Promoting Community Participation

[Thundermew]

im4himandhe4me, try using PM all

Nice thread, it should really help

I am working on an RPG, I have been thinking of ways to keep it interesting. I am making it change a lot, adding new events, and new places, and even allowng members to suggest some places. I will keep this thread in mind

[Streamstrider]

This thread is one of the most helpful I've seen yet, and I've been around for quite a while. (I haven't posted much, but I come around and take a look every time I get the chance.) In my new RPG site, I have an area where members can make their own little village and be in charge. There are also positions in the cities or countries of high ranking that some members are allowed to take. I haven't seen if it works yet, but I guess I'll find out.

On another site, I'm thinking about starting a few contests. Actually, I didn't really think of it much until I read this thread, with the writing and graphics ideas. I've noticed that a lot of people (even if they aren't very artistic) will participate in graphics competitions, just for the fun of it. Of course, promotion of constructive criticism seems to always have to be reminded. >_>

What about contests for making up their own race? I was thinking of adding that to my RP board. People could submit an idea for a new race that they think would be neat. They could make up their own or submit one everyone knows about. The contest could be for the submission that is best-detailed or explained. Then, they could have their creature added to an inventory of races. It would help mods in creating descriptions for various races that would normally take forever, while also providing a little extra for the members to do. In addition, some of it would require a lot of imagination to create. Sounds fun to me, at least.

[trent]

The one thing I've started back on my new forum is give users an automatic 5 bonus for karma and for each day they post 5 messages they get 5 more karma. This goes in addition to any exalts that I give and others give. I'll do a shop but use karma as the monetary value.

also I've been mass joining proboards and posting on them thus my site gets out more. I don't have enough members to do a contest maybe I'll try that when I get enough

[Weasley Twin]

I've been on boards before where they've inclued games and contests just to keep the activity going on the board, and it's been quite successful. I think there on their fourth or fith game at the moment.

I think adding contests to the foums like hunts etc where members can participate by earning points etc is a good way to keep the forum active. It''s something which I might consider in the near future.

[EelKat]

I have found that having a seperate section for Polls (created by members) and quizzs (links to quizzes like OKCupid, Quizzmo, and other such sites) really get members posting alot, but they also seem to come in waves... like one day we had 200 posts in a matter of minutes, but than only a few dozen over the next few weeks, than a whole bunch all at once again

Members seem to really love polls, esp creating them, and because of this, I added a category called "Perfectly Pointless Polls" were everyone can just go wild creating every poll that jumps into there head. Everyone loves this board cause it gives them the chance do create quizzs and find out how others well espond... it just works

[smexie]

Im a forum addict so am joined up to may forums, all who have encouraged me to join by having a lively and interesting board. Some idea's I've picked up on is (obviously) games, quizzes, contests, a group diary (to share your days thoughts etc), off-topic threads and then by asking members to complete non mandatory forms just to let them know how their board is doing, and what they would like to see.

In my personal experiance, you can't encourage community participation if you do what you want to do, without consulting your members first. Obviosuly not about every little detail, but major changes could be asked around via mass email, mass PM, or a simple poll/thread in an annoucments thread.

[mrssmif]

Maybe I'm missing something, but the majority of the posts seem to discuss the same thing. Are games and contests the only way to promote community participation? Try as I might, I just don't see how to make this apply to my board. I am slowly receiving new members due to advertising the board, but no one is saying anything but me. That has to be pretty boring for them.
Has anyone had success using any methods other than games and contests?

[smexie]

As my board is still incredably new, the only advice/hints I can give are ideas that I have picked up on. Scavenger hunt seem to be great things as it encourages members to hunt around your board, and thus making threads that they weren't even aware of catch their eye.

Also, karma currency seems to work. At the end of a competition/someone's birthday/christmas etc they get x amount of karma points, which they can then exchange for different items, for example banners, avatars, member titles etc.

Another idea which I've seen used is Member Postboxes. Basically, each member that wants one starts a thread up in the designated area titled '[Member name]'s Postbox' and members can give each other gifts-avvies/banners/stories etc as lil' 'parcels'.

Another idea-Quizzes. Members seem to enjoy quizzes, as it helps everyone get to know each other, and they are fn to fill out.

Secret Santa's/Easter Bunnies/Birthday Fairies-Each member is randomly paired up with some one and has to give a gift to them (be it avvies/banners/stories/blinkies etc) on xmas/bdays etc. Promotes friendliness.

