How to create activity in a ZERO posts forum?

[dojo]

I just had to answer to this question for 3 times in a row already, so it's time to sum up my ideas in an article and let you read it.

How to start some activity in a brand new forum?

So .. you just installed the script and the forum has 1 user: you and 0 posts. I would advise you to mod the theme and add some hacks to the forums at this stage and then go to the content issue.

Well first of all start some threads. 20-50 to allow the future members to reply to something. Promoting a 0 threads forums will lead to 0 results. So, get your postng shoes on and put some content there.

1. Do you have any friends that might help out? If the forum is suitable for your friends, why not ask some to come and help? You'll have some join and post a bit and that awfully empty forum might already look like a community.

2. Promote in other sites (if you have a network). Even if not populated, your forums might interest someone.

3. Look for similar projects. Yeah, your dear competition. Look for HOW they deal with the forum problems, what they talk about, and if you can promote with a link in the signature, JOIN and become a good and active member.

4. Directories, search engines, advertising campaigns - have some time and money? Put your link in all these, run adwords if you can afford, aks for some link exchanges, enter the site in directories, prepare press releases, write articles ...

5. Post exchanges. Well, this might be your secret weapon for some time. Do 2-3 post exchanges a day. 10-15 posts, not that much, but you might have 30 posts a day and that means 600 posts a month and 60-90 members in the first month. Not that bad ...

6. KEEP ON CREATING CONTENT!!!!!!

I cannot say this too many times. UPDATE THE CONTENT. Start new threads daily. With the post exchanges and the site promotions, you'll have some people visit and maybe join. This would allow you to have some members and be able to expand more. And don't forget: NEW THREADS!

Some of the mistakes I saw people make when starting a forum:

1. start promoting a 0 posts forum. Will repeat: if you don't start threads as an admin NO ONE will do. Some members can't be botherred and some just don't know how to do this. For many it's better just to reply and then little by little start some.

On the "post exchanges" marker topics are "more expensive" then replies. No partner will like starting new threads while he/she has hunderds of threads started for you to reply. So, if you won't get a response in your "post exchange" offer thread, try to imagine WHY.

2. Not promoting enough: post exchanges will get you some boost, same with paid posting. Don't forget that you need normal members, try to promote and make the site as good as possible for them.

3. Not developing the site more: theme ans script wise. In all webmaster forums you'll submit your site for a review you'll get some feed-back. Some of the people who post in your forums will also give some criticism. If they say you need a quick reply mod or more topics, then make sure you won't be caught off-guard anymore. Deal with the criticism and make the changes.

Don't think you installed the forums and have nothing to do anymore. We run VB here, one of the most feature filled script. Well, we still installed some hacks and we continue this. Ask for a review and for some ideas of hacks and features to be installed. Then make the updates.

These are just some small tips to improve your community. Don't forget that a forum means a lot of work and it's sometimes almost a second job. Should you need to find out more and want more input, just ask us here