[ShinLi]

This is more like a question then a discussion, but I really need to know >_<.

My members are getting less and less active, and only a little group of around 8 people is active almost every day. Although I do have 50 members.

My forum is a Harry Potter roleplaying board *yeah, here it goes again*. What can I do to encourage members to get more active, and post more reguraly in the roleplay?

Thank you for the help ^^

ShinLi

[Hector]

Well first off, your forums theme is kinda weak. Remember that not many people actually like Harry Potter.

Here's a tip, find some other fan based Harry Potter forums and advertise your forum there. That's all I can really do for you since Harry Potter is not exactly something I like.

Try finding a major RP forum, and see if you can attract any of the members there as well. Good luck.

[n3x]

Hmm... Heres on suggestion. When forums are new, and have a moderate ammount of members, make a deal with another webmaster. Then what you do, your saying? Merge.

Merge for about a week to a month. Gaining 2x the members. Also, having 25% to 50% of members come there for both boards. Separate, and both of you have gained enough members to continue. Vuola!

[Ryu]

Originally Posted By: Hector Well first off, your forums theme is kinda weak. Remember that not many people actually like Harry Potter. Here's a tip, find some other fan based Harry Potter forums and advertise your forum there. That's all I can really do for you since Harry Potter is not exactly something I like. Try finding a major RP forum, and see if you can attract any of the members there as well. Good luck.

I'd actually wager that half of America has read at least one of the Harry Potter books. Just because you don't like them, don't say "not many people like this so your forum is dumb."

[Michael]

I would say that alot of people like Harry Potter, but, alot of people are now getting bored and tired of viewing countless HP forums all over the internet. It has become too dense for anyone to actually attract a good base of active members without them being lost to another forum.

Perhaps try diversifying and instead of being a HP Roleplaying forum expand to become something more general yet still interlinked with either HP or Roleplaying. Literature for example?

[Capt_Barbarian]

I actually have the same question. I have a few active members and a few members that aren't so active (even a moderator >.>) any advice?

[//Aneurysm\\]

Im the same boat as you guys are.....

And i have 175 members.....

[Capt_Barbarian]

Originally Posted By: n3x Hmm... Heres on suggestion. When forums are new, and have a moderate ammount of members, make a deal with another webmaster. Then what you do, your saying? Merge. Merge for about a week to a month. Gaining 2x the members. Also, having 25% to 50% of members come there for both boards. Separate, and both of you have gained enough members to continue. Vuola!

I'm not going to merge with anyone so thats out of the picture for me.

[chrymo]

it seems the problem really is getting the word out, in my experience, some people are afraid of forums because they dont know how easy it can be... joining other forums and getting members from that way is good, therefore it just means better advertising and all SEO stuff...

[jluerken]

I think its also a question what about your forum is.

I am running a gaming forum and there are thousands of other boards doing so.
Many of them have big companies in their back with a lot of staff.
I will never reach their member count but I'll try

Point out what makes your forum special and advertise with this.

I know its damn hard but you will make it.

Getting the first thousand users is hard. The next thousand is easier, believe me

[AuctionMan]

Anyone using the post exchange technique? Had any success with it?

[Amaresh]

Could you please elaborate on what exactly is the post exchange technique?

[Michael]

Originally Posted By: Amaresh Could you please elaborate on what exactly is the post exchange technique?

A technique such as this is where you would post 25 (for example) times on a specific forum, in return for the administrator to post 25 times on your forums. An exchange of posts and activity.

[bjenks]

Well it helps if you have vBulletin I'll tell ya. I mean I just started my vB board less than a week ago, and I have over fifty members and almost two thousand posts. So yeah, get a vB cause they love them

[Dynamite]

This post exchange sounds like a good idea.