Content

As much as i wish to help new admins I do get weary of promoting the importance of content.

I honestly believe some admins think content comes from members alone and if they plan, develop and design their communities that members will miraculously appear and start posting those quality posts admins dream about.

If this is you i'm afraid to say you have got the wrong end of the stick!

Personally I would not launch a site until every forum has at LEAST 20 threads within it giving guests a reason to stick around, read and reply.

So you do not look like 'Billy no mates' ask friends to register and help you add content - if you really are Billy, then make 4 user accounts and post under different names, join a post exchange, pay for posters - create the impression of activity.

Types of content:

The information highway is at your fingertips - google is your friend and a most valuable tool - use it, abuse it!

The type of content will vary to match your theme but here's a general guide;

• News
• Articles
• Interviews
• Images
• Surveys
• Games
• Quizzes
• Downloads
• Tutorials
• Polls
• Debates
• Reviews

*Remember to source the content and check t.o.s and copyrights!

*Remember you are setting the standards be it in tone or quality of content - this is on your shoulders. If you want a formal community, post formally, etc etc..

Adding content

When adding content bear in mind your desire to start and prolong discussions..

You can do this by asking questions relating to the content --- make it clear you want people to participate in the thread -- invite them -- reply to them -- ask more questions --- invite others --- reply to others --- ask more questions... work it work it work it.........and before you know it *pow* you have a decent discussion and an active thread --- now go and do it in all your threads, and participate in threads made by others -- showing your interest will encourage others to show you their's

WOOT! I have a little activity......

DO NOT fall asleep -- content needs adding constantly whether you have 100 members or 10000 --- as an admin you need to show your passion for your community to gain members respect... why should they build your forum alone? Encourage staff to follow your example.
And you are 'the' example - remember that!

Content changes all the time. A new software needs reviews, new films need views....

Tip

Use 'my favorites'
Save decent content sites so you can find them daily or weekly to refresh your content.. Everything spreads around the net sooo quick - be the forum to show a new video clip first, be the first to announce latest news relating to your theme - BE the no1 resource for your subject -- keep a step ahead of the rest and this alone will make your community the one to be at --- think about it -- if people can get a heap of information and resources in one great spot that looks great, is active, is well managed, has the freshest content -- why would they go elsewhere?

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very useful what you've just said... as a beginner in this matter i will read this a couple of times more.

Thanks.

thanks this is very usefull

Glad you're finding it useful, imo its the most important aspect of a new community

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Thank you so much for posting this! It will definitely help the noobs like me!

nice article there.

It's true that an admin should be active especially with a new community

Does anyone have any sources for articles that I don't have to pay to reprint? I was using some from women's Enews but they want a certain cost per article to reprint so I stopped using them. I get some others from Suite 101 but there really aren't very good ones to choose from and I hear that you can be penalized from Google for posting material that has already been indexed.

I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but have you tried?

http://www.aracontent.com/PrintSite/Default.aspx
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Merilee_Kern

I thought I had more, I'll have to look

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Just borrowing those links and adding them to the admin resource sticky - thanks

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Cool No problem!

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