[Junon]

Sometimes people tell me that it takes quite a long time to get a forum active. To some extent, that is true. But I believe that there are some ways to make that time-process move faster. What do you think of this theory? If you think that there are other ways other than time, what are those ways?

[ShinLi]

Making multiple accounts?

No just kidding. I'm with the time theory. Everything takes time to get started up, getting known, and active. Not only forums. Officially my forum started in May, but that was on Proboards. July we went over to Invisionfree, losing quite a bunch of members with it. We still are regaining, and we still need lots of more members before the forums really do get active.

[+ Ryan]

Time is a big factor. It takes time to do everything. But good forums don't always have to wait several months in order to become great, and vice versa.
All there needs to be is advertisement, afilliation, and good reputation. People will come. Hell, they will come in droves. I've witnessed it before.

[//Aneurysm\\]

Patience works....Thats what i've been told...and its the only thing that I keep doing....

[Hector]

Having a good rep on other forums would help. You'd get plenty of quick members who'd than spread the word of your forum.

~HM-UNDERGROUND

[Michael]

I think that if you have got a good reputable reputation within the genre in which your forum is set in then the process of activity and popularity will be shortened very much so. It is all about getting people to know about the site, hence if you are on many forums, with your signature plastered over it your gonna be getting alot of views at least.

[Andy]

Originally Posted By: Ryan Time is a big factor. It takes time to do everything. But good forums don't always have to wait several months in order to become great, and vice versa. All there needs to be is advertisement, afilliation, and good reputation. People will come. Hell, they will come in droves. I've witnessed it before.

Well yeah look at TSL and old DU it didnt take all that much time.TSL is still growing i know but pretty fast.

[jluerken]

Originally Posted By: Junon Sometimes people tell me that it takes quite a long time to get a forum active. To some extent, that is true. But I believe that there are some ways to make that time-process move faster. What do you think of this theory? If you think that there are other ways other than time, what are those ways?

I think those people are right.

It takes a lot of time until seach engines got every link on your page.
You maybe spend hundreds of hours in installing an designing a board but now its time to fill it with content.

Take a look in the mirror.
If you pass by a board with 10 registrered members, which is looking ugly and where no one posted. What do you think, will you register?

I dont think so.

But if you have a design which is very good readable, if you have made your board special and filled it with content, then maybe more people are registering.

Never advertise a board what is not complete.
This is a DUNNO!
If someone passes by your board and at every second edge a under construction images is coming up he/she will never come back again.

Are you a company or private?
Well if you are not a company and you do not want to spend thousands of dollars in advertisement then give yourself and your board time.
Fill it with live and people will come.

Don't give up even if it takes 2-3 years
(yes it could take so long...)

I