Hello:

I plan to have forums on my website. I was wondering if anyone has any general tips on increasing the number of active users?

How can you convince more people to use your forums?
How can you get dedicated users?
How can you keep them comming back?

Any suggestions?

The key to running a successful board is offering something good and honest and orginal. If their are 500 other boards like yours, it unlikely to take off. And if you censor your users heavily they won't want to come back. At first you have to be your first dedicated poster, then as you get more and more, you can phase yourself out if you like...

Then you'll need moderators that beleive the same way you do, so you don't get some doing one thing, and others doing something else.....

Originally posted by NetDotHost
Hello:

I plan to have forums on my website. I was wondering if anyone has any general tips on increasing the number of active users?

How can you convince more people to use your forums?
How can you get dedicated users?
How can you keep them comming back?

Any suggestions?

My site runs a forum (URL is in my signature). It's not as large as this WHT but it's not that small either.

You don't convine people.
You don't need a dedicated server.
You don't need to keep them coming.

Have a site with useful information.
Have a site with unqiue content.
Have a site with ok layout.

And people will come to your site and use the forum.

I think it helps to 'pick a clique' too. Like minded people tend to flock together regardless, so if your forum reflects a certain 'type' of person you're well on your way... other than that? search engines, posting on other forums, offer something that will keep people coming back

Greg Moore

lol.... that made me laugh... "..don't need a dedicated server.."

I said dedicated users :) ha ha.

yeah, I know I don't need a server for a forum :D

Thanks for the suggestions guys, and keep them comming if you have any more.

Oops, sorry. If you be here for long, you assume "dedicated server" from the word, dedicated itself. heh.

Originally posted by NetDotHost
lol.... that made me laugh... "..don't need a dedicated server.."

I said dedicated users :) ha ha.

yeah, I know I don't need a server for a forum :D

Thanks for the suggestions guys, and keep them comming if you have any more.

Oops, sorry. If you be here for long, you assume "dedicated server" from the word, dedicated itself. heh.

LOL I know exactly what you mean!

I do the same thing :)