Creating new users to generate forum activity? - Forums Help - vBulletin, IPB, phpBB, SMF skins and community

The Scholar Admin · 11-27-2007, 11:27 PM

I have recently heard that some Admins I know have begun to create their own puppet accounts in the hopes of generating more activity and getting more users to sign up at their forums.

Has anyone here tried this, and how well do you feel it worked?

I seriously want to get some more activity going, and it's frustrating going on like 10 posts a day period.

GiantCPU · 11-28-2007, 02:54 AM

My forum came with a pre-existing member base so I don't quite have that trouble. I can see that it could work though, if IP addresses were not visible to anyone (even mods).

That way you could drum up conversation between your own accounts and make the place look more active.

**alexis** · 11-28-2007, 08:51 AM

I could see that working, but depending on what forum size you are going for, that would take some work. But what happens if you did like 50, then what happens down the road, when those users never post anymore?

JacquiJ · 11-28-2007, 09:55 AM

When I started my forum I did that. I chose about 5 names and just talked to myself for awhile. Thankfully another very active member joined, and the 6 of us really got the board going. IT was hard to do but worth it. As time went by I gradually stopped posting under the aliases and real people took over. It definitely worked for me.

purplefdu · 11-28-2007, 09:20 PM

I can see it being a good thing on a small scale like Jacqui's example. But if you get up to a dozen or more that are necessary it could be a problem when they go missing especially if they are a valued member of the forum for a lengthy period. I don't think one or two would be an issue though as long as you get some real members quickly to fill in the gaps.

forum-er · 11-29-2007, 01:20 PM

Exactly what Purple have said, its a matter of these puppet characters staying in the long run. Making 1 or 2 characters would be ok but more than those numbers would create some kind of doubt from the real members what happened to them after the forum has run active.

JacquiJ · 11-30-2007, 09:59 AM

And after awhile the forum will be boring because all of the posters will have the same personality. Unless you are really good at being different characters. And conflict is always good. This sounds terrible, but if you can cause some kind of drama or conflict between 2 of your fake posters you will make the board more interesting.

11-27-2007, 11:27 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)	Creating new users to generate forum activity? I have recently heard that some Admins I know have begun to create their own puppet accounts in the hopes of generating more activity and getting more users to sign up at their forums. Has anyone here tried this, and how well do you feel it worked? I seriously want to get some more activity going, and it's frustrating going on like 10 posts a day period.

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11-28-2007, 02:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
User Profile GiantCPU Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 30 Posts: 25 Total Points: 393 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	My forum came with a pre-existing member base so I don't quite have that trouble. I can see that it could work though, if IP addresses were not visible to anyone (even mods). That way you could drum up conversation between your own accounts and make the place look more active.

11-28-2007, 08:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
User Profile alexis Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SC Age: 28 Posts: 99 Total Points: 3,121 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	I could see that working, but depending on what forum size you are going for, that would take some work. But what happens if you did like 50, then what happens down the road, when those users never post anymore?

11-28-2007, 09:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
User Profile JacquiJ Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 25 Total Points: 569 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	When I started my forum I did that. I chose about 5 names and just talked to myself for awhile. Thankfully another very active member joined, and the 6 of us really got the board going. IT was hard to do but worth it. As time went by I gradually stopped posting under the aliases and real people took over. It definitely worked for me.

11-28-2007, 09:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
User Profile purplefdu Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 51 Total Points: 750 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	I can see it being a good thing on a small scale like Jacqui's example. But if you get up to a dozen or more that are necessary it could be a problem when they go missing especially if they are a valued member of the forum for a lengthy period. I don't think one or two would be an issue though as long as you get some real members quickly to fill in the gaps.

11-29-2007, 01:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
User Profile forum-er Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 25 Total Points: 425 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	Exactly what Purple have said, its a matter of these puppet characters staying in the long run. Making 1 or 2 characters would be ok but more than those numbers would create some kind of doubt from the real members what happened to them after the forum has run active.

11-30-2007, 09:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
User Profile JacquiJ Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 25 Total Points: 569 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	And after awhile the forum will be boring because all of the posters will have the same personality. Unless you are really good at being different characters. And conflict is always good. This sounds terrible, but if you can cause some kind of drama or conflict between 2 of your fake posters you will make the board more interesting.