How do I get my forum at games.trap17.com popular? Its a one of a kind forums with games and stuff but no matter where I advertise no one will come!!:( please help me.
EDIT:Ok if you want to join the forum then go here:Fun Games are Here!


This post has been edited by WDSnav: Feb 15 2006, 09:12 PM

Put the link to your forum in the signature or avatar spot on all the Forums you are a member of, especially the ones that are similar to yours. For example, if you have games, and want to attract Gamers, those are the sites that need to know about our Forum. That should get people looking at the site, but content will keep them coming back, so be sure to have some reason for them to return to your site. Information, Dowmloads, a list of links they can't do without... something to attract the masses. Also, spread the word by mentioning it on the Forums. I notice you don't have anything on the post above. I might've gone to have a look if you had've included a look. See, another customer that didn't get to view your site.
cut and paste this in to your posting above to make it easy for others to find your site:


Fun Games are Here!

Why not just make a site where people don't have to sign up in order to do something? Put yourself into your visitors' shoes. Why should they sign up? Is there something in it for you? Think about it: do you normally sign up for a site when it offers you nothing original or nothing interesting? Why did you sign up for this site? You wanted free hosting. Put something in it for your visitors, and they will sign up and post on your forums. Try making a money system where your guests can post stuff and redeem it for things--tangible or not.

In short, the two things you need are motives and originality. Have those, and your forums (and site) will go far.

Yeah, those are the main things. But I would add content - the first one are to get people to your site, but then they have to stay as well. so you either have to update and add something new on a regular basis, daily, hourly, even bi weekly would be o.k as long as people don;t forget about you in the mean time.

Once you have the critical mass of contributors, it should be easier, but hey as pResident Bush is fond of saying. "It's hard work" "these Internets" "Need some wood?".

So don;t give up, but try and create something so special for people that they want to come back.

This post has been edited by OCAC: Feb 16 2006, 08:23 PM

Yep, updating regularly is also a plus, too. With forums, you don't really have to worry about this because you can rely on others to come back and "update the site" for you by posting. It also helps to have a strong foundation. When someone comes to your forums, you have to make a good first impression. That means make it so that your forums appear as if it is active. You can do this by getting some of your friends to sign up. You can even also make fake members on your forums (although I wouldn't do this). Once it looks like your forums are somewhat active, people will be more willing to sign up and participate.

Yea and don't just stop at online games like neopets and stuff, go to all types of games like games for the computer, and playstation, and xbox and have an area for people to rate and review the game and stuff like that. Specific games will get you only people that like those certain games which makes the amount of visitors you get a day go down. Try to affiliate with other gaming sites that talk about these games and stuff.

I had a bit of a slow time of it when I first started up my board. The signature idea is the best. Also remember to put your site in your profile on any boards that you might go to. At those boards, send PMs announcing your new site to some of the people that you like. Not like spam, ask the people you are friendly with and make the messages personal, it will make for a better site once it starts rolling if you get people you like.

Start some threads in those empty sections. I know some people will have a fake account or two at the beginning so it looks like there are people there, but you can just ask your friends. As time goes on you will find yourself modifiyng the catagories and stuff to suit the people who end up going there.

Make sure to welcome the people when they show up and try to be nice, it is one thing to get people to sign up but another thing entirely to get them to post.

I remember a website http://theadminzone.com/forums/ that really helped me out when I was getting started. It started slow, but my board picked up after a while and it's been going strong for almost a year now.

good luck!

Whatever you do, just make sure there are a lot of things for the visitors/posters. People are mostly selfish, they/we always want something for nothing. Try and make it worth their while. Make some good graphics, make some interesting topics, and get some interesting people. You could always pay for advertising somewhere, or swap links/become affiliated.

As said before, you'll find that a lot of people will look at your forum, but wont bother signing up, because it looks empty. I can only reinforce the suggestions made earlier.

• Make it look interesting
• Ask friends to join it
• Add fake members if you really have to.
• Add a lot of content yourself.

Maybe you could put walkthroughs to games on your forum, and when interest starts to build up, add a special section with special features that requires people to sign up to view it. Remember, that there are a lot of gaming forums on the internet, and for yours to be sucessful, you're going to have to have original thinking.

I also think that it would be a good idea to have a website as well. A lot of forums complement a website, so that may be something you might want to consider in the future.

As for right now, you need to get people posting on your site, so ask people you know to start posting! Then Advertise like crazy (not so crazy that people call you a spammer, mind!)

This post has been edited by tt3: Feb 18 2006, 10:55 PM