Tricks and Tips of Making Thread Topics

[Freckle578]

This is something I've been struggling with on my new forum. I've had moderate success with forums before, and all of the old "tricks" just don't seem to be working for me right now. In the past, I would post threads on current debate topics, not necessarily relevant to the theme of the forum. I would also post entertainment threads, standard forum games, and also getting to know you "games" (the getting to know you games inspired further activity as people were more aware of what they had or didn't have in common). These have always been successful in the past, so I'm hoping that once members get settled, they'll come out of their shells.

With such low activity, I finally created a thread asking members what they want, what their interests are, and if there's a problem with either the function of the forum, or the cosmetics of the forum. My hope is that I won't be the only one to create new threads anymore, and that the people who DO respond to threads will post with thought (I posted a debate topic, and only got one response that consisted of a simple sentence. Though, I did take measures to avoid this by asking more than one question - just one measly little sentence is all I got, lol).

[othkirk]

I would like to have a board where members can post pics , how do i do this ?

[Gamoc]

freckle578 said:

This is something I've been struggling with on my new forum. I've had moderate success with forums before, and all of the old "tricks" just don't seem to be working for me right now. In the past, I would post threads on current debate topics, not necessarily relevant to the theme of the forum. I would also post entertainment threads, standard forum games, and also getting to know you "games" (the getting to know you games inspired further activity as people were more aware of what they had or didn't have in common). These have always been successful in the past, so I'm hoping that once members get settled, they'll come out of their shells.

With such low activity, I finally created a thread asking members what they want, what their interests are, and if there's a problem with either the function of the forum, or the cosmetics of the forum. My hope is that I won't be the only one to create new threads anymore, and that the people who DO respond to threads will post with thought (I posted a debate topic, and only got one response that consisted of a simple sentence. Though, I did take measures to avoid this by asking more than one question - just one measly little sentence is all I got, lol).

Yes, it is good to ask the members when you absolutely cannot think of what to do. Not everything works over and over again. You have to add new things and get rid of things that no longer work. When you're just sitting down in a chair, doing nothing, you could get out a piece of paper and think of things to talk about on your forum. I did that once and came up with like 100 different topics. Which served me over for a very long while.

[kelendria]

^ Yes I did the same with things like different polls & games & they've still lasted me even now.
I'd be at work or at home with a piece of paper & a pen in my pocket, just thinking up new ideas.
I don't get much feedback from my members over ideas & things so I just try to add stuff that they can relate too, & nine times out of ten, even though mine's a music forum, they go for the general sections!

[Gamoc]

kelendria said:

^ Yes I did the same with things like different polls & games & they've still lasted me even now.
I'd be at work or at home with a piece of paper & a pen in my pocket, just thinking up new ideas.
I don't get much feedback from my members over ideas & things so I just try to add stuff that they can relate too, & nine times out of ten, even though mine's a music forum, they go for the general sections!

It's common for general conversations to be more important because they have more to talk about. That's why everyone should put a big focus on the general section of their ProBoards. Interesting general talk along with interesting thematic talk will help keep your members to stay. It's ironic, but it's very true.

[kelendria]

Yes I know, I've been saying it all along lol.
I've been at it for three years!
I found, like I said earlier, even though my forum has always been musically themed, I've actually since made it more general, & in some aspects it works.

[HoudiniDerek]

pikablu said:

kelendria said:

^ Yes I did the same with things like different polls & games & they've still lasted me even now.
I'd be at work or at home with a piece of paper & a pen in my pocket, just thinking up new ideas.
I don't get much feedback from my members over ideas & things so I just try to add stuff that they can relate too, & nine times out of ten, even though mine's a music forum, they go for the general sections!

It's common for general conversations to be more important because they have more to talk about. That's why everyone should put a big focus on the general section of their ProBoards. Interesting general talk along with interesting thematic talk will help keep your members to stay. It's ironic, but it's very true.

I disagree. In fact, most of the forums I belong too have a very limited number of topics in the GT section because the theme was so well-developed and not too narrow or too broad that the content was the more important part.

I agree that there should be one, but I don't feel it necessary to put so much effort there at the expense of the rest of the forum.

[Gamoc]

houdiniderek said:

pikablu said:

It's common for general conversations to be more important because they have more to talk about. That's why everyone should put a big focus on the general section of their ProBoards. Interesting general talk along with interesting thematic talk will help keep your members to stay. It's ironic, but it's very true.

I disagree. In fact, most of the forums I belong too have a very limited number of topics in the GT section because the theme was so well-developed and not too narrow or too broad that the content was the more important part.

I agree that there should be one, but I don't feel it necessary to put so much effort there at the expense of the rest of the forum.

