Simple Machines Community Forum

Customizing SMF => Building Your Community and other Forum Advice => Topic started by: gamesmad on July 29, 2006, 11:43:18 AM

Title: Running a competition
Post by: gamesmad on July 29, 2006, 11:43:18 AM
Ive found that running a competition is a great way to get a forum popular and active.  For example, first person to 500 posts wins this free forum themed gift.  If the admin gets to 800 posts first, then noone wins.  It encourages people to post, and post fast, meaning that your forum gets a big post base to start with :)

Will
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: gamesmad on July 29, 2006, 12:28:10 PM
I included a rule against such posts in my forum agreement.

Will
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: peterstannard on July 29, 2006, 04:48:12 PM
Quote from: gamesmad on July 29, 2006, 11:43:18 AM
Ive found that running a competition is a great way to get a forum popular and active.  For example, first person to 500 posts wins this free forum themed gift.  If the admin gets to 800 posts first, then noone wins.  It encourages people to post, and post fast, meaning that your forum gets a big post base to start with :)

Will

Not exactly ethical eh  ::)
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: 1MileCrash on July 29, 2006, 06:18:16 PM
That's what i like to call buying members.
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: SaikoJosh on July 29, 2006, 08:49:32 PM
I've seen this pulled off very successfully, if you have the funds to advertise your existence and the motivation to keep slogging away at promoting your site it can work. Although it's a lot easier for a competition to fail than it is for it to work.
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: Isaac on August 01, 2006, 11:14:30 AM
Quote from: Tippmaster on July 29, 2006, 06:18:16 PM
That's what i like to call buying members.
Not at all.  Contests can be a great way to get new members, and quality posts.  :)
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: TheGamer on August 01, 2006, 11:36:48 PM
For instance, right now we're having a contest at my forum, but it's for the person who submits the most articles. :)

I think contests can be great, if presented correctly.
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: Joshsux on August 04, 2006, 12:26:32 AM
Quote from: Tippmaster on July 29, 2006, 06:18:16 PM
That's what i like to call buying members.

Hey people buy pro's why can't people buy members

I may do a comp soon, but with a game silent hill 4.
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: gamesmad on August 04, 2006, 12:35:17 PM
Quote from: jcoleuk on July 29, 2006, 08:49:32 PM
I've seen this pulled off very successfully, if you have the funds to advertise your existence and the motivation to keep slogging away at promoting your site it can work. Although it's a lot easier for a competition to fail than it is for it to work.

Hah, SHMUP'd :D

Will
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: Alan S on August 06, 2006, 08:36:28 AM
Em i just  spread the word about my ( now closed until sep ) site over msn to my friends , they join and tell there friends , who tell there friends etc....it works aswell
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: Rubyforlife on August 09, 2006, 08:17:24 AM
I tried this a few days ago, I announced the competition and got quite a few people posting more than usual, but it's died down again after about a day :( I'm gonna check this TAZ that I've seen some of you guys talk about though ;)
Title: Re: Running a competition
Post by: SaikoJosh on August 09, 2006, 08:19:03 AM
Quotetried this a few days ago, I announced the competition and got quite a few people posting more than usual, but it's died down again after about a day

You need to be advertising that you have a competition on other websites, or via Google Ads to gain new members. Fresh blood is the key to keeping a community alive. :)