Make my Community a Success!

[Cky47]

Can you guys help me come up with something? Something effective, that wont break my bank.

[Joe Ward]

Well - it might be a challenge to arrange... but if you could manage to contact a notable figure in your sport... and then get them to autograph a t-shirt or piece of gear, you could run a contest with that. I'd make the entry requirement that they (that is, site visitors) --> (1) sign-up, and then (2) post an introduction message in your forum.

Try to have some cool threads in place at the forum so they might stick around when they arrive for the contest.

Then post at other boards promoting the contest in your signature, and (where acceptable) let people know about your contest. Are there any ezines related to your sport where you could pay to include an ad regarding the contest?

Take a few bucks and send a press release out with PRWeb.com with a cool title and including some related keywords to your niche. Then promote your contest to get someone to spill over.

Who knows - something like that might net you a few dedicated community members.

[Cky47]

God... Tons of work, and who would I contact that I would be able to get such a thing.

What do you think the effect would be...?

[Joe Ward]

Well - there are ways to grow slower! But you want to amp it up right? I think you'll find one thing everyone here can agree with. Running a forum is certainly no easy task. It takes a lot of work to do it well.

With so many others out there doing the same thing, you have to find something that can capitivate your own audience - and whatever that magic is... maintain it... so that you can continue to grow.

A reputation for really great content, really fun/authoritive discussion, fantastic contests, etc. will help you hit your targets.

Definitely check out Kall's article (see above) on site promotion.