Generic posts that get members involved and posting

[John D]

Hey,
What type of generic posts do you know of that get users posting and involved in the community.

A good example of this here would be the I have (insert number here) posts - Although a bit varied for forum admins on this site.

What type of threads can we post on our forums that will get members interested, involved in the community and returning to check and reply to it?

[Tyler]

Right now we only have two popular threads. We have a game called "Word Association", easy post count bumper so it became a huge hit. And then the most recent "What is your current mood in one word", with a few replies and once again easy post count bumper. A pattern? Probably :D

[SoftWareRevue]

What type of generic posts do you know of that get users posting and involved in the community.Yes, as Tyler mentioned. Word games work for fun.

An introductions forum helps new members have a place to say Hi.

What type of threads can we post on our forums that will get members interested, involved in the community and returning to check and reply to it?That's a tougher one.

Of course, if they found your forum by looking for an answer, and got the answer, they're likely to come back when they have a question.

For something ongoing to keep one coming back to a particular thread, I think it would have to be a contest that involved that thread.

[Jan]

What about a contest that starts say a couple of weeks before an anticipated event? For instance when do you think we will hit x amount of posts. You could make it a date, or even the time post number x is posted. You could send the winner a bottle of Derry air :D

[Brandon]

I've had most success lately with word/thread games.
they have over taken the % of total post on the forum :google:

[John D]

You could send the winner a bottle of Derry air :D

:D you read that eh ;)

I'm trying to get a community spirit going on one of my forums so I think something like this and is a bit of fun would be a great start :)

[Jan]

I don't see the word games keeping folks coming back, unless their only interest is postcount ++. Something that they can look forward to would be better in my opinion. When I see those word games if I happen to be browsing other forums it is ugggggggghhh and I am :out:

[cyberturk]

i don't like word games too. But in my forum there is a section for that games and it doesnt increrase post numbers.

Sometimes messages like tht help :

where are you from? :)

[Jan]

If you are referring to me, I am Australian. But if you mean John, he is from Ireland :)

[Scott]

I don't think it was referring to anybody, rather a suggestion as a topic to get members posting ;)

The problem I've had with word games is that they soon die out. Threads which try to reach x number of posts (usually a high number) can be interesting to start off, and can be quite funny to read.

[telegraph.hill]

I've found that posing a question to which everyone will have a different answer works well, eg:

How did you write your first ever web page?

What topic was it on?

Questions such as these generate loads of answers, and also generate further conversation as people ask each other about the answers.

[Lurker]

That sounds like a handy idea to direct a "newbie" to, who is looking for ideas on what to make a website about :S