[Nick R]

What are your tips and suggestions for reviving a forum with extraordinary potential yet is completely dead?

Other than the usual - post often, etc.

Thanks!

[jamesgilfoyle]

Well there are a bunch of things you could do... so i will outline what i feel are the main ones without having too much information about the site you're talking about;

1. Develop some new features and set a launch date for these new features. Communicate to ALL of your inactive members what is happening, how this will benefit them and that you hope to see them soon etc. Market this on other sites, blogs, and forums too. Get new users involved in this too so that old members can see that there are new users around.

2. Market, Market, Market! Get your site out there - on other forums, topsites lists, banner exchanges - you want to have as many people coming to your site as possible!

3. Consider your current site. Why is it inactive? Does the site need a facelift, are you doing something wrong, are your forum topics right, are they clearly marked out, is my site user friendly, etc.

4. Visit other sites of a similar genre/topic/nature; place your link in your signature and make a few high quality posts - if somebody likes what you say them they are likely to visit your site.

Hope this helps; and best of luck!

[Nick R]

Thanks for the great tips; I really appreciate it!

[Moelman]

James gave a very good overview. I would just say to treat it like you're opening a new forum, do all the things you would if you had no traffic.

[MrKielington]

Yeah, You kinda have to look at it as pressing a giant red "reset" button...Good Luck though!

[Sir TVDinner]

pretend you are completely starting again...just with a potential base of people and posts that most other forums dont have. go out and build up new active members who get the action happening again.
Then I would suggest slowly pulling the original members back in with announcements about the new activity, features, etc.

[WiiLegendofZelda]

Make friends and have them post.