Getting members to post!

so i can get member no problem but most don't even post grrr
what tactics do you all use to make them post?

 

The only recommendation I can come up with is to post plenty of fresh topics/threads for your members to interact with. Perhaps throw in some questions and polls - get them to actually interact.

It's tough in the beginning. I've found that at first, you will be the only one posting. You need to find a way to cater to your audience and break the ice. They may feel intimidated by being a part of a new forum, so you need to intrigue them.

Thread moved to "Creating Interest".

 

Another is to run a contest similar to what is being ran here where they have to post to earn points. Another way is to give something in return for them posting, like one site I saw pays its members .02 cents per post up to 10 points. 1000 points = $1 where you can then turn your points in for cash that is sent to your paypal or what have you.

 

hmmmm ok thanks more.....

 

To get people interested in posting you have to post yourself. Visitors aren't going to be the first ones to speak up.

 

Exactly. Getting them to post replies shouldn't be that hard. The difficult task is getting them to create threads - which is more difficult.

 

Getting members to post is one of the tough questions.

This one guy signed up on my forum 2 years ago, visits almost daily and has never posted anything. I finally sent him a private message and asked what the problem was. He reply was - "I have nothing to say." So I left it at that.

 

Getting users to post is like making a child or FMB choose one favorite candy. In a way, you'd have to persuade the members to post.

 

I try to think up posts that everyone would want to express their opinion on. Not that easy!

 

I had a similar event take place on my site. One of my first memebers signed up and never made a reply one. The guy would log on every now and then but never reply. I spent a lot of time posting diffent topics hoping someone will reply. Then about 6 months later I made a new sub forum and posted an article about chicken coupes and the guy replied. It seems the guy is big into raising his own chickens and is full of very useful chicken info. He's not a huge poster but will reply every once and a great while.

Now I just have to find articles for the remaining 160 members that rarely post

 

We get quite a few lurkers and the majority seem to be coming from competing sites as they head right into the announcements, then to our profiles, then back to the announcements and visit every week or so and repeat the same.

The best way I have noticed to get members to post seems by someone posting a controversial thread, a lot of people will argue and state their opinions and usually are successful threads.

 

I keep telling my self I'm going to create a regular account and start posting Obama rules. I could probably get every member and them some all up in arms posting like mad. But it seems a little dishonst :o hum...maybe I can call it a test to make sure everyone is a live :lol:

 

Cruel but a good test

 

nice idea!

 

they need threads to post in, active interesting ones

not many people will take it upon themselves to make your board a better place with better topics

 

As I've stated multiple times, a fresh flow of unique content is crucial.

 

I agree with you 100% there. Gotta keep the users entertained with something new.

Forums=candy, make sure users will eat your candy all the time as a preferred one, then can venture other flavors but if yours in unique, there will never be one like yours.

Man, I want candy now.

 

That's an excellent way of saying it, FMB.

With this content, activity is also crucial. You could have a nearly endless flow of unique content coming in consistently, but without activity, it's [quite] useless.

 

As stated if you continue to post new threads and topics your members will find something that interests them and will begin posting!

 

nice! thanks