your site otherwise.
D
Deleted member 49125
My forum is still on the small side but I do Posting Packages & Exchanges with other forums. I put a lot of work into posting on my forum & then on others so it can be reciprocated. It's a job that's for sure!
This is very true. Sometimes I see a lot of forums that are just starting out and they seem to get a lot of new content daily. This is either done using post packages, hiring someone to post on your forum, or just by being consistent with yourself and posting regularly.
With quite a few out there offering work to post on forums, that is in some cases one of the main reasons there is so much activity if the forum owner can afford it.
Yes, and if you stop the Fourm becomes dead again XD
Plus, I love it when you drop on by Crafter Craze because then I remember it's been a while since I dropped on by your site and then I go there and post too 🙂
While that's true, I'd argue it doesn't usually equate to a major increase in long term activity.
To answer the OP's question, 'What's the secret of these small starter niche forums for getting so many daily posts?', the answer in the majority of cases is they serve a purpose. That purpose might be to provide unique content or simply an engaging environment that people want to join.
If your forum serves a purpose then everything else is secondary e.g. some of the largest most active forums run on free or ancient software using the default theme.
Yes, same. I see a lot of forums who start out and get a ton of posts using post packages, paid posters, etc.
Yep, sad but true.
Exactly. Post packages, paid posters, or whatever doesn't equal long term activity. A ton of them post and leave your forum/site afterward, and I accept that they have other things to do or handle.
D
Deleted member 49125
Aww, thank you 🙂 I've found some great ideas on Crafter Craze lol
Etini Willie
Reputable
I think it depends on the niches found in a particular forum. There is a local forum I know, it has lots of traffic to the point of being the the third highest site with traffic in the whole country. There is no good or service you would need in this life that you would not find someone to do it on that forum for you.
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