Members Joining / Not Posting

**interfx** · 07-02-2008, 02:21 AM

I have created a new forum, and have had over 50 members join, register in the past 1 week. (Good News)

but no one has posted a first discussion yet (Bad News)

What are ways that persons have encouraged others to start the ball rolling, by posting that first message?

The site looks good, and members are joining - so I feel like I'm half way there...

Thanks for any advice -

Cliff · 07-02-2008, 02:38 AM

Well It'd probably be easiest if you posted a few discussions yourself and the hopefully something would pique the interest of a newly registered member.

**Moelman** · 07-02-2008, 05:48 PM

I agree that as the administrator you need to start a lot of discussions and hopefully the members will follow your example. Another thing is make sure you have a welcome PM and edit it to fit your forum, give some links to forums like the introductions forum and help forum, stuff like that. I think if you can get a member to introduce themselves and they get some warm welcomes they will feel more comfortable to begin posting on their own.

**interfx** · 07-02-2008, 11:09 PM

Thanks, I have started some discussions... I live the idea on the welcome PM message... I can definitely do that...

**Garala** · 07-12-2008, 04:47 AM

What's the link to your forum?

**Sir TVDinner** · 07-12-2008, 07:15 PM

do you require that people make Introduction posts. that is a good start to get the disucssions rolling.

**Exochat** · 07-12-2008, 07:28 PM

Is the forum accesible to Guests or do you have to register first to see anything on the forums.

The reason I ask is that if you block guests from viewing, you will get a LOT of people registering just to take a look at the site and then leave when they realise its not for them. But if you make it viewable to guests so they can see what it is like BEFORE registering, you will get less people register but you will find those that do register are doing so because they have seen your site, like the look of it and want to be on it posting something and so you get a better quality of smaller member numbers than a large number of non-posting members,

**Moelman** · 07-12-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir TVDinner

do you require that people make Introduction posts. that is a good start to get the disucssions rolling.

I don't think I would require it but definitely point them in that direction through a welcome message and in the welcome PM. Once they feel like they've gotten to know everyone they might feel more inclined to start discussions.

**Sir TVDinner** · 07-12-2008, 07:51 PM

that is what I meant. Same thing we do in our welcome PM by recommending they make an Introduction post and provide the link the the section so they can easily do it.

**interfx** · 07-15-2008, 11:41 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions, I have implemented most of them. Has anyone ever used a posting service to get discussions going? What do others recommend?

07-02-2008, 02:21 AM	#1
interfx Rookie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 25	Members Joining / Not Posting I have created a new forum, and have had over 50 members join, register in the past 1 week. (Good News) but no one has posted a first discussion yet (Bad News) What are ways that persons have encouraged others to start the ball rolling, by posting that first message? The site looks good, and members are joining - so I feel like I'm half way there... Thanks for any advice -

07-02-2008, 05:48 PM	#3
Moelman The Webmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,328	I agree that as the administrator you need to start a lot of discussions and hopefully the members will follow your example. Another thing is make sure you have a welcome PM and edit it to fit your forum, give some links to forums like the introductions forum and help forum, stuff like that. I think if you can get a member to introduce themselves and they get some warm welcomes they will feel more comfortable to begin posting on their own. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - The Largest LucasArts Gaming Community on the Internet To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - tell me your comments! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Your #1 place to discuss all things World of Warcraft.

07-12-2008, 04:47 AM	#5
Garala Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 16	What's the link to your forum? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

07-12-2008, 07:15 PM	#6
Sir TVDinner Veteran Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 960	do you require that people make Introduction posts. that is a good start to get the disucssions rolling. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Promote your forum for FREE. Directory for Forums. OVER 2000 forums currently on the Forum Directory. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-12-2008, 07:28 PM	#7
Exochat Groupie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 34	Is the forum accesible to Guests or do you have to register first to see anything on the forums. The reason I ask is that if you block guests from viewing, you will get a LOT of people registering just to take a look at the site and then leave when they realise its not for them. But if you make it viewable to guests so they can see what it is like BEFORE registering, you will get less people register but you will find those that do register are doing so because they have seen your site, like the look of it and want to be on it posting something and so you get a better quality of smaller member numbers than a large number of non-posting members, __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-02-2008, 02:38 AM	#2
Cliff Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 100	Well It'd probably be easiest if you posted a few discussions yourself and the hopefully something would pique the interest of a newly registered member.

07-02-2008, 11:09 PM	#4
interfx Rookie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 25	Thanks, I have started some discussions... I live the idea on the welcome PM message... I can definitely do that...

07-12-2008, 07:51 PM	#9
Sir TVDinner Veteran Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 960	that is what I meant. Same thing we do in our welcome PM by recommending they make an Introduction post and provide the link the the section so they can easily do it. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Promote your forum for FREE. Directory for Forums. OVER 2000 forums currently on the Forum Directory. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-15-2008, 11:41 AM	#10
interfx Rookie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 25	Thanks for all the suggestions, I have implemented most of them. Has anyone ever used a posting service to get discussions going? What do others recommend?

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