Is there a reason why you're not using the colors used on the main site, or is the current color scheme chosen at random?
You have a link in the Technical Groups category called "Email the Administrator if you require access to these Technical Groups (Technical Staff Only)". This is so extremely long that it makes the select box on forum.asp (and probably on lower resolutions on topic.asp) so wide that it stretches the page and causes a horizontal scroll bar. Perhaps you can make it a bit shorter and/or add a description for the link instead.
Why don't you ask your users what features they think should be added and then take the most requested features and see if there are MODs for them. Add those instead of asking us what we think your users would want as it might be entirely off ;)
ebelthite, that's a good question, and I must say that after more than 1 year of experimenting I still don't have the answer...you'll have to reach a certain critical mass, and after that, it's almost automatically 'alive'. Make sure your content is indexed by Google etc, make sure your content is accessible to ANYONE (not only members!), know your audience, and use direct marketing in the old fashioned way ; make sure people who know people who know people know your site.
Any ideas for promoting a forum? What are the best ways to keep users, and get them to post regardly? What do most users look for in a good forum?
Hi, I just wanted to jump in here about marketing. I plunked down $500+ dollars for advertising in a trade magazine. The ad will start running next month and go for six months. Right now, there is virtually no forum activity. If/when the forum starts to move, I will know if this was an effective marketing route. "Early to bed, early to rise, and don't forget to advertise, advertise, advertise." (Malcolm Forbes)
Bye the way, I really find your site appealing. I believe "Content is everything" and loud colors and graphics distract from the intent of intelligent communication. You've done a good job.
quote:Hi, I just wanted to jump in here about marketing. I plunked down $500+ dollars for advertising in a trade magazine. The ad will start running next month and go for six months. Right now, there is virtually no forum activity. If/when the forum starts to move, I will know if this was an effective marketing route. "Early to bed, early to rise, and don't forget to advertise, advertise, advertise." (Malcolm Forbes)
Bye the way, I really find your site appealing. I believe "Content is everything" and loud colors and graphics distract from the intent of intelligent communication. You've done a good job.
Thanks for your comments. I'm sure that my forum doesn't need that sort of marketing, although it's interesting to here what lengths it takes to get users.
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Posted - 11 December 2003 : 05:09:04
