what should you do in this case?

[3iHung]

You build a forum
You have members registered
You post topics
Your members go and read

but your members rarely post new topic or reply. They just go in, read then out

what should you do?

[writespeak]

Some ideas:

- Start your own topics and ask questions in your posts.
- See if you can get a friend or 2 to get in discussions with you.
- Post under other usernames as well to get the forum going. (This idea is debatable, but it's been done.)
- Have a contest where the member who posts post #XXX (a number you don't reveal, but one that's attainable in the next month or so) wins a prize. Or make the winner the person who posts the most posts (not including fluff) or the most valuable post in the next month.
- Have a draw in which each member who posts more than X times in the next month is entered.

I don't know if the contest ideas would work at this stage, but here are the ideas. I expect other people will have more ideas. It sounds like letting people know about your forum isn't the concern at this point -- you need a forum that looks active to draw people in.

Lois

[sirius]

You build a forum
You have members registered
You post topics
Your members go and read

but your members rarely post new topic or reply. They just go in, read then out

what should you do?

I think Lois hit's the nail on the head (although I am unsure on the idea of going multiple personality on your own board). Depending on what your target audience is, try to engage them as much as possible. It's helpful to get folks you already know to work with you, setup some lively topics and debate away.

Your site will also grow in time.

Sirius

[SoftWareRevue]

. . . (although I am unsure on the idea of going multiple personality on your own board). . .Yeh. I think that's why she said, "This idea is debatable." :)

Back to the topic:

Although you say people are reading, it might be a good idea to get a review here (http://www.forumuniversity.com/campus/forumdisplay.php?f=26). Maybe there are navigation issues or some other underlying problems.

How old is your forum?

[Jan]

At least they are coming to read, that's a good start :) I think we would need the URL to see what the issues might be. Do you have way too many forums for the memberbase ratio? Is the forum topic something that would interest a lot of people?

On another note, welcome Sirius :wavey:

[3iHung]

the forum has been started nearly 2 months. Might be I will try the trick with several usernames to keep people reading first :D

I have just posted a request for reviewing our forum. Please give out your comments :)

thanks

[Mikey]

I would convert the site into a blog :)

[sirius]

the forum has been started nearly 2 months. Might be I will try the trick with several usernames to keep people reading first :D

I have just posted a request for reviewing our forum. Please give out your comments :)


Give it time... forum communities don't just happen overnight. As you slowly grow and establish yourself amongst the vast sea of forums, your userbase will grow.

Sirius

[Doug]

Lois posted some good ideas. Get the forum active, and have a little motivation to get members to post with various contests and such. It depends on the topic, as well. If the posts don't really need replies and are more informational, make it an article site.