Some quick tips to easily improve the success of your forum!
It is difficult to define a 'successful forum'. However, all
forums deal with information and so the amount of information
that is transferred across a forum is an indication of its
success. The most effective way to boost the transfer of
information is by boosting your forum's traffic.
Getting visitors to your forum for the first time
Promote your forum in a signature file at the end of your
articles, emails and forum posts. This will show people that you
do have a forum. Usually, the main reason people don't visit
forums is not because they have no interest in visiting them,
but because they don't know they're there. Raising awareness of
your forum is particularly important. If you have an ezine,
promote your forum in that and include some of the most
interesting comments that have been posted. Your website should
also promote your forum avidly. Try to include a visible link to
your forum on every page of your website. This way whichever
page visitors enter on, they will always have the opportunity to
learn about and visit your forum. Also, with a link on every
page of your site, visitors are always seeing your forum offer,
and on the internet, repetition works!
Possibly the most effective way to get more posts on your forum
is by offering an incentive to anyone who posts or signs up as a
'forum member'. Offer those who post a free ebook which you send
to them by email. This way you capture their email address too
and so if your forum goes through a period of poor traffic you
can always contact old posters and ask them to post for you.
Don't think old posters won't do this. They will probably be
honoured that you have remembered about them and that you value
their thoughts and comments. It is amazing how a little
incentive such as an ebook can bring hundreds of people to post
on you forum.
Publish testimonials about your forum all over your website and
in your ezine. You could even incorporate one in a signature
file. You can't rely on your visitors trusting you on the fact
that your forum contains high quality posts. Get opinions on
your forum from previous posters, collect the most complimentary
ones and then distribute these testimonials to as many people as
you can. People will be interested if you can prove that your
forum has helped others. If you don't have any testimonials,
then don't be afraid to ask your forum visitors for them. As
I've said before, they will be honoured that you value their
opinion and are likely to give a very complimentary testimonial.
Do you publish ads on your forum? If you do, then consider doing
an ad swap with a forum of the same subject as yours. This will
ensure that traffic from your ad swap will be targeted. This
method of advertising is very effective and is also free. For
tips on creating a great ad go to
http://www.blog.info-ebooks.co.uk/creatingprofitads.html.
Getting visitors to come back to your forum
It is one thing being able to get people to your forum, but is
quite another to get them to come back. However, if you wish to
have a successful forum, you need people who post regularly.
Most importantly, make sure that your forum has a focused topic
around which all the posts are based. Forums with no focus very
rarely succeed because it is so difficult to attract a targeted
audience and these forums very rarely go into enough depth on
the subject that is being discussed. The topic you choose to
base your forum on should be something that you know a great
deal about so that you can respond to anyone who might ask a
question. This will save you from looking unprofessional and you
will also enjoy managing your forum more if it is based on
something you are interested about.
Another essential fact to consider when running a forum is that
people who post and ask questions want answers fast. They
definitely do not want to have to wait more than 24 hours for a
reply because it looks like no one cares about helping them.
Just make sure you check your forum periodically, perhaps 4
times a day, and answer any questions.
Make sure that your forum is regularly updated with interesting
posts. Nothing will put a visitor off more than discovering that
the last post was over a week ago. This will definitely not
encourage them to reply. Don't be afraid to post the majority of
comments yourself. Even if they aren't replied to, at least it
makes your forum look active.
Also, do not let your forum's layout let you down. I thoroughly
recommend staying clear of bright colours. Choose a good colour
scheme, perhaps a light and dark colour. Even though this sounds
pedantic, your colour scheme is what visitors will see first. Be
careful not to overcomplicate your forum either. Make navigation
easier by putting links in an orderly fashion.