Building forum activity - what works for you?

So, as an owner of an online community - why don't we discuss ways to build forum activity? I know personally I like to run contests every once in a while. I recently ran a $100 posting contest on my community that went pretty well - and now the community is pretty lax since there isn't any contests going on.

So, besides contests, what other ways do you use to build forum activity?

 

Well the most best thing to do would be to create interesting discussions, that will pull in members.. I aways try my best to create as many interesting threads as I can to keep the steady flow.

 

I agree with Kaiser, if you can keep interesting and unique content/discussions this will help keep members active even after say a $100.00 posting contest

 

Yea it always works, it might not just happen just like that and may take awhile for the newer forums, but their best option would be to keep posting new content. Without content you dont have a forum, as a forums main purpose is to share content.

 

Make lots of interesting topics and advertise everywhere you can. I had a posting contest and it didn't really help so I wouldn't reccomend that.

 

Posting contests all depend on what the prizes are a lot of people are attracted by a free license of a forum software or free money like stated above.

 

Yea contests dont always work out for everyone, I started one a week ago, it barely helped. Im better of posting good content to help the activity than doing these contests.

 

Good point, yes the prize is a big deal as well.

 

My prize was free VIP forever. I have never payed money for anything for my forum before and I wasn't prepared to start.

 

Well when you invest money in your forum, and do a good job at running it slowly you will start to make money from it, and get more than you invested.

 

Since my forum is small, I do the best I can to start threads, and always look for ways to promote my forum.

 

Posting content and advertising is the best thing to do when you have a new forum.

 

When a user responds to a thread, or welcomes themselves to your community - do you ask them how they're doing, and things like that? It's a great way to get your members talking, as well.

 

Yea I have found that to be good method as well. Asking them questions always get them engaged.

 

Ya, and then relating to them. Such as - "What's a good way to attract people here" "Do contests help build forum activity?" If so, how many contests should one run?

 

Personally on my forum we just make new threads and bring up topics that get people talking. We try to stay up-to-date with what’s going on in the world and try to give members different resources so they want to come back. We also offer a very friendly community that welcomes everyone with open arms. We’re a close community, we’re pretty much on first name bases with everyone and even if you don’t use the person’s first name, it’s more than likely you know what it is. We’ve tried contests, but in the past they haven’t really worked out. Perhaps it was because we didn’t offer a cash prize, but maybe that’ll be something we try down the line. We recently/currently have an event going on and people really seem to enjoy that so maybe that’s something else we’ll start doing more regularly to increase activity. All in all, we just try to make the forum a fun place to be.

 

Its a great forum, contests dont always work. But there are still thousands of ways for us to build activity.

 

What type of threads work for you, that get people talking?

 

Adverise and post, advertise and post, and advertise and post.

If you failed at any of these, you'll find no activity at your forum

 

There are still many more ways, its not just limited to both of those.