Yeah. Overall it can be irritating when people act like their forum is already big and they haven't put effort on it, or it doesn't show. Not because you say it is the best people will flock o it, or when they treat it so much like business that you don't feel expected as a member but just as a +1 to the forum members statistics.
I think as a rule of thumb before you release a forum you could at least try have one thread in each main section. Many people open the forums with just the "rules" and the "new" in the announcement saying "welcome" and informing you "we're officially open". Sure some people like to make the 'first thread' in new forums, but it is very rare you will get that odd one joining and even if they do, if they do not see the admin working or answering their posts they most likely will walk off.
I also don't agree with the average amount of posts before releasing, I think it depends on the forum. Some forums start smaller than others, I think even just 30 thread could be adequate for some communities, and then just try to keep creating new ones often enough.
Also, about the friends and family. Some people open the boards because they want to find people they can relate with since their friends and family do not share that form of interest. Even with friends taht share my interests I have found hard to make them join the boards, and those that make an account will most likely not use it again. So not everyone has online or offline people to help them they are starting off.
Another tools are not that easily found, many promotion forums will not give you a package unless your forum is big enough not to need it any more solely for content purpose. Post exchanges it is harder hey accept with new forums. So you are on your own.
Something that annoys me as much a no content forum is forum where the new activity is 20 post by the admins that are just "news" pasted from different sources. Try spreading your posts, try to wording some threads without going for external sources. I don't even know if I am supposed to answer those treads and outside taht news section the forum is dead. It gives me desire to join.
Shawn said:
I disagree. I opened my admin forum with just a few topics here and there and within a month I had over 2,000 topics and posts (most of which were mine but I can easily drop 200 topics a day 🙂) However, I do see where you are coming from, there are those who launch with 10 or so and expect others to do their dirty work of populating the forum... They usually wake up eventually 🙂
Exactly, you see... I have joined empty forums before. It is fun sometimes to interact with the lone ranger admin, so long you see the intention to be there. Countless times I've been in forums taht change skins every few days before finding the right one.
At least with me, when someone is starting it depends more the person's attitude and the way this admin interacts with others more so that the forum. I have joined bare forums and been this odd person helping it with threads because I liked the admin and I could empathise with the effort she or he seemed to be doing and the wanting to make something for years but sparing us the despotic and conceited way many new administrators seems to pour through their posts. I like helping, and if the project gets my interest (or it is LoZ related :lol: ) I am up to register, make some threads and stay if I like it... but if I get a bad impression from a person, I am not inclined to check the board.
Yay! End of rant.
