I made a local cycling forum.
A lot of local folks (that I know) joined, but they're not really talking.
I could reach out personally to some of them, but I'd rather encourage them online.
Sorry about the incoming wall of text. I thought I'd share some of the stuff I learned from my past communities and also stuff I know I need to apply myself when it comes to my own communities. Most of it is stuff that has worked for me really nicely but of course, take from this only what you think benefits your community.
The things I look for when I join a forum is mainly to meet people with similar interests and to do stuff and talk about things I couldn't or wouldn't otherwise.
With people that I know in real life or that live near me I'd probably join with the idea of doing stuff together and sharing tips and show our stuff, but if the staff is not trying to coordinate anything I'd feel awkward to even attempt anything on my own.
On the other hand, if I joined a cycling forum of people in my community and turns out we all like going to the cinema and have Sundays off. I would totally be up to having a hang-out one a month even if we don't just do cycling-related stuff as the owner maybe originally envisioned, If that helps.
What would you do in this situation?
I had a quick glance and it seems like you're already doing most of what I would suggest. I am only viewing as a guest but from what I can see:
☑️You have a very cohesive looking community. Two categories and the discussion area not too long and easy to understand.
☑️ You have been creating threads often enough so there's something fresh that can compel people to chime in.
☑️ You got other staff that can help you get the ball rolling and spark conversation with replies.
☑️ You have a showcase area for people to show off and offer areas and sections that can serve as resources.
At this point, what I'd do is...
1. To have a good think on what is the forum goal and vision to use it as my compass.
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There is a reason that moved you to start. Maybe there was a void you though a forum could fill or maybe you thought it'd make something easier? Figure out what moved you and believe in that purpose.
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hat is what is your idea of a successful forum. What is happening there? What kind of topics? what kind of activities? what is going on? This is your ideal version of the community create activity that encourages that.
2. I'll try to check other cycling forums. There is no shame in trying to learn how other people handle something you are interested in. Other communities have had to face the hurdles that you probably are facing and how they do things can give you ideas to get your mind going. Get inspiration on what kind of contests and prices could be doable, or that useful kind of category you didn't consider before but that would actually help heaps your community. What things do you like how they handle? what things you feel they are missing and you can bring to the table? Check what resonates with you, what pulls you in.
3. I'll probably seek feedback, I guess in a way you are already doing that, but
first and foremost from the community itself. It sounds like joining is not the problem, is for them to post after they have joined in. So I would still approach them in person if I know them, mostly to check if they need assistance in navigating the community. from experience with my friends, I know that what seems easy to me can feel very overwhelming if this is their first forum. Sometimes they are full of questions and they don't want to bother you or seem incompetent. Back when I was trying to get some of my IRL friends into my community, it always worked better when we were either in person or on a call coordinated to check the community. Realizing that you are not there to judge or hurry them up can help immensely as they feel better about asking you any doubts they have as they are popping up when they explore. Once they started getting the hang on it the ones who liked it kept going on their own as they were having fun.
-- I probably would also request a review here or
have other non-members give me feedback on what they think is working and what isn't working to help me figure out what could be deterrents I haven't even considered.
4. I would try to think of an easy timed activity that allowed more than one person to be online at the same time. Parting from the point before, you want that even among themselves they have opportunities to interact, so creating incentives can help guide people to be online around certain times with a similar purpose. You can try having some recurring activities, contests or a group activity. Can be weekly, monthly or even yearly.
5. I'll use the sidebar to incentivize and reward members. For example, I'd have a "Thread of the month" spot and have the poster avatar show in there as well as a direct link to said thread. In order to promote activity I'd make it something people can nominate and vote for (and even if people at first don't participate, I'd have the staff get the ball rolling and choose someone and make a point explaining why we chose that thread). You can put there anything you like to highlight from the community. Maybe even think of ways to give a little prize too or if there's a established official Community Day to meet in person, a way to acknowledge the winner there. it doesn't have to be fancy, it just have to be something that members find compelling and within their reach to try to aim for it.
6. I'd try to fill the resources area. An empty menu is never a good look so if I am not going to use I'd just hide it. That being said, I think it'd work in your interests to use it. Some people will be coming to your community in search for resources. I can see you already areas to discuss maintenance, accessories, etc so I'd probably use RESORCES to create proper articles of things that people are likely to search for on google on their own. The most common problems, the most questions, the Top 5's do and don'ts, etc. If you are a cyclist, invest time and effort investigating stuff YOU care about the topic and and bring some banger threads with all the pictures and information you wish you could have found yourself. Once they stumble across your forum,
you want them to feel more compelled to just check on the community for cycling stuff than trying to find it elsewhere. You know the best spots for specific stuff that the SICC is after and is a mess to figure out on our own. What are the best routes? what are the common things to watch out for? what are the best/worst months to ride? Bring both, general and really specific resources for cyclist in your area.
This is more of a tip but I also would try to keep an open mind to have the flexibility to adapt the forum to the community needs. Don't get to lost on the members that aren't here and try instead to see how the members onboard are shaping your community. My bilingual community was never what I originally envisioned and if I judged it for the original intent it would have been classified a failure. However I realized that people got their own will and even if I tried to do things to appeal to them they wouldn't necessarily post or favor the areas I wish they did. When I stopped and let that go I realized that I had a very nice little community that had found a home in my forums and they were all bringing their own flavor and it is
because people got their own will that makes running a community rewarding, it is together with your members that slowly things will take shape even if they take you through ways you didn't expect.
All in all, I wish you the best with your community. Let us know how it goes!!
😀
