How to populate a forum?

[cport1]

What are some techniques that work to populate your forum? I am trying to create a forum surrounding the social bookmarking community and try to include some internet marketing forums. The domain i got is diggboards.com.

 

[Jacklin]

Try to post in relavant forums and give some interesting contests to attract visitors so that they join your forum and populate it

 

[sufi]

Offering some kind of incentive to post is definitely the best marketing technique. For example, you can give free web hosting for posts or any type of contest would also help (like higher poster for this month will get XX$). Paid posters are another option but they are good as long as you can afford their posts. Good Luck..

 

[Jacklin]

There are enough members there as a start of a forum so right now just try to create more and more topics and ask your members to do it so that your forum will look more populated

 

[weblord]

use this
http://www.namepros.com/np-incentives/
temporarily and create incentives inside the forum as well exclusively like free stuff to get to this number of quality posts, something like that and think constantly of offers, get volunteer staff as well to share in the wealth or some nice incentives different from what the members can get.

set up referral system so you're not alone doing the promotion.

 

[Lucysmith]

Make the look n feel of your forum attractive and use some SEO technique to promote your forum

 

[Kryvast]

Be active you yourself in posting new topic and replying to others post, make your new members feels comfortable (not to much restriction) for them to return and invite their friends to join as well.

 

[ameRie]

If you belong to other forums and if it's permitted, then you can put it in news. that may help.

 

[Takwa]

People here like me will sign up and post for $NP

 

[BottomUpSites]

Pay people to post on the forum and build up the post and thread count. Nothing is worse than going to a forum that has no members and no posts.

 

[smalley.john]

Run contests, allow people to post signatures and you should see some activity. You may want to hire some moderators who will be active on the forums.

 

[DJ-Sound]

All the above are good suggestions.

I would establish a base in every topic/sub forum (from hiring a cheap writer). Then do incentives, contests - advertise on adwords with a sales page and email newsletter signup form. Make the newsletter a bi weekly update on "hot" topics at the forum, this will get users coming back time after time and increase sign up conversion rates.

Sometimes you have to get creative but once you get that initial wave of regular users your forum will sustain and grow on its own. (although you should never stop advertising it)

 

[thebutler]

Contests

Run some sort of contest for members (new and existing). Even small give aways for most active posters every week would be helpful (itunes gift card-one example).

 

[waytovietnam]

If you belong to other forums and if it's permitted, then you can put it in news. And if you can add content (such as files), then that may help.

 

[shilpamg]

Post the forum in social bookmarking sites, directories sites, articles sites, blogs posting.

 

[fak3r]

Keep posting and people will eventually come.

 

[ganb]

Giving hosting facilities or space to put your websites is ok if you are opening forum related with the webmaster but what about those forums which are realted with SMS or Movies.

Kinldy advice as I have opened one forum and there is no such traffic ...

 

[Li Weng]

value, value, value

People go to forums only if they can get something out of it.

If you have friends who are top marketers, invite them to the forum, that will draw some interest as well.

and set rules that makes the environment positive and constructive.

 

[Jonnyjonny_uk]

1. Keep adding content daily
2. Keep posting daily
3. Post good questions that will require answers
4. Have you forum link in signatures
5. Use social boomarking sites
6. Ask friends and family to post
7. Add your site to directories
8. Post in forums relevant to yours with quality posts only
9. Yahoo answers (answer questions relevant to your forum only)
10. Keep adding content daily!!(Important)
11. Make sure your site is keyword friendly
12. Organise contests
13. Use google adwords
14. Display flyers in places that would find relevant members for your forum
15. Find sponsors to put up prizes and maybe display a link on their site to yours.

I'm sure there are more but that's it for now