Turning Traffic into Activity !

[colonel]

Now that my forum has started getting quite a bit of traffic, I want to know how other members get the leechers to join up and start posting... ???

Any tips ?

[~SARA~]

I think here you can't do a search without being a member, this helps in making people join.

[ryanzilla244]

That creates members, not activity.

[~SARA~]

yes, but he said "join up", it's a start

[ralfy_tm]

so how do you do that?

[colonel]

Getting them to join is relatively easy, just offer them an incentive to join (eg. Rapidshare giveaways etc).

What I am wanting to know is, how to get them posting !

[ryanzilla244]

Posting downloads, or general discussion etc.

[colonel]

Hmmm....the posting of downloads will get you traffic. The general discussion aspect is a valid incentive however, there must be something else that we can do to encourage posting etc...

I have got my thinking cap on today !

[colonel]

BTW, good idea about guests not being able to search ;)

[Inevitable]

I have 2 usergroups > the default registered usergroup and the 'upgraded' usergroup.
The registered usergroup can't use the search function, can't view 2 sections (thats easier for a porn forum but you can hide the FTP section or something like that) and they can play less games in the arcade, smaller pmbox and that kind of bs.

In order to be upgraded you have to post atleast 25 contributions this can be movies, pictures, warez or simply jokes.
Downside is that its very time consuming; Me and my 2nd in command have to manually upgrade each user and to find those users we have to view many threads.

Another downside; people are spoiled and don't like such tricks like not be able to use the search but for me it turned out positive and why let user register, let them use the search and find what they want so they can leave again <_<

[colonel]

Excellent advice....I may well try that....kinda bribing members into posting !!!! lol

[hereward]

I think sometimes the members themselves get overlooked. Active members who post constructively will get you further members. Offering incentives only gives you a short term gain. Denying access may shut out the active posters you want in the first place. Ryanzilla244 has hit the nail on the head. Better to have a small active community than one which has a large inactive membership. Quality and variety is better than a big number.

Hereward

[colonel]

I agree totally with your points mate....however, I am trying to get a larger numer of guests converted into members firstly and then, entice them, slowly, into posting....

Interaction is the key and I would imagine that this problem is one that many warez webmaster has considered...

[Th3obr0]

I agree totally with your points mate....however, I am trying to get a larger numer of guests converted into members firstly and then, entice them, slowly, into posting....

Interaction is the key and I would imagine that this problem is one that many warez webmaster has considered...

I just have one 'funda' to a successful warez forum. You try to get as many visitors/guests as possible. The more guests you get, more points your posters get. This motivates the guests to register and become posters(active) to post their uploads.

Now, this will get you members who are not leechers, but genuine uploaders, and also active in the forum too ;).

This is why my previous forum, WckedForums was so active and had loads of hits. Awww... miss that forum 8-).