How can I get people to join?/Why is my forum dying?

[Concept]

Hi there.
My forum is a wolf role-play forum however I do offer members a chance to play other types of realistic animals as well. I have heard a lot of people say 'Your forums gonna die its no good, its to focuses on one thing' that sort of stuff but I really like my forum and don't want to start over or anything. I have had many highly active members in the past but I had quite a bit of family issues and kind of forgot about my forum so now it has a low activity level. I have tried to make it more exciting by adding new features or expanding old ones hear and there. Now I post everyday and also keep my guests/visitors and here and there members up to date regularly. I also try to include guests as best as possible without making it over run by them, like I have a few guest accounts people can log into to look around the forum farther and I had guest boards for a while but they weren't being used so I took them down.
I send emails every once in a while updating members and kind of 'poking them' about activity and such.

But my forum is very lifeless it would seem. I get plenty of guests (35+ per day) but hardly an sign up and if they do they sign up and just leave without posting or anything.

[ClearlyHasUlteriorMotives]

I feel ya. I'm in the same situation. Specific subject matter, lots of guests, not a whole lot of sign-ups. I think that outside of advertising and the things you already do there isn't all that much you can do about it. Asking members what they think should be better can work, but in the end it seems like most RP fora are just prone to fluctuating when it comes to activity and it's always gonna be more difficult to gather new members when your subject is rather specific.
But yeah, maybe getting lots of opinions from people that are into wolf-rp's, maybe that'll point something out people like to see different that you haven't noticed yourself.

[Concept]

Thanks for the reply.

[Kami]

I think part of the reason that you're struggling -- that any roleplay struggles, really -- is because generally speaking if there's one RP for a topic, there are dozens, if not more, on the same topic.

What sets your forum apart from every other wolf RP? That's really the question you need to ask yourself. Why should I choose your RP versus any other wolf RP out there? What makes WolfSim a different breed (lolololo) of wolf RP?

If you struggle with answering these questions, or if the differences are very minor (for example, your genetics system is different), then you need to figure out what you can do to make your forum stand out.

As an objective third party observer, I can say that I do think your lack of a plot (or at least, no plot that I can see), is hurting you. The more successful wolf RPs that weren't focused entirely on explicit erotic roleplay -- which get shut down anyway for breaking the TOS -- have plots. Whether it's pack vs. pack, or packs vs. environment, or packs vs. intruders, whatever, it's a lot easier to get people active if you give them a direction to go in, rather than expecting them to take a very generic idea and setting of "wolves in some area" and make it unique for you.

Your signature image advertises "Wolves. Survival. Wars. Blood rights." -- Where is this on the forum? How are you incorporating these ideas to how your site functions? The only information I can see about the roleplay itself is that it's a "realistic" wolf RP. I'm sure anyone interested in a wolf RP that clicks your banner is looking for mentions of survival and wars and blood rights, but it seems you expect your members to deliver it for you without incorporating it into how your site works (I also see nothing about forming packs, or any rivalries, nothing).

Is it 100% for sure that this is why your site is struggling? I don't know. But I don't think it's helping, either.

[Former Member]

I would say that you should be patient. DO NOT USE JOIN FOR JOIN. DO NOT OFFER STAFF POSITIONS FOR RANDOM PEOPLE. Simply post an advertisement in the advertising section of support.proboards.com and you will start to accumulate views, and then users.

[ClearlyHasUlteriorMotives]

I agree, join for join doesn't really seem to work well for roleplays. It can, of course, but generally you have to really be invested in one to keep posting. If you and another person have forums that are up one another's alley, it could work well, of course.

[Former Member]

Jun 8, 2016 7:42:32 GMT -8 ClearlyHasUlteriorMotives said:

I agree, join for join doesn't really seem to work well for roleplays. It can, of course, but generally you have to really be invested in one to keep posting. If you and another person have forums that are up one another's alley, it could work well, of course.

Unfortunately, join for join doesn't work like that. Each forum gets users that are never active, and that tells guests that people didn't like your forum...

[DontTouchDat]

roleplay are going down and not as popular dont listen to the people saying your forums gonna die they are just saying that your forum is losing players

[Concept]

Kami I took a lot of information down (and made a new banner) because I am adding in a guidebook feature to make important information more easily accessible.

[Kami]

Jun 22, 2016 6:28:36 GMT -8 Concept said:

Kami I took a lot of information down (and made a new banner) because I am adding in a guidebook feature to make important information more easily accessible.

That's great! I'm glad for it.

Also you know, I would recommend disallowing guests to post in the RP. I mean, it's up to you ultimately but I think giving guests that ability just makes it so there's no incentive to join.

If you can post without an account in the game itself, then why /bother/ joining, you know? There's literally no reason.

[Concept]

Oh sure I'll change that- put up the guide if you want to take a look

[Kami]

I will but I think a review of your content is more for the GOAYB area (:

[Concept]

Okay Thanks.