Well, I guess a lot of effort was strong. But with most forums you did need a large general talk. I've seen many forums die because members got bored from time to time with the theme. So they just left. Like I said, it's ironic, but it does happen to a lot of people. I am guessing it would also be how you set up the theme. Say it's a pokemon forum, you can create a Pokemon Talk board and put in like 10000 different topics all at the same time to keep your members busy (but not to the point to where it's a nuissance). That probably could do without a big focus on a General Talk area. Remember, these are just tips and tricks. Therefore they aren't required to make the forum great.

[HoudiniDerek]

pikablu said:

houdiniderek said:

I disagree. In fact, most of the forums I belong too have a very limited number of topics in the GT section because the theme was so well-developed and not too narrow or too broad that the content was the more important part.

I agree that there should be one, but I don't feel it necessary to put so much effort there at the expense of the rest of the forum.

Well, I guess a lot of effort was strong. But with most forums you did need a large general talk. I've seen many forums die because members got bored from time to time with the theme. So they just left. Like I said, it's ironic, but it does happen to a lot of people. I am guessing it would also be how you set up the theme. Say it's a pokemon forum, you can create a Pokemon Talk board and put in like 10000 different topics all at the same time to keep your members busy (but not to the point to where it's a nuissance). That probably could do without a big focus on a General Talk area. Remember, these are just tips and tricks. Therefore they aren't required to make the forum great.

Remember that your tips and tricks are not the only ones out there.

After all, for those forums that have longevity in content, such as popular TV shows. There are episodes to discuss, characters, possible movies, etc. For those shows that lasted for any number of years, the content is more important than the GT section. As I mentioned already, I believe a GT is a necessity, but it should not become the focal point over the content on the site unless your site is GT-based.

[Zath]

When I start a new board, I like to add an initial post explaining the board or just a small discussion about the topic.
Do I lock this initial descriptive post to encourage members to start their own threads in the board or do I let them reply to the opening thread ? Replying to an opening thread sometimes means I get one thread in the board that might go off on several tangents.

[HoudiniDerek]

Jan 2, 2008 3:32:00 GMT -8 Zath said:

When I start a new board, I like to add an initial post explaining the board or just a small discussion about the topic.
Do I lock this initial descriptive post to encourage members to start their own threads in the board or do I let them reply to the opening thread ? Replying to an opening thread sometimes means I get one thread in the board that might go off on several tangents.

I do the same, especially if the board is not that definitive such as a GT board. I tend to lock them because that encourages people to make their own threads or PM me if they don't understand. That way, I don't have a board with one thread that just keeps getting longer.

[Gamoc]

Jan 2, 2008 3:32:00 GMT -8 Zath said:

When I start a new board, I like to add an initial post explaining the board or just a small discussion about the topic.
Do I lock this initial descriptive post to encourage members to start their own threads in the board or do I let them reply to the opening thread ? Replying to an opening thread sometimes means I get one thread in the board that might go off on several tangents.

Well, either way is fine, but I would encourage putting a "please start new topics" at the end and locking it. That would definetley encourage new topics, which would spark new conversation. Now you should always start some topics yourself every once in a while, that'll encourage more posting in most cases, which will lead to more activity. You can't always rely that members will start new threads, so that is why you need to start threads yourself every once in a while.

[Michelangelo "Spike" Scarlatti]

On my roleplay boards I usually try and come up with something Ive heard on the show itself
like some sort of saying or what not
Sometimes its hard though to come up with somthing good
Does anyone have tips on starting new thread topics for roleplays?

[Enchant]

Feb 26, 2008 9:25:12 GMT -8 Michelangelo "Spike" Scarlatti said:

On my roleplay boards I usually try and come up with something Ive heard on the show itself
like some sort of saying or what not
Sometimes its hard though to come up with somthing good
Does anyone have tips on starting new thread topics for roleplays?

I think that when you are doing something with RolePlays, that you pull an idea out of everyday world news, and then if you are using an already established theme, lets say for example...Torchwood, and bring them together....For example....
On the news we are seeing just about every night a school shooting happening. Well I would suggest taking that idea and tweaking it with something that would be relevant to Torchwood.

Jack stood there with hims arms crossed and closed as he watched the monitor. Another shooting. That made 7 schools in the last four days. Although, that in itself was troubling, that is not what had caught his attention. The shootings all had something about them that didn't seem "Normal". Each time someone was shot, a rift would happen.He ordered the team to find out what these students all had in common, if anything. They needed to find out what was happening before....


You get the idea. Perhaps it was a train crash, people missing, gas conspiracies...etc...the possibilities are endless....Perhaps through in some emotional baggage as well...