Comments on: Here is a method that is helping forums succeed http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/ Community Building Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:46:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12787 Martin Reed - Blog Author Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:17:24 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12787 <strong>Wedding cake lady</strong> - I think you are referring to <a href="http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/">paid forum posters</a>. I have already written about my thoughts on these services. In summary, I think if you need to pay others to post on your forum then you may not have the necessary passion for your community to make it succeed. What is your real name, by the way? <strong>Reena</strong> - I wouldn't go so far as to say paid forum posting is tantamount to spamming, as long as it adds real value to the community it could actually be beneficial. Wedding cake lady – I think you are referring to paid forum posters. I have already written about my thoughts on these services. In summary, I think if you need to pay others to post on your forum then you may not have the necessary passion for your community to make it succeed.

What is your real name, by the way?

Reena – I wouldn’t go so far as to say paid forum posting is tantamount to spamming, as long as it adds real value to the community it could actually be beneficial.

]]> By: Online furniture store http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12776 Online furniture store Sat, 03 Nov 2007 03:19:13 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12776 That's what spamming is all about i guess, wedding cake lady. I also wonder how much good it does anyone. That’s what spamming is all about i guess, wedding cake lady. I also wonder how much good it does anyone.

]]> By: Wedding cake lady http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12759 Wedding cake lady Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:11:16 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12759 great tips.. I heard these days there are companies which you pay and they post hundreds of fake subjects in a forum. Wonder if it actually helps to get things started. great tips..
I heard these days there are companies which you pay and they post hundreds of fake subjects in a forum.
Wonder if it actually helps to get things started.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12757 Martin Reed - Blog Author Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:04:49 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12757 <strong>Vyoma</strong> - Recognising and identifying failed threads is the first step towards combating them. It is relatively easy to intervene and ask questions to keep threads alive - I hope you give it a try and report back with the results. <strong>Reena</strong> - I love to know the names of people I am talking to; it reminds me that they are real human beings and it helps develop a relationship. <strong>Hirsutism</strong> - I am glad you have been enjoying the blog; I still don't know what your real name is, though! Care to share? <strong>Smiley</strong> - 600 posts a day is absolutely fantastic for a new forum with only 100 members; you should be very proud of your achievements. I love the idea of an interrogation section - this has the potential of generating loads of content by keeping member interaction going. <strong>Ramana</strong> - It's nice when we are addressed by our real names, eh? Do you have an online community in which to practice the techniques I have mentioned in this article? <strong>Cricket Videos</strong> - Thanks for your kind comment, what is your real name?!? I think I may have to change the comments form here so people can insert keywords for their sites but also declare their real names! Vyoma – Recognising and identifying failed threads is the first step towards combating them. It is relatively easy to intervene and ask questions to keep threads alive – I hope you give it a try and report back with the results.

Reena – I love to know the names of people I am talking to; it reminds me that they are real human beings and it helps develop a relationship.

Hirsutism – I am glad you have been enjoying the blog; I still don’t know what your real name is, though! Care to share?

Smiley – 600 posts a day is absolutely fantastic for a new forum with only 100 members; you should be very proud of your achievements.

I love the idea of an interrogation section – this has the potential of generating loads of content by keeping member interaction going.

Ramana – It’s nice when we are addressed by our real names, eh? Do you have an online community in which to practice the techniques I have mentioned in this article?

Cricket Videos – Thanks for your kind comment, what is your real name?!? I think I may have to change the comments form here so people can insert keywords for their sites but also declare their real names!

]]> By: Cricket Videos http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12751 Cricket Videos Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:07:33 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12751 Martin i totaly agree. I love your posts keep the good work up. Martin i totaly agree. I love your posts keep the good work up.

]]> By: Amish Handcrafted Furniture http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12750 Amish Handcrafted Furniture Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:55:31 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12750 You did that to me and I was zapped. I agree to everything that you say about building a vibrant community. Thank you. You did that to me and I was zapped. I agree to everything that you say about building a vibrant community. Thank you.

