Taking a forum to the "next level"

[OiLerz284]

So, I have a hockey forum that is doing pretty good. At the moment, we have 65, 528 posts and 3, 762 threads to go along with 82 members.

We've been open for close to 1 year (March 20th, 2010).

The problem I'm having is, of the 82 members we have around 20 are active. That 20 makes up our main core and source of posts. But, we aren't getting any new members very much anymore... I have advertised on a lot of advertising forums, and they just aren't working. I've advertised on twitter, other hockey-related websites, etc and it nothing seems to be attracting new members who stay active.

I'd like any ideas you guys have that'll help 1) Get some of the members already registered visiting again and 2) Attracting more people to join and 3) Also, something special to do for the 1-year anniversary

Just know this though: I am not old enough to have a credit card, and my parents won't let me use theirs... so I can't really buy anything.

 

[fokerss]

do you really have any ideo to bring it to next level? if not it will be wasted again.

 

[GAF]

You need to try changing things, if you have not changed much since you opened then people will not be interested because it will get boring. Change the graphics there and improve the design

 

[David]

You could invest in a Top Level Domain (ie. yoursitename.com) rather than using a free subdomain. But in reality, there isn't any self defining trick that will get people to post on your forum. Luck plays an important role in "foruming" and you may or may not succeed. You just have to press harder and find free ways to advertise, such as signature links and using Twitter.

For now, I dislike your design as it seems to be dull. You have to scroll a bit before actually seeing a forum, and that seems to be wasting space. Right now, you are doing great in terms of posts, but member wise, you seem to be static. Because many people have thousands of posts, I think the issue here is getting noticed. You have already tried to advertise on hockey websites, but what about hockey forums?

 

[OiLerz284]

@fokerss Not really, that's why I made this thread. 😉

@WarStopper I have already changed the design and layout 3 times since opening, and did a major layout change once already.

@DavidL That's the thing, until I can get my own credit card I don't have a paypal account to use to buy things like a domain (which I've been looking very hard for a free one). I'm pretty much stuck with the sub-domain until something comes up.

As for the design, I'm not exactly sure if you talking about the theme colours, or the layout? And I'm assuming you're talking about the overview box and the little bars above the forums. The overview has become very useful and popular, and 2 of the announcement bars are temporary.

And for advertising. Well, I've used Twitter since day 1 and recently added a Tweet button for easier Tweeting threads. And we've gotten a few members from Twitter, but they are for the most part fairly inactive. And on every hockey forum I've been on they don't allow sig advertising.... Advertising on advert forums is starting to be a waste of time I can't remember the last time somebody from FP ever joined (I don't think there has been tbh)

My main issue is keeping the new members wanting to come back.

I have run out of ideas of what to add. This is everything we've added since opening:

- Multiple skin changes
- Multiple template changes
- Monthly "Newsletter"
- Custom Jersey Numbers
- Tabbed categories for less scrolling
- Overview box
- NHL Sim League (currently closed)
- NHL Fantasy League
- A "Hall Of Fame" nomination for members who get 1000 posts
- HN Extra (which includes games, stats, etc) - I plan on adding to it
- Shoutbox (Members only)
- Twitter button for threads
- New Thread button in forum descriptions
- Sports Nation (expansion of other sports category)
- +More (I can't even remember everything)

In other words, I'm totally out of ideas on what more to add. What to do different that'll atract more people and help them decide to contribute to the forum instead of just registering and then never returning.

 

[David]

@DavidL That's the thing, until I can get my own credit card I don't have a paypal account to use to buy things like a domain (which I've been looking very hard for a free one). I'm pretty much stuck with the sub-domain until something comes up.

You are not required to have verified PayPal (ie. assigned to a credit card) however it's recommended. It varies amongst countries, so I'm not sure about Canada (I assume you're from Canada). If you are allowed to have unverified PayPal in Canada, you can sign up with NameCheap.com to purchase a domain as it allows unverified PayPal usage.

 

[HawkPokemon]

@DavidL That's the thing, until I can get my own credit card I don't have a paypal account to use to buy things like a domain (which I've been looking very hard for a free one). I'm pretty much stuck with the sub-domain until something comes up.

You are not required to have verified PayPal (ie. assigned to a credit card) however it's recommended. It varies amongst countries, so I'm not sure about Canada (I assume you're from Canada). If you are allowed to have unverified PayPal in Canada, you can sign up with NameCheap.com to purchase a domain as it allows unverified PayPal usage.

Seriously? Can 12 year olds do this?

 

[Zawazuki]

Seriously? Can 12 year olds do this?

Yes, anybody can do it if you know how to read and spell. Click here to go to PayPal then on the top of the screen you'll see Sign Up. Click it, fill out all of your information and you're set. Also, I replied to your More active members? thread, read the information I said there to learn how to make easy cash here. :O

 

[David]

@DavidL That's the thing, until I can get my own credit card I don't have a paypal account to use to buy things like a domain (which I've been looking very hard for a free one). I'm pretty much stuck with the sub-domain until something comes up.

You are not required to have verified PayPal (ie. assigned to a credit card) however it's recommended. It varies amongst countries, so I'm not sure about Canada (I assume you're from Canada). If you are allowed to have unverified PayPal in Canada, you can sign up with NameCheap.com to purchase a domain as it allows unverified PayPal usage.

Seriously? Can 12 year olds do this?

It does depend on which country though. I guess on face value, any one of any age can, but if you do get caught out, or made to provide details such as license or identification, then no, 12 year olds probably won't get away with it as that is simply the law in most countries. You shouldn't be signing contracts if you are under a set age, which tends to be adult age, but also working age which also tends to be a minimum limit.

 

[Acorn]

When the newbies have stopped coming like they used to, something needs to change, and fast. It's up to you as the admin to figure out what is preventing the board from thriving and what could be tweaked to make it thrive. First of all, do you get a good amount of guests? Like a few hundred a day? If you do then marketing isn't the problem, focus on the board itself. Something isn't grabbing your guests on joining. Take a look at other, more successful forums in the same genre--what do they look like, what is their atmospheric feel? I'd try for a new look that gives something similar to that--don't rip anyone off, just create something that gives the right "feel."

 

[OiLerz284]

@DavidL thanks, it worked for me I don't need to verifiy it (I think).

@Acorn we average atleast 100 guests a day, sometimes even 200+ but most of them I'm guessing are bots from Twitter. I would hope my layout isn't what is keeping people away, but it isn't similar to any hockey forum (it's unique). All the hockey forums are the same thing, all have forums for each NHL team, and then a forums for some other leagues I tried to make mine "equal" for all leagues. I guess my plan isn't working...

 

[Nathan-]

Need to be consistent, changing things too much will drive people away, in my experience.

 

[OiLerz284]

Need to be consistent, changing things too much will drive people away, in my experience.

I haven't made any large changes to the forum yet. And I am planning on changing the layout to "traditional" hockey forum layout (forums for each NHL team).

But, whenever I make changes, I get user feedback first. For small changes, I do them and ask for feedback to see if everybody is okay with them. For large changes, such as layout changes, I ask them first wether they'd like the changes and go from there (I did that before deciding to change the layout). In other words, I get opinions from all acttive members before making permanent changes and if they don't like it I won't do it.