Building A Community

[Fayble]

Alright, well I've been trying to figure this out for a while now... How do I build up a respectable community? I've been searching all over the web for answers and so far nothings worked. I tried advertising everywhere I know, doing post exchanges, which I highly hate because most of them time the person I exchange posts with ends up spamming my board instead of helping it. I even tried a few reviews, which all say the same thing... The layout and skin are really good you just need some more members. (Well thanks for pointing out the obvious) Anyways, I was hoping someone here could give me some tips as to how to do this. Form a community.



Just so you know, my forums genre is life discussion, and I know that's really hard to get going because no one likes posting about their personal life too much. Also my forums only been open for a week, but I always see all these guests but no one ever joins. Maybe I'm being too impatient, but that's why I need your guys expert advice to help me stay on the right track!



Thanks so much.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Well you put a couple nails in your coffin by closing your forum then deleting all your members then expecting them to come back and register again because you changed your mind.



Besides that persistence is key.. Ive had a forum that didnt start getting activity until it was 8 months old. Prior to that, it was a ghost town.. I didnt give up on it though.

Persistence can lead to success.

Also my forums only been open for a week, but I always see all these guests but no one ever joins. Maybe I'm being too impatient

My only comment to that is to read the text you put in your title Don't wish for it; Work for it!

 

[Fayble]

I love you Nebulous lmao thanks that really helps... I need to learn patience. Plus a lot of people like my forum so far. I even have a few regulars already, but hopefully that won't die out.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

hopefully that won't die out.

Lets say that does happen.. What are you going to do? Close it or try to work even harder to make it into something no matter how long it takes?

 

[Fayble]

Well the only reason I keep closing it is to re-evaluate why no one is joining. And also it gives me time to come up with new ideas.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Well the only reason I keep closing it is to re-evaluate why no one is joining. And also it gives me time to come up with new ideas.

This is a perfect way to never get a loyal and active community.

 

[Fayble]

Yea I finally realized that the hard way... I used to have a lot of respect and both times I opened up DA and Aloomineyum for the first time, well, they got a lot of success. Now everyone's just tired of the same old bullshit.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

You should never close your forum EVER.. Maybe take it offline for a few minutes to do some maintenance but thats about it. The only time you should close your forum, is if you are closing it for good.



Lets say a couple people enjoy participating in your community.. But in your eyes the forum is not active enough for you so you are going to close it down for a few weeks to do some re-evaluating. Well you just lost those members and anyone they choose to refer to your forum in the future.

Also if people were thinking about joining your forum but have watched your history of open/close/open/close/open/close forums, then they probably wont even bother joining at all.



I'd say you've already damaged your credibility a little bit by doing this but thats not lasting damage.. You can win people over once again.

 

[Fayble]

Thanks, and that's what I'm trying to do by keeping this forum open as long as possible. I also read a lot of guides on running forums recently, and now I'm only doing things if the community wants me too. I learned that the admin/founder doesn't run the board... The community does. (Bluezone and Ziveeman)

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Thanks, and that's what I'm trying to do by keeping this forum open as long as possible.

See its comments like that, that will make people doubt if you are sincere or not..

 

[Fayble]

Well every forum will die eventually. I'm just trying to do the best I can is all.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Although every forum will die eventually.. People would rather see someone who is confident and determined.. Confident and determined forum owners dont make comments like that.

 

[Fayble]

Hmm...

You're right!

 

[Ashley]

You should never close your forum EVER.. Maybe take it offline for a few minutes to do some maintenance but thats about it. The only time you should close your forum, is if you are closing it for good.



Lets say a couple people enjoy participating in your community.. But in your eyes the forum is not active enough for you so you are going to close it down for a few weeks to do some re-evaluating. Well you just lost those members and anyone they choose to refer to your forum in the future.

Also if people were thinking about joining your forum but have watched your history of open/close/open/close/open/close forums, then they probably wont even bother joining at all.



I'd say you've already damaged your credibility a little bit by doing this but thats not lasting damage.. You can win people over once again.

I think most of you remember that this used to be my case as well. I did gain most of that trust back as an administrator, but it took quite some time, a lot of promoting, and loads of patience.

 

[Ashley]

I love you Nebulous lmao thanks that really helps... I need to learn patience. Plus a lot of people like my forum so far. I even have a few regulars already, but hopefully that won't die out.

You should be thankful to have anybody posting at all! I don't have many people posting on my forum, yet I keep pushing myself to keep the board open no matter what because I love general chat forums, and I want to try to keep the one I have open for a long time. And yes, patience is a virtue, my friend.



While it's essential to be thankful for what you have as far as members, this does not mean you should stop promoting at everywhere possible.