[benjiduncan]

I don't like posting this, because the game I invented is really cool and I don't want everyone stealing it. But I have a game in my forum called "troll click survivor."

Members create character ID's and interact in a designated board for the game. Once a week there is a vote-off, just like in the show survivor. The character who gets voted off has one chance to save him/herself. If that character can guess the true identity of one of the other characters in the game, that character is eliminated instead. This continues until there are two players. At that point everyone in the forum tries to guess who is playing what character and the player who fools the most people is crowned champion.

I also have "immunity quiz questions" every week for the game. The first person to answer the question correctly gains immunity from the vote-off.

I also play a character in the game myself. The player who posts the most times in a given week has an opportunity to guess which character I am playing. If that player guesses correctly, that player is automatically in the finals.

There are more rules but that is generally how it works. The winner is crowned champion and gets a title belt added to their sig.

The only drawback to the game is that I end up with a whole bunch of character accounts that make it look like the forum has more members than it really does, but it's still lots of fun.

[\\Enigma;;]

I have a RPG forum which is based on the alter-ego of a cartoon character. I only have 25 members so far and am wondering how i can attract new members to come towards the place. I currently have no games and am thinking of adding a Journal Section to it as well. What else besides Games and Contests can i put on there and how can i get more members besides putting the link up in certain places?

[Abeni]

I attract people by adding a seperate RPG category- for ANY rpg they want. Those are pretty popular, I've seen some have over a hundred pages.

[Buffy]

Wow .. 100 thats loads .
Yes , Im was talking to my friend about that by having all different tv shows and reality on a forum so fans of each spercific show will join!
Its a great idea!

[Gamoc]

benjiduncan said:

I don't like posting this, because the game I invented is really cool and I don't want everyone stealing it. But I have a game in my forum called "troll click survivor."

Members create character ID's and interact in a designated board for the game. Once a week there is a vote-off, just like in the show survivor. The character who gets voted off has one chance to save him/herself. If that character can guess the true identity of one of the other characters in the game, that character is eliminated instead. This continues until there are two players. At that point everyone in the forum tries to guess who is playing what character and the player who fools the most people is crowned champion.

I also have "immunity quiz questions" every week for the game. The first person to answer the question correctly gains immunity from the vote-off.

I also play a character in the game myself. The player who posts the most times in a given week has an opportunity to guess which character I am playing. If that player guesses correctly, that player is automatically in the finals.

There are more rules but that is generally how it works. The winner is crowned champion and gets a title belt added to their sig.

The only drawback to the game is that I end up with a whole bunch of character accounts that make it look like the forum has more members than it really does, but it's still lots of fun.

That's actually very good, and not something you see on most forums. I guess that keeps a lot of members at your site, also. Making uniquely designed games is a very good way to keep members in. Taking a commonly used game and twisting it can also be good. Another good thing to add is prizes, members love prizes, a custom title, staff for a week, money(through the use of the money hack), special siggy, those are all good ways to get members to start participating, and to raise the post count of your forum up.

I do not remember if this has been stated yet, but another way to promote participation is for the admin to regularly start interesting threads that can lead into deep discussion. I have trouble with this myself. So many admins think that members will just come in and start all of the threads for them, but that is wrong, you have to do most of the work yourself if you want to have a successful and active forum. You have to make sure the members want to stay and participate with you, they can't just do it themselves.

[Tortured Pixel]

I give prizes away to winners, anyone who is hosting a game has to make up a prize of some kind, anything from a pixel trophy to display in their siggy to an actually gift sent n the mail. I usually opt for sending small scented lotions, nail polish, and some perfume, nothing expensive, just a few little things. It doesnt cost much to mail either.

I've added "blogs" to the board, just to see if anyone wants to use them. For keeping a journel, showcaseing poetry/artwork/photos, or to keep track of pregnancy, diet n excersize, ect. Mom of the month is always alot of fun!

[andrewlj2010]

For some reason, contests never seem to work on my board. We've tried trivia contests, photo & art contests, and writing contests. They were minimally popular at the beginning, but interest has waned and we generally get only one submission. I also enabled the Proboards chatroom on my board and upgraded it to a higher version; however it is rarely used. We've tried having "official chat days", but no one participates.

In the past, I've asked my members to post their suggestions and complaints, and I don't get many responses. In my experience, the staff can do a lot to try to spur activity, but it takes proactive members as well. It can be very frustrating at times.