How to grow my forum?

[Troshi]

I've searched around and haven't seen too many guides or threads about growing a forum?

I've got a community with a fairly large membership base, and a decent amount of threads... but its just a bit dead.

 

[erickishere]

Use postloop

 

[serpenabler]

Post some interesting topics on your forum.

 

[xrfanatic]

Make sure it gets indexed and leave it for half year untouched, to help it even grow more, leave option for posting topics without the need of registration , it will grow itself

 

[lietuvis002]

Make sure it gets indexed and leave it for half year untouched, to help it even grow more, leave option for posting topics without the need of registration , it will grow itself

This will get scammed really a lot.

 

[spider7]

Which forum software did you go with?

 

[starstrafe]

Get the big footprints list from BHW and insert all Forum Footprints u can find. Use easy captcha type. Win.

 

[rajoan]

u use very interesting post in your site & use everything is easily. posting important post.thank u

 

[godspeed007]

This is what I would do:
- Look for top forums in my niche
- Pick up some threads from there that adds value to the readers means that could learn new things from it.
- Rewrite those threads and post in my forum
- I could use forum posters for this purpose.
- Create high quality backlinks and try to rank in Search engine
- Share in Social network sites,mainly Facebook and LinkedIn
- Delete spam threads

Main thing is creating threads that will really help the persons joined in it and it will result in frequent visit. It will make the forum engaging.

Bro, just give your best. I know you will do really great.

 

[TTGSteve]

It's tough to build up forums. Always has been and always will be. However, it can be done.

Once you get any shred of activity, you want to make sure that it doesn't slow down. Make sure you reply to ever post/thread someone creates. Try to leave comments that instigate a response.

If your forums start to get spammed, you have to stay on top of it and delete all spammy posts immediately. Spam can really kill a forum.

Try to post as often as you can and enlist the helps of friends to help you get the place built up.

If you have to, you could create fake usernames and begin making posts.

If you have to, you could pay people to come in and post. There's a ton of people you can find that will make posts for money, create usernames, etc...

Getting a forum rolling can be tough and once it starts rolling, you have to keep it rolling. Once it gets big enough, it can practically take care of itself.

 

[TheGreyMatter]

Content is the key my friend. You need to make it look like there are a lot of users already on the forum which would make it look popular and bring in more real visitors who would then start and engage in conversations on more different topics.

 

[Furious George]

Make sure it gets indexed and leave it for half year untouched, to help it even grow more, leave option for posting topics without the need of registration , it will grow itself

terrible advice


Spammers and scammers will ruin your forum if you don't moderate

Also, google LOVES dynamic content. Forums are amazing for this. Don't leave it untouched.... that is horrible advice.

Get in there and start some discussions. Hire a mod or two. Sell some stuff. Get more content!

 

[Duffers5000]

Forums are too big an uphill climb for one guy on his own even in a really tight niche. Unless you have 3-5 active partners willing to work at it it will never get going.

 

[Junkfood00]

Do proper SEO to get them posts ranking highly. Have the urls look somewhat like bhw with post name in url. Do competitions involved with referrals, think creatively and you'll see it happening.

 

[Paper-Boy]

Read some psychology books and learn how to engage your users.

Once they're engaged, they'll spread the word like wildfire.

This is my way of doing it though. It doesn't work for everyone...

 

[gullsinn]

Hire some people to share important and unique data about your niche on your forum.
You can also promote your forums adding some fake users and by providing some premium stuff for free to regular active members etc.

 

[meinewelt]

rent out your girlfriends services to the person with the most posts in a week.

 

[Troshi]

Which forum software did you go with?

vBulletin 4

This is what I would do:
- Look for top forums in my niche
- Pick up some threads from there that adds value to the readers means that could learn new things from it.
- Rewrite those threads and post in my forum
- I could use forum posters for this purpose.
- Create high quality backlinks and try to rank in Search engine
- Share in Social network sites,mainly Facebook and LinkedIn
- Delete spam threads

Main thing is creating threads that will really help the persons joined in it and it will result in frequent visit. It will make the forum engaging.

Bro, just give your best. I know you will do really great.

Good general advice. A lot of work!

It's tough to build up forums. Always has been and always will be. However, it can be done.

Once you get any shred of activity, you want to make sure that it doesn't slow down. Make sure you reply to ever post/thread someone creates. Try to leave comments that instigate a response.

If your forums start to get spammed, you have to stay on top of it and delete all spammy posts immediately. Spam can really kill a forum.

Try to post as often as you can and enlist the helps of friends to help you get the place built up.

If you have to, you could create fake usernames and begin making posts.

If you have to, you could pay people to come in and post. There's a ton of people you can find that will make posts for money, create usernames, etc...

Getting a forum rolling can be tough and once it starts rolling, you have to keep it rolling. Once it gets big enough, it can practically take care of itself.

Yeah, the only problem is that if you're responding to everything, it practically looks like I'm spamming everything haha.

I've got one 'fake' account where I"m posting a lot with as well.

Content is the key my friend. You need to make it look like there are a lot of users already on the forum which would make it look popular and bring in more real visitors who would then start and engage in conversations on more different topics.

Tough to do this

terrible advice


Spammers and scammers will ruin your forum if you don't moderate

Also, google LOVES dynamic content. Forums are amazing for this. Don't leave it untouched.... that is horrible advice.

Get in there and start some discussions. Hire a mod or two. Sell some stuff. Get more content!

Gotta agree with this. I'm not about to leave it untouched. I can't imagine how spammy it would get.

Forums are too big an uphill climb for one guy on his own even in a really tight niche. Unless you have 3-5 active partners willing to work at it it will never get going.

I'm not sure this is an accurate statement... But I do think that having a few accounts that are active are essential.

Do proper SEO to get them posts ranking highly. Have the urls look somewhat like bhw with post name in url. Do competitions involved with referrals, think creatively and you'll see it happening.

I like the idea of competitions, I was going to do this anyway. What do you suggest as prizes though?

Read some psychology books and learn how to engage your users.

Once they're engaged, they'll spread the word like wildfire.

This is my way of doing it though. It doesn't work for everyone...

Most interesting response yet... However, its very general and vague.. could you give me some more specifics or at least point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Hire some people to share important and unique data about your niche on your forum.
You can also promote your forums adding some fake users and by providing some premium stuff for free to regular active members etc.

Any suggestions on where to hire these people from?

 

[LeadGenProfits]

Checkout a site called Feverbee. I'm about to launch a forum myself and found lots of good info there. Good luck!

 

[akshdalal]

why are you looking for "how to grow a forum guide" on such a big forum?

go to archive.org , check full history of bhw.

then check history of your competitors , you will get a idea yourself.

-=-

Hey buddy, this thread was lost for 6 months, and now it was bumped. Don't get angry, if he had to build a forum, he would have made one till now !