Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Design and Content : Getting those vistors to sign up and post!

[monkeyhead]

Hi,
With my forums <<snipped>> , Im struggling to get the visitors of the site to sign up and post. I know a large flow of members wont just suddenly sign up and post and return and carrying on posting. My site is submitted in quite a few search engines, and a number of directories but the members are not coming in and neither are the posts.
Is there any tips or advice you people can give, about getting the guests to register and post?
Regards,
Matt

[Samuel]

When I just visited it seemed the site was chugging a bit. That might have something to do with it, seems sluggish. Not sure if this is server-side or the use of multiple servers sending data.

[dollar]

This is not meant to offend in any ways, but why should I sign up and post at your forum instead of <insert forum name here> that has all your topics but thousands of members and posts already?

[effusionx1]

The site is slow, frustratingly slow.
Develop a niche, that way you won't just be "another forum" and people will have a reason to post...

[monkeyhead]

Originally posted by justadollarhostin
This is not meant to offend in any ways, but why should I sign up and post at your forum instead of <insert forum name here> that has all your topics but thousands of members and posts already?

None taken but what do you mean by that?


And in response to the others, we're not sure why its that slow.It could either be the ads or we need a more efficent theme

Thanks for the feedback
Matt

[dollar]

What I mean is that there are many many forums around the internet. More than one person wishes to count =0) Why should people sign up at yours? What makes yours worth their time? There are surely other more developed forums out there that cover the same topics that yours does, so you have to figure out what would make your forum special and exploit that.

Many people use giveaways, contests, etc... to help attract new members to their forums. Some people develope forums for very niche markets (brand new video game that is being released in a week for example). But yours is made up of some pretty common topics, so it needs to have something to make it different for people to want to sign up for it.

[monkeyhead]

Originally posted by justadollarhostin
What I mean is that there are many many forums around the internet. More than one person wishes to count =0) Why should people sign up at yours? What makes yours worth their time? There are surely other more developed forums out there that cover the same topics that yours does, so you have to figure out what would make your forum special and exploit that.

Many people use giveaways, contests, etc... to help attract new members to their forums. Some people develope forums for very niche markets (brand new video game that is being released in a week for example). But yours is made up of some pretty common topics, so it needs to have something to make it different for people to want to sign up for it.

Ah I see your point. Would you also say the theme of the site would put people off?
Matt

[dollar]

Well again no harm meant by my response and i am not a web-designer so i have very little room to talk but there seems to be a bit too much wated space.

Up at the top it would be nice to see a bit more "fullness" as there is a lot of that empty blue area (would also be nice to see the name of the site up there), and on the left of the forums there is just a mile of white space. Other than that the site looks fine IMHO

[SniperDevil]

Originally posted by justadollarhostin
What I mean is that there are many many forums around the internet. More than one person wishes to count =0) Why should people sign up at yours? What makes yours worth their time? There are surely other more developed forums out there that cover the same topics that yours does, so you have to figure out what would make your forum special and exploit that.

Very well said. I, too, attempted to and failed at creating a forum related to golf. There aren't even that many golf forums, but those that exist have a pretty large share of their potential "audience". It's very hard getting your forum known among the thousands that already exist and have more money, more resources, and more people than you do to spare on marketing and advertising.

I also noticed extremely slow speeds when connecting to both your forums and your personal site. These are also definite turn-offs to people with broadband (or even 56k) connections looking for a reasonable browsing experience on your forums.

[monkeyhead]

Originally posted by justadollarhostin
Well again no harm meant by my response and i am not a web-designer so i have very little room to talk but there seems to be a bit too much wated space.

Up at the top it would be nice to see a bit more "fullness" as there is a lot of that empty blue area (would also be nice to see the name of the site up there), and on the left of the forums there is just a mile of white space. Other than that the site looks fine IMHO

I agree, it is a free template ,but only temp
Looking for a custom professional theme with a custom logo too.

So I have to:

• Get a more appealing theme
  Get a faster loading time
  Become unqiue but how? hmm
  I might see if i can get a few contests going or somthing too

Thanks for feedback,
Matt

P.S Dont feel i'll get offended by your opininons, its only constructive criticism ,which in the long run helps

[SniperDevil]

Originally posted by monkeyhead
P.S Dont feel i'll get offended by your opininons, its only constructive criticism ,which in the long run helps

People all too often forget that, and they do take offense to constructive criticism. It's more ignorance and naivety than anything, so people really can't be blamed. People repress their feelings and their opinions of one another, so naturally, the one or two times someone does get constructive criticism, an instinctual defense mechanism is going to take over.

[gamemaster]

Well, maybe you are rushing things? Give it some time - your post count needs to build up somewhat still with great related content.

[whatever]

Your site is down now...

[monkeyhead]

Working for me

[freak]

Exactly the same thoughts as justadollarhostin. There are so many forums out there, and I don't understand why people keep starting new ones. Maybe it's got something to do with its ease of starting up, just like a reseller hosting biz...