Looking to advertise my forum - Forums Help - vBulletin, IPB, phpBB, SMF skins and community

The Scholar Admin · 08-09-2007, 01:17 PM

OK, so my forums really been dead over the past few months and i'm looking for suggestions on how to properly advertise it. Like, what type of things do you think would make people want to check my forum over others? What aspects could I play up, to generate more interest? We have about 900 registered users, and have existed for about 3 years. What makes MY forum unique(or fairly unique) is the wide range of topics that can be discussed. We also have review forums for games,music,books, and for article submissions etc.We also have an arcade, a MKportal powered news page, member journals, and other things. And additions are made frequently. So what i'm looking for here is suggestions on WHERE I can advertise, HOW TO advertise successfully, and what I can do to keep people coming back?

Since i'm on a tight budget, i'd prefer the advertising places not cost money. But I am open to ANY suggestions regardless. Thank you in advance!

**KCMO** · 08-09-2007, 02:38 PM

are you easy to find on google? If not then thats going to be the best place to start. The more your name pops up, the more people are likely to register and post.

Dipset · 08-12-2007, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Scholar Admin

OK, so my forums really been dead over the past few months and i'm looking for suggestions on how to properly advertise it. Like, what type of things do you think would make people want to check my forum over others? What aspects could I play up, to generate more interest? We have about 900 registered users, and have existed for about 3 years. What makes MY forum unique(or fairly unique) is the wide range of topics that can be discussed. We also have review forums for games,music,books, and for article submissions etc.We also have an arcade, a MKportal powered news page, member journals, and other things. And additions are made frequently. So what i'm looking for here is suggestions on WHERE I can advertise, HOW TO advertise successfully, and what I can do to keep people coming back?

Since i'm on a tight budget, i'd prefer the advertising places not cost money. But I am open to ANY suggestions regardless. Thank you in advance!

Problem with wide ranging sites like that is that there is nothing to make it unique. You gotta have some type of niche to fill on the internet.

Alecto · 08-17-2007, 10:29 AM

Normally, to get websites/forums active you either need to pay for advertising, or offer something other forums don't, or even offer a services others do but are very popular.

GandalfTheGrey · 08-17-2007, 09:38 PM

With general purpose forums like that you need to have some very loyal members, which will sort of create their own little forums within yours. It is possible to get these types of forums large and active.

I would see if I could recruite some experts and have them come and assist in the life of several key identified topic areas. Then make sure you get these topics high on the google search list.

I would also consider internal compitions on referrals/posting/content. Try to recruite people as much as possible and make sure that you/experts post as much as possible of valid info, or answer questions, etc.

Guess it is alittle more difficult to get a forum like that going, but it is quite possible

The Scholar Admin · 08-29-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCMO

are you easy to find on google? If not then thats going to be the best place to start. The more your name pops up, the more people are likely to register and post.

Well, we're on the first page of Google when you type in the site name if that's what you mean. As for the other suggestions, we probably could get a little more focused on a few subjects and play those up more. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Dipset · 08-29-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Scholar Admin

Well, we're on the first page of Google when you type in the site name if that's what you mean. As for the other suggestions, we probably could get a little more focused on a few subjects and play those up more. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Yea, but if they know your site name, why are they typing it into google?

Arizona · 09-05-2007, 11:50 AM

Three cheap ideas I have for you are:

1) Link exchanges - try to find other site owners with similar sites that might exchange links. You can then get and send traffic to each other.

2) Write articles - You can promote your forum by writing articles and submitting them to article sites. You place information about your forum at the end of the article. When you create a good article, people will copy the article and post it on their web site. This helps with link backs.

3) Join similar forums - You can join similar forums and post. I am not talking about spamming, but if you help a forum you can put information about your forum in your signature line.

I hope this helps.

08-09-2007, 01:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
User Profile The Scholar Admin Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 65 Total Points: 1,081 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	Looking to advertise my forum OK, so my forums really been dead over the past few months and i'm looking for suggestions on how to properly advertise it. Like, what type of things do you think would make people want to check my forum over others? What aspects could I play up, to generate more interest? We have about 900 registered users, and have existed for about 3 years. What makes MY forum unique(or fairly unique) is the wide range of topics that can be discussed. We also have review forums for games,music,books, and for article submissions etc.We also have an arcade, a MKportal powered news page, member journals, and other things. And additions are made frequently. So what i'm looking for here is suggestions on WHERE I can advertise, HOW TO advertise successfully, and what I can do to keep people coming back? Since i'm on a tight budget, i'd prefer the advertising places not cost money. But I am open to ANY suggestions regardless. Thank you in advance!

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08-09-2007, 02:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
User Profile KCMO Administrator Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 57 Total Points: 4,113 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	are you easy to find on google? If not then thats going to be the best place to start. The more your name pops up, the more people are likely to register and post.

08-17-2007, 10:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
User Profile Alecto Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Age: 28 Posts: 26 Total Points: 537 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	Normally, to get websites/forums active you either need to pay for advertising, or offer something other forums don't, or even offer a services others do but are very popular.

08-17-2007, 09:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
User Profile GandalfTheGrey Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Age: 24 Posts: 25 Total Points: 440 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	With general purpose forums like that you need to have some very loyal members, which will sort of create their own little forums within yours. It is possible to get these types of forums large and active. I would see if I could recruite some experts and have them come and assist in the life of several key identified topic areas. Then make sure you get these topics high on the google search list. I would also consider internal compitions on referrals/posting/content. Try to recruite people as much as possible and make sure that you/experts post as much as possible of valid info, or answer questions, etc. Guess it is alittle more difficult to get a forum like that going, but it is quite possible

09-05-2007, 11:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
User Profile Arizona Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 25 Total Points: 475 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	Three cheap ideas I have for you are: 1) Link exchanges - try to find other site owners with similar sites that might exchange links. You can then get and send traffic to each other. 2) Write articles - You can promote your forum by writing articles and submitting them to article sites. You place information about your forum at the end of the article. When you create a good article, people will copy the article and post it on their web site. This helps with link backs. 3) Join similar forums - You can join similar forums and post. I am not talking about spamming, but if you help a forum you can put information about your forum in your signature line. I hope this helps.