]]> By: Smiley http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12749 Smiley Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:59:07 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12749 Yes, I have an introductions section, too. The forum only has just over a 100 members now, but 600+ posts guaranteed everyday. The members love the "interrogation" forum, where they all ask each other questions. http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3685/interrogationhr6.jpg And you are right about members mimicking. It still makes me giggle when I read some posts and see members picking up on my humour and banter... but they do pick the good things up, too !! Whenever a new member signs up, I rather enjoy going to create their own welcome thread for them in the welcomes section.. but now when I click on that section a member has already beaten me to it! The interrogate section is full of questions by members, I can't get a question in edgeways. I've even started noticing an increase in new threads made by members, every few weeks I stop creating new threads for a day or two and see if there's a drop, and there always has been, but this past few days there's only been a tiny drop.. but members are finally starting to stand on their own two legs. So.. lead by example indeed !! Most of the techniques I practice came from ideas I read here, but some are just the way I naturally am when I have my sensible-head on. For instance, I like to encourage comments, and criticism. A new member posted a rather nice, heart-warming post in our suggestions section the other day, saying how glad they found the site and particularly enjoy the chat room, and she has some suggestions/comments to post at a later date, but said "feel free to ignore them".. so I replied.. "Hi, All comments & suggestions are encouraged & appreciated - it's the only way I can improve the community Smile Thanks for your kind words, though, they mean a lot after the hard work that has been put into the community, not just from myself, but from staff and regular members also. We're growing nicely for a new site, I am both surprised, and pleased. Anyway, it's great to have you here; always feel free to speak your mind." I can see how important wording your posts in a community is now. Yes, I have an introductions section, too. The forum only has just over a 100 members now, but 600+ posts guaranteed everyday.

The members love the “interrogation” forum, where they all ask each other questions.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3685/interrogationhr6.jpg

And you are right about members mimicking. It still makes me giggle when I read some posts and see members picking up on my humour and banter… but they do pick the good things up, too !!

Whenever a new member signs up, I rather enjoy going to create their own welcome thread for them in the welcomes section.. but now when I click on that section a member has already beaten me to it!

The interrogate section is full of questions by members, I can’t get a question in edgeways.

I’ve even started noticing an increase in new threads made by members, every few weeks I stop creating new threads for a day or two and see if there’s a drop, and there always has been, but this past few days there’s only been a tiny drop.. but members are finally starting to stand on their own two legs.

So.. lead by example indeed !!

Most of the techniques I practice came from ideas I read here, but some are just the way I naturally am when I have my sensible-head on.

For instance, I like to encourage comments, and criticism. A new member posted a rather nice, heart-warming post in our suggestions section the other day, saying how glad they found the site and particularly enjoy the chat room, and she has some suggestions/comments to post at a later date, but said “feel free to ignore them”.. so I replied..

“Hi,

All comments & suggestions are encouraged & appreciated – it’s the only way I can improve the community Smile

Thanks for your kind words, though, they mean a lot after the hard work that has been put into the community, not just from myself, but from staff and regular members also.

We’re growing nicely for a new site, I am both surprised, and pleased. Anyway, it’s great to have you here; always feel free to speak your mind.”

I can see how important wording your posts in a community is now.

]]> By: Hirsutism http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12748 Hirsutism Tue, 30 Oct 2007 08:10:44 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12748 Very very nice post. This site has been a great site. We must all work together for this community. And the suggestion of knowing the real names of every member is very good. I feel you must know the person to interact with him/her more. Very very nice post. This site has been a great site. We must all work together for this community. And the suggestion of knowing the real names of every member is very good. I feel you must know the person to interact with him/her more.

]]> By: Online furniture store http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12745 Online furniture store Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:58:15 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12745 I think i know what you mean, Martin. It was kind of nice that you ask people their real names and then address them by those. I think i know what you mean, Martin. It was kind of nice that you ask people their real names and then address them by those.

]]> By: Vyoma http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/comment-page-1/#comment-12743 Vyoma Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:44:31 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/#comment-12743 I guess I have been doing this at CGPainting.com unconsciously but not enough; and now that you mentioned it, I do see where the threads failed and where it flourished to become long multi-page threads. Will need to put conscious effort into this. :) Thanks. :) I guess I have been doing this at CGPainting.com unconsciously but not enough; and now that you mentioned it, I do see where the threads failed and where it flourished to become long multi-page threads.

Will need to put conscious effort into this. :)

Thanks. :)

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