Can't seem to get anyone to join and post.

[ishy]

Another thing that seems to "boost" the posting is to have it set where they need 10 posts, to be able to use a signature and or avatar,...
from Garry

That would just cause me not to join the site. There are tons of forum competitors now, so the deny services tactic really doesn't work well.

To OP -  I really like the blog, and the forum organization and design looks much better!

[rd]

Here are some tips that might help you:

http://skriptmaster.com/index.php?board=6.0

Check 'em out.

[Dream of Omnimaga]

Another thing that seems to "boost" the posting is to have it set where they need 10 posts, to be able to use a signature and or avatar,...
from Garry

That would just cause me not to join the site. There are tons of forum competitors now, so the deny services tactic really doesn't work well.

To OP -  I really like the blog, and the forum organization and design looks much better!

On my site I have signatures and avatars require one post, but I had no choice, because spambots signed up only to put crap in their signatures/avatars/profiles, some of which was harmful. Otherwise I agree that setting up a post requirement of like 5-10 just to get a signature is a bit too much.

I personally got some sub-forums that requires a certain amount of posts on my forums, but they're not my main content and almost all sections requires no post.

Another thing to remember is that now it's Summer in most countries, and fewer people visit forums during that time. On my main site during Fall and Winter we averaged at 11000 posts with peaks of over 12500 in a month, and during Summer we don't even make it to 7000 sometimes.

[ladydisturbedone]

What I would suggest is finding a forum or two and asking if they would link with you, but you would have to do the same for them to be fair. It doesn't even have to be about the same thing either. Just ask.

[ShadyX]

Try and use postloop if its content your worried about.

[busterone]

Another thing that seems to "boost" the posting is to have it set where they need 10 posts, to be able to use a signature and or avatar,...
from Garry

That would just cause me not to join the site. There are tons of forum competitors now, so the deny services tactic really doesn't work well.

To OP -  I really like the blog, and the forum organization and design looks much better!

I disagree completely. In my experience almost all potentail members that register and immediately go to their profile to add a sig and place a url in the website field is an undesirable in the first place. That is an extremely common spammer tactic. The get the url in and they get a link in their sig, then post once or twice, then leave. I have an auto pm to all new members welcoming them to the site and also explaining why they need 10 posts to add a signature. If they are planning on being a productive member, then they will not mind the limitation. If they get offended and leave, then I didn't want them anyway. They are most likely up to no good.

[Account Abandoned]

One thing I do to boost posts is conduct post exchanges. I recommend www.postloop.com because you can choose forums you get into to post on, post and watch other do the same on yours.

Also, I forget about others posting and just post myself. One of my recently created forums is less than 2 weeks old and I already have over 1000 posts and over 500 topics, most of it are my posts and topics but at least I am giving people something to join and talk about. Also be sure your posts are gripping or a post that you yourself would want to join and reply on. The normal "what are you listening to?" posts are old and boring, instead focus on your niche and post topics in association to it that would make people want to reply....

[ishy]

If you have a bunch of spammers, then your problem is dealing with spam registrations that are likely bots, not honest members. Use other more direct methods to deal with spam registrations, first.  There's mods to disable links in signatures and other issues like that, but it's always a good idea to deal with the real problem directly instead of using indirect methods via rules. I don't have a problem with 1 post to add a signature, but 10 seems a bit too much, and that makes a site seem like it has a low view of new members. You want potential members to feel like you think they are very important and you really want them, and that sends the wrong signal. Good members have plenty of choices in forums, and you are the one that has to cater to them to get and keep them.

Post exchanges do work. Another site I've used for that is Forum Promotion (you can Google it).

[busterone]

I do and have dealt with the front line issue of stopping spammers at the gate for a very long time. Being involved with several anti spam data collection sites as well as operating several spambot trap sites (honeypots is you wish).  If you could see the outrageous number of spammers that register to these trap sites, you would also see the same outrageous numbers of them that immediately go to their profile and add links to the website field and to their signature.  Although there are several ways to deal with the bots- custom registration questions, stop spammer, project honeypot, and many more good ones, the spammers have gotten smarter. They hire humans in 3rd world countries to bypass the registration checks and get a successful registration. Once in, they do the same thing.  I do not feel that having to post 10 posts is too much to ask. I have witnessed it too many times to say different. It is not a matter of thinking little of potential members, it is actually being proactive and thinking highly of the good members so they do not have to read the spam crap on a forum.

[sparty]

Hi , I will register now and check it out , my site has been running for 3 years now and we ave 50-80 000 page impressions in the off peak (at this time) and when its peak time (October onwards till about April) we hit over 100 000 ! Its a process to get it there but I am willing to help and share.

Thanks

[ApplianceJunk]

we ave 50-80 000 page impressions

Page impressions/day, week, month year?

[sparty]

we ave 50-80 000 page impressions

Page impressions/day, week, month year?

Month

[alpinist867]

In terms of getting people to chime in, occasionally you can throw out a question or comment that people can't resist.  Something along the lines of:

Yep, this is the direction to start heading in. It's best to create all kinds of already existing content on the forum that people can start joining in on. Already existing threads about diverse topics, users who offer others a good vibe, like, they'd like to come back and read what he says or get his opinion on things.... hell, you could go headhunting for a couple of such people, convince them to spend a bit of their time on your forum to attract others, maybe create a mysterious persona yourself to spice things up... 

[ApplianceJunk]

Go mobile with your forum through tapatalk.

Fisherman like to brag, with a mobile app they will be able to upload photos of there catch right there on the spot.