02-24-2011, 05:53 PM
(02-24-2011, 05:43 PM)Solidus Wrote: - Start small. Don't create lots of sections expecting them to be filled when you just don't have the user base.
- Don't place ads on your site. It's just starting, you wont earn anything and it makes your forum unattractive to guests. Give before you take.
- Read SEO guides, or ask for help here. Get your keywords and page titles spot on.
- Make it unique. Purchase a premium theme and customize it to perfection. Seeing the same templates over and over isn't good, visitors will be heading straight for the exit button.
- Encourage posting. Set up competitions, offer good prizes. Be approachable and professional.
I've just looked at your site, it needs a lot of work. As a guest, I would not join.
I agree with all of that, you need to encourage registrations as well. You can get all the activity that you want if you have a good SEO method, but once a visitor becomes not interested in the website, they probably won't be coming back, and that won't do you any good.
Encouraging posting through competitions and awards is a good approach to start off activity, then you can tone it down a bit and start working to develop your site more with ideas. I've also recommended an award of some sort for members mentioning new suggestions for the site that are good enough ideas to implement for improvement, because it encourages your site development, and updates are easier to list out that way. If members see an admin working to improve a site, and they see that the person in charge is dedicated to keep it going, then they are more likely to sympathize and help out as well.