Lots of responses but few new forum threads

[Beverly]

On some forums I visit there are just a dozen threads in each subforum but hundreds of responses. How can you get forum members to post more new discussions versus only responses? Or, is it up to the forum owner/admin to start new discussions?

 

[CyberFreak]

Some people just don't feel comfortable or have the imagination to come up with new topics that haven't been posted before and that would be interesting to other users. I personally am someone that rarely creates new topics and find it alot easier to reply to existing topics.

Forum owners I think should always be looking to start new discussions and encourage users to post replies and new topics.

 

[Kirk93]

A lot of my members generally don't start topics, which needless to say isn't very helpful. I just post a load of new discussions when I can to keep things flowing.

 

[Migi]

To speak frankly, I myself am more a post person than a thread person, lol. I'm a bit too lazy to come up with new ideas and new threads so I prefer to make posts around. Lots of members are mostly like that, so it depends on staff members to help add new threads to the forum. Contests can also be a way to make members write new threads without forcing it too much.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

On some forums I visit there are just a dozen threads in each subforum but hundreds of responses. How can you get forum members to post more new discussions versus only responses? Or, is it up to the forum owner/admin to start new discussions?

On any given forum that I run, most of the topics are started by me. I think this is a norm with most forum especially those that haven't been around for that many years. Once the forum starts to get really big and active, you will start to get more members joining who are joining to ask questions and that is where a lot of your new topics will come from. Once your forum reaches that big board status, you shouldn't have any problems getting new topics from other members.

 

[Beverly]

On some forums I visit there are just a dozen threads in each subforum but hundreds of responses. How can you get forum members to post more new discussions versus only responses? Or, is it up to the forum owner/admin to start new discussions?

On any given forum that I run, most of the topics are started by me. I think this is a norm with most forum especially those that haven't been around for that many years. Once the forum starts to get really big and active, you will start to get more members joining who are joining to ask questions and that is where a lot of your new topics will come from. Once your forum reaches that big board status, you shouldn't have any problems getting new topics from other members.

Maybe you could have a contest that focuses only on new discussions with a nice prize?

 

[ForumsGroup]

It all depends on the topic and the members. Forums vary from topic to topic and community to community. Not all members are forum people who create content. I've learned that you come across people that will generate new content for your board, but its very rare in some niches.

 

[cenydd]

I think you just have to hope that members will start new threads, and take up the slack by starting them yourself when that isn't happening to keep the interest level up with new topics. You also have to accept that not every thread you post will generate discussion, and not get disheartened by that.