vForums: Message Board Support - So hard to keep members active

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Tim
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So hard to keep members active (11th Mar 08 at 5:24am UTC)
In between the first 2 weeks my first VF was open, I got members everyday, and they were active, now they all drop like a rock. We have 18 members and 3 staff now only 3 members are active, plus the 3 staff. Hell, I have had 28 guest, even they are more active Have you ever had this problem? does anyone have some helpful tips on how to keep a site running? In my opinion, an advertising section on here would be better than a directory which isn't helping. (oh and yes, me and my active members are advertising, it's just not working well)
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Graham
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Re: So hard to keep members active (11th Mar 08 at 10:39am UTC)
It's largely about keeping them interested - keep up with new threads in each of the boards, perhaps make competitions to keep the attention of the members? When the email system is fully integrated peoples lives will be made easier as you can always keep them notified with mass emails telling them about goings on at the forum
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Tim
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Re: So hard to keep members active (11th Mar 08 at 10:44am UTC)
My Forum is RP, mainly, and we have many topics for people to choose from. We are always tryign to make everyone happy, which is why we have a suggestion area that no one uses.
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Graham
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Re: So hard to keep members active (11th Mar 08 at 11:05am UTC)
There's one key point that a lot of admins forget about - patience The forum's been open for 2 weeks, that's no time at all! In all the times i've been rating forums (on PB, Invision etc) i've seen countless boards close only because they've not reached as many members they want quick enough. If i was a member and had the choice of two boards; one that was slow growing but had plenty of potential to become huge or one that grew quickly but died out within a month or two i know where i'd go. I personally don't join many boards anymore as so many admins get disheartened too early. One forum i'm a member of has been open (in it's current incarnation) since 2002 and it's now sitting pretty with over 600,000 posts. Don't give up too early - space things out, keep the advertising going and keep the place fresh and eventually people will come along
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Tim
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Re: So hard to keep members active (11th Mar 08 at 11:07am UTC)
Ya, your right. We do get members, but slowly.
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Cryhavoc_
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Re: So hard to keep members active (11th Mar 08 at 12:06pm UTC)
Patience is key. It's like business - you start of small, you work tirelessly to try and get a few customers, they then tell their friends, and then slowly yet surely you begin to grow.
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Michael
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Re: So hard to keep members active (11th Mar 08 at 7:47pm UTC)
Patience is the main thing, after that, it's being wiling to offer what the members what. Also, not trying to offer everything in one go. One problem that some forums face is when they absolutely pwn a version, and then aren't able to beat that version....
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xiØn
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Re: So hard to keep members active (11th Mar 08 at 8:39pm UTC)
It is like anything else. If you offere a quality product and continue to advertise, people will eventually come. And you have to be passionate about what you are doing. I've seen too many people that have 12 forums and advertise all of them like crazy. There is no way you can run 12 forums the correct way and expect people to stay. You need to focus on whjat you are good at and give it 100%. Just because people like Harry Potter, if you do not, you will NOT have a successful Harry Potter forum.
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