Ok, so I finished installing the graphics and added all the content and layout... What do I do now? I officially opened today and need a community but no one is joining. I brainstormed a unique and appealing theme which is a life related discussion board, but it won't work unless I get some active members. IDK just need help I guess... Where should I advertise?
Advertise through word of mouth, on other sites, on signatures on forums like this one, and basically anywhere that permits. Don't look desperate or spammy though - that'd have the opposite effect on your forum.
Promote, promote, promote. Sadly, this is the mistake that all new forum owners tend to make. They make a community and expect it to grow over night or even over the weekend. I used to be the same way. I've learned from loads of trial and error sessions that it doesn't work like that. You also have to be patient. Building a forum isn't like making instant cocoa. It takes time, energy, serious dedication, and the like.
Turn the board online first 😛... one promotion suggestion I have is the ZetaBoards directory, promotion forums, get a good rank in Google for key words and Social Networking. 😛
I too came to a "Board Offline" message. I generally avoid "under construction" type pages like the plague because users seldom come back to see if the site is finished.
What I am currently doing is enlisting the help of friends to "seed" the forum and sprinkling exchanges here and there. I am also promoting locally within my city.
