I thought this might be an interesting place to ask this question. Let's say you were launching a new online community around a fairly new niche - a forum site structured very similar to this site but around a completely different topic. What techniques would you employ on the site besides posting good content that is meant to spark discussion to draw in new members? I know, forums are a dated model, and yet, this forum is a pretty good example of why they can still work well. It's just much more difficult these days in the forum world.
The plan so far has been to post relevant content and invite individuals who own the product(s) in, as well as product companies in the industry to sign up - no issues getting the companies to join and post some content. But it's been a challenge getting non-business owners to sign up and participate, partly because there is another active forum out there already that has a several months head start, one which I don't want to poach from and get banned. I'm sending invitations to individuals here on social media and other channels where it makes sense. And I'm running FB ad campaigns too, but it's been tougher than I thought to get new members.
Our community will use a different philosophy than the competing forum, where we will invite product companies who cater to the niche to participate freely, without paying an advertising fee. This is not the norm in the forum world, and it will be one of a few things that sets the site apart. On the other competing forums, those companies would have to pay to participate and discuss their products. Having them post technical content and product announcements will be a draw. But that type of content will be slow in the beginning, and much of it will also be posted on their social channels, which will then be shared on the other forum by that forum's members. I have a few companies that will be posting exclusive content soon, but in the meantime...
I was thinking of coming up with a "founding member" concept to help give the initial members a sense of ownership. I just can't think of what to offer them beyond a custom user title that would be meaningful. Maybe send them some decals or get some t-shirts made and send them out. I can see about working some deals with companies in the niche to see if I can offer the discount codes or something. What else might be appealing for this?
Another idea is to create a giveaway for any new members who post photos of their products (which are relevant to the site). Any non-business member who registers and posts photos/content in a certain time window would be eligible. It would be a random drawing.
What other incentives could a forum offer you to join and start participating on a new site with only a handful of members that would be appealing to you?
Would love to hear from @MJ DeMarco on this - even if just via PM.
The plan so far has been to post relevant content and invite individuals who own the product(s) in, as well as product companies in the industry to sign up - no issues getting the companies to join and post some content. But it's been a challenge getting non-business owners to sign up and participate, partly because there is another active forum out there already that has a several months head start, one which I don't want to poach from and get banned. I'm sending invitations to individuals here on social media and other channels where it makes sense. And I'm running FB ad campaigns too, but it's been tougher than I thought to get new members.
Our community will use a different philosophy than the competing forum, where we will invite product companies who cater to the niche to participate freely, without paying an advertising fee. This is not the norm in the forum world, and it will be one of a few things that sets the site apart. On the other competing forums, those companies would have to pay to participate and discuss their products. Having them post technical content and product announcements will be a draw. But that type of content will be slow in the beginning, and much of it will also be posted on their social channels, which will then be shared on the other forum by that forum's members. I have a few companies that will be posting exclusive content soon, but in the meantime...
I was thinking of coming up with a "founding member" concept to help give the initial members a sense of ownership. I just can't think of what to offer them beyond a custom user title that would be meaningful. Maybe send them some decals or get some t-shirts made and send them out. I can see about working some deals with companies in the niche to see if I can offer the discount codes or something. What else might be appealing for this?
Another idea is to create a giveaway for any new members who post photos of their products (which are relevant to the site). Any non-business member who registers and posts photos/content in a certain time window would be eligible. It would be a random drawing.
What other incentives could a forum offer you to join and start participating on a new site with only a handful of members that would be appealing to you?
Would love to hear from @MJ DeMarco on this - even if just via PM.
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