Post by Dreamreaver on Sept 12, 2004 1:06:03 GMT -5
Do you find yourself asking this often at GOAYB on Support? The reason you can't get members is probably a combination of factors.
Here are some common symptoms of bad boards:
1. A bad design. Colors don't match. Images are bad and/or not enough customization and effort. This is usually one of the big reasons people won't bother joining a board. It is reccomended that on your site you have the following: a banner, navigation buttons, old/new icons and info center icons or you're not really going to be taken seriously. If you don't know how to make them on your own, then look at some of the better design boards(check in our link index here for some of the better ones)to make a request for them. Remember first impressions are extremely important and your look is a reflection of that.
2. Your content is bad. This is the single most important reason people don't join a board. If you have content that is not original then you can't expect people to come join your board. The simple fact is, why would anyone join your board if it is just a poor copy of a better board? They won't. The true secret is to come up with something that hasn't been done before or add something innovative to your board. This is also the hardest thing to do. It's challenging coming up with something new and innovative and is ultimately the secret to winning members and keeping them coming back.
3. Your board is empty! If your board has no posts,(i.e N/A by N/A) then no one is going to bother taking a look. I don't care what kind of board you have, there is no excuse for having a forum with not one single thread in it. Try filling up all your boards so they have at least 4 posts in each. Anything is better than nothing
4. How come no one on GOAYB in Support ever looks at my board? The most common reason is because you haven't looked at theirs. Rating is a two way street. If you never offer any rates for people, then don't expect any in return. Offer useful suggestions to people and do it frequently enough and before you know it, people will be joining your board and bumping your thread on Support. Don't sound desperate when posting your board, ask for opinions and rates. If someone looks at your board and like's it then they will join. Also when rating, don't simply give numerical rates (i.e 7/10 now do me). Offer up suggestions for people on ways to improve and you will get them in return. First you must know yourself what a board needs before you start rating. Take a look around different threads and see how people rate. Look at what they point out and familiarize yourself with terms. Before you know it you'll be a rating machine and people will notice you.
All of the advice above is not a bunch of crazy ideas. They are proven methods that work. You just need a bit of patience and a sense of mind.
Here are some common symptoms of bad boards:
1. A bad design. Colors don't match. Images are bad and/or not enough customization and effort. This is usually one of the big reasons people won't bother joining a board. It is reccomended that on your site you have the following: a banner, navigation buttons, old/new icons and info center icons or you're not really going to be taken seriously. If you don't know how to make them on your own, then look at some of the better design boards(check in our link index here for some of the better ones)to make a request for them. Remember first impressions are extremely important and your look is a reflection of that.
2. Your content is bad. This is the single most important reason people don't join a board. If you have content that is not original then you can't expect people to come join your board. The simple fact is, why would anyone join your board if it is just a poor copy of a better board? They won't. The true secret is to come up with something that hasn't been done before or add something innovative to your board. This is also the hardest thing to do. It's challenging coming up with something new and innovative and is ultimately the secret to winning members and keeping them coming back.
3. Your board is empty! If your board has no posts,(i.e N/A by N/A) then no one is going to bother taking a look. I don't care what kind of board you have, there is no excuse for having a forum with not one single thread in it. Try filling up all your boards so they have at least 4 posts in each. Anything is better than nothing
4. How come no one on GOAYB in Support ever looks at my board? The most common reason is because you haven't looked at theirs. Rating is a two way street. If you never offer any rates for people, then don't expect any in return. Offer useful suggestions to people and do it frequently enough and before you know it, people will be joining your board and bumping your thread on Support. Don't sound desperate when posting your board, ask for opinions and rates. If someone looks at your board and like's it then they will join. Also when rating, don't simply give numerical rates (i.e 7/10 now do me). Offer up suggestions for people on ways to improve and you will get them in return. First you must know yourself what a board needs before you start rating. Take a look around different threads and see how people rate. Look at what they point out and familiarize yourself with terms. Before you know it you'll be a rating machine and people will notice you.
All of the advice above is not a bunch of crazy ideas. They are proven methods that work. You just need a bit of patience and a sense of mind.