StarBurst
April 8th, 2007, 10:57 PM
Hey guys,
Just wondering, what do you think is the best way to build readership on your sites and membership and activity on your forums?
I've tried a number of different ways myself, and haven't had a lot of success, so I was wondering what everyone here does?
What's been working for you?
Koroku
April 9th, 2007, 04:09 AM
Sad to say but...
Media =/
Ausaudriel
April 9th, 2007, 07:01 AM
Above all else- content. If you have exceptional content, you won't need to worry about activity. The people will come flooding in.
If you believe your content is up-to-par, then go affiliate with some people. Join forums, put the link in your signature. Find some topsites to add it to, and so on.
Patients and determination are key.
As for me (when I had a website), I just kept things completely in-focus. Don't have too many "sitely" links, such as stuff about the staff, or awards, or contact, or whatever-have-you. That can come later. Make sure your primary focus is that of your subject-matter. Also, keep away from stuff like "don't click here!" Partly because too many places already do it, and partly because you know nobody will ever click it anyway. Nobody is going to a website for stuff like that. If they go to your website, they're there for your content, not for useless ramble.
Also, try not to "promote" your forums too much. That's usually a huge turnoff for me when I visit new websites that're just starting up. Too many people are too obsessed with trying to start their own forums. There are already thousands upon thousands of forums out there, probably much bigger and more active, that people will flock to instead. In the case of Pokemon, for example; PokeCommunity, SPPf, Mt. Moon, and so on. After you get a solid base of people visiting your website, then go all out getting your forums nice and active. If you wait until you have a decent amount of people visiting your website, then when you open your forums, you'll already have an active member base. Active enough to make your forum appealing to new members, who will in-turn visit your site, and so on and so forth.
Wow, I really do ramble pretty badly. <<; I don't even think I answered the question. XD Oh well.
I hope some of that will prove helpful to you.