[Merged] Promote your own website

[(-JaS-)]

It's a start...much more to add

http://www.ithelpforum.com - Go have a look !!

Thanks

(-JaS-)

[neo4u]

Have a look HERE this could be just the place you want to be able to post.

As you can say almost anything you like (within sensible limits) there.
also im thinking of changing over to vb for my little venture into the world of forums.

and i know the theme is crap but its only staying as it is untill the changerover to vb

[MadGamer]

I need some ways to attract more members to my forum. There is nothing i can do about the ads so it can't be that. I haven't changed any of the categories. So what can i do?

http://s4.invisionfree.com/wayneaustin96

[Chris]

Originally Posted by WNA

I need some ways to attract more members to my forum. There is nothing i can do about the ads so it can't be that. I haven't changed any of the categories. So what can i do?

http://s4.invisionfree.com/wayneaustin96

ummm ... keep thinking up ways to bring it up in conversation on other forums?

Here, I'll go sign up if it makes your stats look better

[Plonking]

Originally Posted by towny

ummm ... keep thinking up ways to bring it up in conversation on other forums?

Here, I'll go sign up if it makes your stats look better

I signed up too Lol, I have a forum as well... and its like getting blood out of a stone to actually make people sign up and talk! My experience with websites, forums, etc. is that you have to spend 99% of your time promoting your project like a maniac... and then, once it becomes successful, cut out most of what you made because it all gets too cluttered!

I wish you the best of luck, because I totally know what it feels like to have made something, spent lots of time on it, and then find no one wants to join in !

I think another problem as well is getting newbies involved in message boards.. most people have no clue what to do, but, to people like us, its second nature to sign up to a board and start posting. I've started making a really in depth tutorial for my board.. but it's really dull to write, becuase, to me, its too simple. To others, though, the information will be a really steep learning curve.

P

[Alanmelon]

Hi Wayne.

I know you've been trying to encourage new members for a while, and again, I don't want to be negative but there's no point having a forum just for the sake of wanting to admin one, especially when the content and themes are so similar to this site.

As I suggested before, it's incredibly rare to be able to create a successful forum simply on the basis of it's own existence. You need to have a unique theme or content for your website which people actually want to see, then use the forum as an extension of that. If you give people a reason to come to your forum, and give them something to discuss there with likeminded people then you will have more success.

[MadGamer]

Originally Posted by Alanmelon

Hi Wayne.

I know you've been trying to encourage new members for a while, and again, I don't want to be negative but there's no point having a forum just for the sake of wanting to admin one, especially when the content and themes are so similar to this site.

As I suggested before, it's incredibly rare to be able to create a successful forum simply on the basis of it's own existence. You need to have a unique theme or content for your website which people actually want to see, then use the forum as an extension of that. If you give people a reason to come to your forum, and give them something to discuss there with likeminded people then you will have more success.

Ahh but you see after taking the advice before i completely changed the categories and forums on the board. Edit: i have approved those two accounts who registered.

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by WNA

Ahh but you see after taking the advice before i completely changed the categories and forums on the board. Edit: i have approved those two accounts who registered.

I admire your perseverance, Wayne, but the problem as I see it is this:

If you promote your forums at an existing forum (such as CF) which already has an established userbase & has very similar (& very active) forums to the ones you have created, then I can't see how you would really hope to gain many new members.

When people, while browsing a forum they regularly use (e.g. CF) see your forum link & visit it, and see that it has similar (but unused) forums, I'd think that most would be unlikely to sign-up & use your forum too - as they can already discuss Current Affairs, Computers, Games & so on here (for example).

If that makes any sense...

As Alan said, attracting members to a forum can be very difficult.

You need a reason for people to join, something different to here & other places.

I suppose there's also a "vicious circle" type thing with forums...people don't like to join & post in empty forums, yet if people don't join & don't post then the forums stay empty...(you need members for there to be activity, but you need activity for there to be members)

It's quite hard, & I understand the problem myself.

Like Alan said, have you thought about actually having a proper website, with the forums as an extension of it? (I know you were thinking before about signing up with I-Web).

Can you perhaps get your friends to join your forum, & use it, so that it "gets the ball rolling" & makes it more active?

[Maggy J]

I have finally revamped the pages with tables.I hope it now looks a lot better than it did.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/cytherean1/index.html

Incog.

[Stuart W]

Originally Posted by KingPhoenix

both not working here

Grr...

I have the following sites set up with my host:
http://www.stusplace.co.uk - My forum (revamped again)
http://www.mapediting.co.uk - spin off from the above
http://www.roadrunnersmaps.co.uk - somewhere to get BF1942 / DC / EoD maps (very new site!)
http://www.battlefieldmaps.co.uk - Parked to above address
http://www.sesforum.co.uk - My on-line gameing clan

I was using a different host for stusplace and mapediting & when I transfered the databases & forums to their new home, my friendly EX-host decided not to release my TAG
NOTE: if you use FREEOLA or GETDOTTED and want to transfer your domain, I feel I should warn you..... they suck!

All sorted now though

Feel free to nose about my sites, but to download from any of them you will need to register (this keeps my bandwidth costs down and keeps my forums free )

[Note for Nizza] As you may notice, I dropped vBulletin in favour of IPB. 2 reasons for this, 1: IPB has (IMO) better skinning and more user friendly admin / mod panels. 2: IPB let you use their board for free!

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Stuart W

[Note for Nizza] As you may notice, I dropped vBulletin in favour of IPB. 2 reasons for this, 1: IPB has (IMO) better skinning and more user friendly admin / mod panels. 2: IPB let you use their board for free!

[willie]

[Note for Nizza]

Now that name is a real blast from the past

[greencreeper]

I have my NTL site - fairly recently created. Totally dull and uninteresting but everyone has a site these days so I thought I'd better knock something up

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dwarfinleopardskin

[Alan Waddington]

[plug=on]I haven't plugged my websites for a while
Circuit Swamp
Nebula Board
Farnborough & District Radio Society

Recently added to circuit swamp is a version of FreeExtractor with modifications to install apps to Pocket PCs. I also fixed most of the bugs in the original. Still available is my Java phone game Tilt & a circuit for my version of the Pixie tranceiver.

Nothing new on Nebulaboard. Am improved version with easier customisation is on the cards, but I'm too busy at the moment.

The Farnborough Radio Club website is up to date. I was quite pleased with the way my photos of the visit to Farnborough Air Sciences Trust came out.

Alan
[plug=off]

[(-JaS-)]

FINALLY !!

http://www.pchelpforum.com
My site is up and running...and actually looking good.

We have:
Forums
Downloads
PMs
News
Webmail
Polls
Shoutbox
...loads of other goodies..!!

Please go and have a look !!!
http://www.pchelpforum.com