I dont understand the point of post exchanges. For instance if I offered to post on someone's website 20 times, in exchange for them posting on mine 20 times, after this had occurred, I would be in the same situation as before. It is not as though they would post regularly or have any interest in my forums subject matter and become regular members.
I could just as easily create a member myself and post 20 times with that name and have no need to do that for the other persons forum.
It's mostly for new forums that need help getting posts on the forum. The hardest part of starting a forum is getting posts on the board before it is heavily promoted, so post exchanges are a great way of making that happen without much effort at all.
For larger forums that have a large base of active members then I agree with you it's pointless, as the 20 or so posts would not be worth the effort you have to put in return. ~wink~
Yeah but if you are doing a post exchange with a large amount of posts, the person doing the post exchange might grow to like your forum and then stay around. I have known a lot of people who have turned out to be active members on a forum they have done a post exchange with.
As Christian said to, It is really hard for some forums to get posts and members so doing a post exchange is a free and fast way of getting quick posts.
Furthermore the activity that the post exchanges bring show just that, activity on your forum. With this others who see the site will see an active site and are more inclined to join. So post exchanges may be only for a set number of posts, but you get those posts and make your site more attractive to guests who still haven't bought into the site.
I haven't done any post exchanges since this forum moved from free hosting (we had about 3000 posts then). I think they are really good for new forums as it is very very hard to get members when you start off. They are quite pointless though when your forum is big.
I have done a few post exchanges in my time. Some members stay and post. One time I was doing 10/10 on my old gaming forum, the member stayed and made 600 post. ~smile~
It is mainly to get quick posts without posting them yourself. If you have a specific topic (EX: Madden or Lord of the Rings) you should make a member, as most people who do post exchanges usually post in general categories.
it's just a quick way to get your forum more post, discussions, and members.
duh?
if a guests saw your forum with 1 member (you) and 10 posts ( you made) then they'll skip town.
but, if it has more members, more topics discussions, thn that strikes a uriosity that something good might be worth checking out your forum and signing up.
i dod post exchanges in the begiinning. but don't anymore. now, i just join randomn forums from here and other ad-sites, and where mybanner in my sig.
two things make me stay active there. either i get members from there, or the admin joins my forum himself, and stay active.
i give alot, but if i receive nothing, then there's no point in staying.
Ive done my fair share, and I must say, sometimes they help and sometimes they dont. If you, the admin, stay active and then do a few exchanges, the chances of the exchangers staying is higher. If you just signup for random exchanges, and then stop going to your forum for a few days, then chances are they wont stay long. Exchanges are also a great way for you to see other forums and gather ideas from the way they run. See what works and what doesnt.
