Running a competition

[gamesmad]

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

[gamesmad]

I included a rule against such posts in my forum agreement.

Will

[peterstannard]

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 

[1MileCrash]

That's what i like to call buying members.

[SaikoJosh]

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.

[Isaac]

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. 

[TheGamer]

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.

[Joshsux]

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.

[gamesmad]

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

Will

[Alan S]

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

[Rubyforlife]

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

[SaikoJosh]

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

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.