Resurrecting dying forums

[Odd Fact]

I am trying to think of ways to ressurect a dying forum. A once thriving forum has slowed to maybe 80 visitors a day with maybe 10 post. Do you go for content, post, members, or other tricks?

[Wheels]

I got the same issue. I recently took over my cousin's forum and it is dying bad. I tried different ideas to try to get it back up, but I'm about to shut the thing down at the end of the month.

[Jan]

Have you considered starting a thread in a "feedback" type forum asking where it has gone wrong? That might reveal a few problem areas that you may not be aware of.

[SoftWareRevue]

Even if you know what went wrong, it can be a daunting task to make things right.

Times change. Communities evolve. If you skip a step in evolution, it can only result in chaos.

I'm in the middle of a couple of these type of projects. And, although things are moving in a positive direction, I'd like to see them move a lot faster.

But maybe it's not possible.

Whatever made the community popular before had been removed and therefore the members that thrived on it moved as well.

I see it as an opportunity though. An opportunity to start anew. Because we're not likely to revive the dead. But building a foundation for the future is an atainable goal.

I think it's just a matter of time. Just like it was when the forum was first built. It will take time to make it active again.

[Wheels]

Have you considered starting a thread in a "feedback" type forum asking where it has gone wrong? That might reveal a few problem areas that you may not be aware of.

Actually there was a feedback forum. So many things popped up like to much rules and unfair moderation. When asked for details, only a new offered to reply. Until a couple of months ago, it was a happening place. It started to "drop" even before I took over.

SoftwareRevue's post hit it on the nail. As someone mentioned in our feedback area, things change, etc.

[HostFrog]

Things do change, and there is not a way to get around that (unless you have a Delorian and can travel through time with Marty) However, you can do your part to keep up with the on-going changes. Perhaps emailing the users, with basic checkup emails, and reminding them of your community. Also perhaps posting topics that are interesting (but related to the forum) which is what we are trying to do as of right now, may help to get things moving a bit. I was thinking that maybe you can start a contest or something involving the members of the forum?

[TheDPQ]

:D :D :D

I wonder if a survey will help. General 'What should we do to make this better' sort of posts don't always work well because people never really think about it. They just froath at the mouth at what they like, not really taking into account what would be best for the forum... or whats practical.

We've had people ask to take down the only forum topic actually getting posts because they personally weren't interested in the subject. *shrugs*

A survey might lead the people down a more focused path.