Forums.. Whats the trick?

[HillTopMayhem]

Looked for a better section, sorry if this is wrong.

I run a forum and want to promote it, 50 members of which are friends, minimal to no content currently, got a new theme and cleaned the site up with all the customations I wanted.

So here's a rough plan:

Content
Users
Content

Problem is this formula hasn't worked in the past for me, and I was wondering what you guys can help me out with, sure we have some forum guru's out there!

Any tips are more then welcome

 

[TeKn1qu3z]

Evaluate what you've done right and wrong and what you can improve on

 

[HillTopMayhem]

Evaluate what you've done right and wrong and what you can improve on

Thats how I got to where I am, I feel like I may be evaluating incorrectly.. or taking the wrong lessons away.

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

Work on creating interesting posts and use several fake profiles to make it seem like an more active community and then start promoting it by posting some of the interesting threads on social media sites such as facebook,twitter,digg reddit etc.

 

[Deleted member 731332]

what are you trying to do with the forum? Is it just for random convos? If so you are competing with facebook and twitter. Thats a battle you wont win.

Is the forum for DIY topics, or product support? Where people need to ask questions or can post their own techniques? If so those are good uses for a forum.

I see so many forums being used incorrectly. They are a tool that is only good for certain things.

 

[ThopHayt]

Just rank it for niche terms... "_____ forums" type terms. If it ranks people will find it and sign up.

 

[HillTopMayhem]

what are you trying to do with the forum? Is it just for random convos? If so you are competing with facebook and twitter. Thats a battle you wont win.

Is the forum for DIY topics, or product support? Where people need to ask questions or can post their own techniques? If so those are good uses for a forum.

I see so many forums being used incorrectly. They are a tool that is only good for certain things.

Its a forum like this, with services that people can purchase. Not for SEO, very different product.

 

[whitehatter98]

Promote your forum on social media and on places your target audiences frequently visit.

 

[Deleted member 731332]

Its a forum like this, with services that people can purchase. Not for SEO, very different product.

There's two sides to this forum, and SEO is a great niche for a forum. Sure, there is a market place, but there are also places for people who want to learn SEO to talk to each other, or share techniques, etc. And not just SEO but IM in general, obviously. This is the main reason why BHW thrives. Because people want to learn how to make money online or rank a website, and the level of information could just not be disseminated on facebook (which is THE forum killer). Somehow you have to find something hot to incorporate into the forum for people to talk about (that doesnt fit into facebook due to its unorganized nature), if you want it to be successful.

Aside from the yahoo answers in this thread (lol) I own two very successful forums in a niche that is my passion, and personal hobby. I know a thing or two about this subject.

Is there an "authority" forum that is very active with a large member base in the same niche? Or more than one?

 

[labs8vivek]

You ll need to create dummy profiles yourself or hire some one and post good content than optimized and advertize it this is the only good way i know to grow a forum

 

[deedee1whoa]

People have to have a good reason to come & comment.
I do think you've had that in mind, but, just sayin'.
Good luck!