Okay, I launched my new site. Now what?

Levina

Levina

Active member
How or where do I find people to sign up?

My former forum seems to think I'm a threat. They removed a link to my new site from my sig (which is something that is allowed per the forum rules - I put those in myself! 😅 ) And they have taken away my PM permissions. I can't send out PM's. Apparently they are afraid I would start recruiting. I have no intention to. It's a community I helped build and I don't want to harm it, just to get to the staff. What did happen is the staff came over to my site and immediately changed some of the layout on theirs, putting in sidebars where there were none. Copy catting me it seems. So it's rather the other way around.

But anyway, back on topic: where do I find new members?

I'm not on social media. Should I? And then, how does that work in recruiting people there? Any tips, hints, advice? Help maybe even?
 
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ForumFan said:
I took a peek at your forum. Looks like you're off to a good start!

Another suggestion, which will meet some resistance here, is to have an off-topic section. In my opinion, topic-focused forums attract members for the main topic, of course. BUT... the main topic can get repetitive / boring to seasoned hobbyists or professionals. So their participation may wax and wane.

However, having sections that are off-topic can do two things. First, it adds another facet, constantly adding fresh topics to the forum. Secondly, it keeps people interested and coming back for more discussion. An example would "Current Events." And if you're adventurous.... "Politics." Or even "Photographers in the News" (where the photographer BECOMES the news). You could add sections that pertain to other hobbies common among photographers but not related to photography. A photography forum might also have a section about "Hiking & Camping." For example... a forum about cars could have a section about watches. A lot of "car guys" are also "watch guys." Just some ideas. :)

Just like in real life... You can be a member of a local Archery club. You make friends with other archers. You go have beers and lunch. Do you ONLY talk about archery? Probably not. Other subjects may come up and generate conversation. That's how conversations happen in real life. I submit that it's the same with forums. They originally COME for the interest in common.... Photography..... Cars.... Watches... Astronomy.... Aquariums.... Dogs.... whatever. But they STAY for the COMMUNITY that is created. A common specific interest may initially forge a friendship. But the friendship persists when they find OTHER commonalities.

Oh! No matter what the specific hobby or focus is... Everyone likes HUMOR! Have a humor or jokes section! Always popular.

My family visited your country several years ago and really enjoyed it! A few (of hundreds) photos attached! I used to be into photography but fell out of the hobby. These were all taken with a simple phone camera. Some day I'll get back into it. But I've got enough expensive hobbies as it is!
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We have a Chatroom for off-topic stuff but not much going on there yet. But we have a lot of discussion in Forum Talk about the forum and how to make it grow, tactics to get members, about social media etc. When I noticed those threads attracted certain hmmm... unwanted guests and a staff member of a certain forum signing up with a fake account and going straight to the "How to make the forum grow" thread, I decided to make that whole damn forum private and only trusted members have access to it now. So it's private and we talk freely. It's like being with friends, building the forum together. And I love it.

Politics, like religion is a bad idea in my opinion. Before you know it the conspiracy theorists come in and you have a war on your board. I had some experience with that on the other forum. It was fairly ugly. So not going there.

But I'm definitely not afraid of heated discussion, fierce debates about photography related issues. As long as people stay civil and there are no personal attacks, no problem. My prime directive in moderation is: only moderate if you must, not when you can. In other words I like to give people as much freedom as I can. Some moderators don't want people to go off-topic. I don't mind at all. Let them go. Unless others start complaining. But in my experience most off-topic banter begins when the on-topic discussion is concluded and there's not much more to say about it.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I really appreciate you taking the time to write it all up. 🙏
 
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ForumFan said:
My family visited your country several years ago and really enjoyed it! A few (of hundreds) photos attached! I used to be into photography but fell out of the hobby. These were all taken with a simple phone camera. Some day I'll get back into it. But I've got enough expensive hobbies as it is!
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Cool. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Nice pics! You know, I happen to know a very nice photography forum where those pics would be very welcome... :LOL:
 
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Levina said:
We have a Chatroom for off-topic stuff but not much going on there yet. But we have a lot of discussion in Forum Talk about the forum and how to make it grow, tactics to get members, about social media etc. When I noticed those threads attracted certain hmmm... unwanted guests and a staff member of a certain forum signing up with a fake account and going straight to the "How to make the forum grow" thread, I decided to make that whole damn forum private and only trusted members have access to it now. So it's private and we talk freely. It's like being with friends, building the forum together. And I love it.

Politics, like religion is a bad idea in my opinion. Before you know it the conspiracy theorists come in and you have a war on your board. I had some experience with that on the other forum. It was fairly ugly. So not going there.

But I'm definitely not afraid of heated discussion, fierce debates about photography related issues. As long as people stay civil and there are no personal attacks, no problem. My prime directive in moderation is: only moderate if you must, not when you can. In other words I like to give people as much freedom as I can. Some moderators don't want people to go off-topic. I don't mind at all. Let them go. Unless others start complaining. But in my experience most off-topic banter begins when the on-topic discussion is concluded and there's not much more to say about it.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I really appreciate you taking the time to write it all up. 🙏
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Hey, the beauty of it all is that it's YOUR forum. As Mel Brooks said in History of the World, "It's good to be the King!"
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I'm just pitching some ideas. ;) They have worked for me. So far, so good. Subject to change! :)

Continued good luck with your new forum!
 
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