The power of $17.50 to a new forum.

[Gargen]

Well as your all aware forums take time to get started because many people are reluctant to join an empty forum with few members. So after 2 months 25 members and 350 posts i decided to have a contest on another forum, a contest that would run one month, the most posts on my forum wins, the prizes: 1st $10 2nd $5 3rd 2.50. On the first day i got 8 new members and 250 posts, alot of my old members returned because of the activity. Its great if this keeps up woohoo, and alot of them have alredy messaged me saying they plan on staying even after the contest, i may go forum to forum and run one every month to bring in new people.

[rogerd]

How's the quality of the posting, Gargen?

[Frequent]

Gargen,

I find it interesting that this promotion is working for you. May I ask if your forum members (new and old) are very young? The reason I ask, is that your top prize of $10 would not motivate me personally to post like crazy on a forum. No I'm not wealthy (not by a long shot), but I do value my time more than $10.

On a side note, on one of my forums I'm running a silent "contest" along similar lines. I'm planning to send my top 10 posters a little (branded) gift at the first of the year. The difference being the members have no clue. Not good for driving traffic but perhaps will enforce some loyalty later.

Freq---

[Gargen]

Yea they are about 14-18 years old id say hey if your bored why not make a little money but as for the quality of posts some better than others nothing that id consider spam. But on the forum im running this out of im very well known I have the 3 rd highest post count, most people thwre like me so that may be it and alot of them (i believe anyway) actaully like my site. But my site is completly coming to life my traffic is mind blowing im getting 3 or 4 members a day which onece it looks less empty should pick up even more, this is considering a week ago i was getting one every few days if that once i went a week with out a new member.

[Frequent]

That's great that it's working for you. I hope some of the new members become sticky for you.

I may actually have to consider something similar on one forum that is struggling. My patrons are more in the 30-50 age range so it will take something interesting to motivate them.

Freq---

[Gargen]

Maybe you could offer them something else because 30-50 can go out and work and make that in couple hours maybe something like an actaul materail item they might want (it should be related to your forum)

[Frequent]

That is exactly my plan. My visitors are suckers for logo wear. When they go to an event they always buy a t-shirt or hat or something. I think I'll order up something nicely embroidered with a cool image and my web address.

They will not be able to resist.

Freq---

[BrunoDillen]

Lol Frequent, you must have a tech audience? ;)

[Frequent]

Old tech. I've seen these guys proudly wearing logo-t-shirts and caps from companies defunct for 20-30-40 years. If I can come up with a winner I'll have advertising for life.

Freq---

[rogerd]

Logo-wear is definitely a popular item. It could be your forum logo, or perhaps something related. For example, if this forum were trying to increase posts, I'd guess a Google golf shirt would be a much bigger motivator than, say, $25.

[Gargen]

Id rather have the cash, i would never wear the google shirt but with 25 bucks i could get a t-shirt and a pair of jeans

[BCooL]

I have pay-per-post forum with about 1 cent post cost.
6 months of forum life show that I hate flooders and spammers 8-)
Now I hire most expirienced members to appraise every post if they think it worth to be paid.

Let's look what it'll bring...

[rogerd]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, BCool.

>> appraise every post if they think it worth to be paid

That's counting your pennies! Perhaps you could pay more than 1 cent but limit it to excellent, high content posts.

[buksida]

I've just got a bunch of embriodered polo shirts made up for the moderators to show our appreciation. I may offer them to top posters too ... its a good idea.

The trouble our forum faces is the number of lurkers, only 10% of members actually post so I'd rather have fewer posts from more members that loads of posts from the same few people (who are mostly moddys anyway).