Getting mmebers to post more?

[tester23]

Hi All,

I have a 3 month old travel forum as my first ever website, and i want to try and get my members to post more, so as to stimulate discussion and attract other members etc.

What are your ideas as to how to get my members to post more?

Im thinking a competition of some sort, but im on a budget so prizes would have to be small, perhaps vouchers?

So questions:
What sort of competition?
What sort of prizes?
Any other ideas to get members to meaningfully contribute?

Thanks

[ArwenTaylor]

Well a couple of things you can do is to post topics that encourage discussion like latest travel news, news about popular destinations and so on.

You can also have a section that encourages your members to tell their travel stories. Have threads like: Worst Vacations or Strangest Places Visited.

As for a contest, you want prizes that people will want to win. Maybe one of the prizes can be an Entertainment Book which has coupons and such for discounts on travel, dining and entertainment.

Most hotels will allow you to purchase gift certificates for rooms. Even a $25 gift cert to a nice hotel would encourage some to post.

If you are working on a budget maybe give away free advertisement on your site if most of your members have websites of their own.

Hope this helps

[smartadspace]

It's kind of silly, but one thing that makes me want to post more and get involved is the member ranking titles that some forums have. For example, under your name you are a "junior member". Under ArwenTaylor's name she is "Liking this place". Having a title of sorts that increases with the number of posts can be a good motivator. I mean, it sounds kind of silly, but I think it's true.

[ArwenTaylor]

It's kind of silly, but one thing that makes me want to post more and get involved is the member ranking titles that some forums have. For example, under your name you are a "junior member". Under ArwenTaylor's name she is "Liking this place". Having a title of sorts that increases with the number of posts can be a good motivator. I mean, it sounds kind of silly, but I think it's true.

Me too. It's kind of a status symbol thing I guess. :shy-f:

[LeenkzMike]

Tester23:

Does your travel forum has a ranking system??? seems important to some.

[Halobitt]

I'm liking this place too.

[tester23]

Yeh my forum is vbulletin software and it has a ranking system, your 'status' changes depending on how many posts you have

[zeruel]

Well then I guess you can start promoting it with your friends. Then after you got some regular posters, promote it more.

[The Leader]

Put an area on your forum for rumours about the travel industry as everyone like rumours!

[PromoJunkie]

How about Pay Per Post? That would just set them crazy :P

[tester23]

How about Pay Per Post? That would just set them crazy :P

that defeats the whole purpose of a forum imo

[eric8476]

Pay per post goes for about $0.10 per posts. It is not long term planning.

[Musical frog]

You can hold posting or refferal contests with prizes relevant to your site. Possibly look into getting a points system so users are encouraged to post, we used to have this and it worked very well.

[swg]

In regards to a contest how about 'funniest vacation' or something along similar lines which ties in with the theme of your forum. In regards to prizes it's always best to keep it with the genre of your forum so travel vouchers, guides and books may be something to look at. You should look to see if you can get someone to sponsor your competition, they may be willing to provide a bigger prize in return for advertising on your forum.

[stickynote]

Posting and referral contests are the best way to go. But be sure to keep your eye on your member's posts because there are times that posters just posts spam to increase their posts count.

[barrierstarkrish]

As an admin you try starting some controversial topics, may be it will tempt the members to post their response.

[The Leader]

The answer is Controversy!

Create controversy on your site by getting people to argue their opinions about important issues! Posters do their best work when they're trying to prove a point!

[Bogart]

How about Pay Per Post? That would just set them crazy :P

Pay per post could help give the forum a jump start.

Do you allow signature links and are they do follow?

[MakeMoneyOnline]

Offer a free vacations if memberships reaches a certain threshold. The winner will be chosen from the most referrals + post.

Have a photo contest of vacation destinations.

Have a feed that will list updates to members like facebook.

[Bogart]

Adding sub forums to the main forum categories could make it easier for members to find topics that interest them.

[The Leader]

Try to post questions that target the knowledge area of your posters so they will respond!

[tester23]

Try to post questions that target the knowledge area of your posters so they will respond!

Doing that, its just hard to get enough response to generate a good conversation

[dan2009]

Include a market place

[tester23]

Include a market place

Got that, but a market place for travel items isnt really that popular (or so it seems at the moment)

[Bogart]

What about the dofollow signature links?

[The Leader]

Having a online argument get most people going so invent a user and go for it! Everyone likes to give their 2bobs worth!

[Halobitt]

Got that, but a market place for travel items isnt really that popular (or so it seems at the moment)

Not even for well thumbed copies of "Rough Guide to ...."
How about an area for swapping Rough Guide copies, or similar popular travel companions?

[riderbabygurl]

Once a community has reached a certain level of activity, your community staff -- your moderators -- play a vital role in the continued success of the operation. by Patrick O'Keefe

[Bogart]

Once a community has reached a certain level of activity, your community staff -- your moderators -- play a vital role in the continued success of the operation. by Patrick O'Keefe

Exactly. :mellow-f:

Bogart added 2 Minutes and 32 Seconds later...

Having a online argument get most people going so invent a user and go for it! Everyone likes to give their 2bobs worth!

The online arguments are best to be avoided. The forum ends up losing members rather than gaining them.

[Halobitt]

The online arguments are best to be avoided. The forum ends up losing members rather than gaining them.

No they don't.
[VBTUBE]teMlv3ripSM[/VBTUBE]



:sneaky:

[tester23]

What about the dofollow signature links?

How can you tell if the links are dofollow?

As far as im aware they are, as i have not changed any settings.

[Bogart]

How can you tell if the links are dofollow?

As far as im aware they are, as i have not changed any settings.

This is what I see in the signature area

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Signatures reward your members for posting and aloow them to promote their sites.

Also, your site needs a menu with categories and subforums. People will post more if they can quickly find what interests them. The menu should be on the home page.

[tester23]

This has now been fixed Bogart

[Farrhad A]

I give the top poster(s) of every month free hosting. It works well. Give it a try.

Recently I had a 1500$ contest, that got me 6k posts.

[The Leader]

Having reputation seems to work for some posters!

[Bogart]

This has now been fixed Bogart

Looks good.

Any way that you could add a menus to the homepage?

Also add your forum to thread in dofollow forums on the webmaster sites. Or even make a post when the forums have a solititation section. If you could get some sig spammers as members it will make your forum seem active. Also a lot cheaper than paid posters.

[kbeus21]

That is a very good idea and should be helpful when trying to get your forum more active. Cash prizes would be best, but vouchers good also.

[MHAndy]

I'm starting to post more here

[yomimedia]

Do follow signature links are a good bait. Keep up to date with popular topics and diversify with various topics. Inviting experts over to your forum is also good. Keep in mindto invite new members over using your social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace.