How to encourage new members to stay?

[bricabrach]

     I'm one of a handful of active members at an old fan forum.  Nine new members joined in the past year, each made 0 -- 3 posts then disappeared.  A few did post in our Introductions board, in which case we warmly welcomed them.  When they asked a question, one or more of us answered or commented.  What else might existing members do to encourage new ones and thus help to build a critical mass?  On the other hand, I can't help but wonder if something we're doing is driving them away.  I'd appreciate any insights you're willing to offer.

[Interested Bob]

I doubt if something you're doing is driving them away, bricabrach . People just feel at home on one forum, and not on another, equally good forum, and even they probably don't consciously know why, it's just a feeling you get.

Remember that some people join a forum just to get another place to advertise their own forums, and then fade away. It's unfortunate and annoying, but it happens a lot.

Yours is a fan forum, but do you also have other threads on general topics that might appeal to people who aren't really fans of whoever your forum supports? Maybe a few alphabetical word games or something similar might help.

My own forum has a very small active membership, so I'm not the best person to be offering advice, but it's a problem a lot of admins have, and you just have to plod on and keep the forum as interesting as you can, and hope for the best.

Good luck.

[Pebbles]

Oct 22, 2018 17:44:42 GMT -8 bricabrach said:

     I'm one of a handful of active members at an old fan forum.  Nine new members joined in the past year, each made 0 -- 3 posts then disappeared.  A few did post in our Introductions board, in which case we warmly welcomed them.  When they asked a question, one or more of us answered or commented.  What else might existing members do to encourage new ones and thus help to build a critical mass?  On the other hand, I can't help but wonder if something we're doing is driving them away.  I'd appreciate any insights you're willing to offer.

make sure the mobile version looks readable and clean
mine does not, i am working on it.......
and it is making it less appealing to stick around for most forum users nowadays using their phones only 

most people use social media only nowadays so getting people to stick around is hard... people like us actually visiting forums on a desktop is rare as of lately
getting people registered on your forum who really like forums and spend quality time on them is just gone cause of social media
not completely of course but  yeah

the importance of the mobile version looking good nowadays is critical ... though unfortunately we cannot change much other than colors and stuff... sigh

[Former Member]

I know that whenever I look at a forum, I judge by how well organized, detailed, and popular it is.

Organized. ​Alot of forums I visit are unorganized and messy with complicated board descriptions and titles, leaving me confused with no place to even ask for help.
Perhaps your forum is a bit unorganized?


Details. ​The theme of a forum is important. I've noticed forums with real images (not solid colors) are great. Even the smallest, 'unimportant' details can really make a huge difference in the atmophere of your forum, making it feel more professional. adding your own touches, by using your own theme or plugin, can really make a huge difference as well. Sometimes premade things drive me away.


Popularity. ​I don't know why, but I am always turned off by popular (busy) forums. This is something that cant be changed so idk why im bringing it up lol​​​ 

I hope I wasn't just negative and helped you a bit. These are just my personal opinions, I doubt many people are turned away by popular forums like me lol

[Retread]

Oct 22, 2018 17:44:42 GMT -8 bricabrach said:

     I'm one of a handful of active members at an old fan forum.  Nine new members joined in the past year, each made 0 -- 3 posts then disappeared.  A few did post in our Introductions board, in which case we warmly welcomed them.  When they asked a question, one or more of us answered or commented.  What else might existing members do to encourage new ones and thus help to build a critical mass?  On the other hand, I can't help but wonder if something we're doing is driving them away.  I'd appreciate any insights you're willing to offer.

That's a very small number of new members. Perhaps some of your focus should be on making others aware that your forum exists.

In terms of keeping members, you'll still likely have a high ratio of Zero Post Charlies to regular participant. That's just the way forums tend to be.

Consider all the reasons why a person would be motivated to participate in any forum and take measures to enhance that.

Visual environment.

Common goals.

Being heard.

Showing off. (this can be a great thing if channeled)

Learning new things.

Teaching others.

Being part of a team / community interaction.

Creating friendships.

Debating hot topics. (some perils with that one)



If rules are too strict it causes people to be uncomfortable and unsure of themselves. Too lax, and behavior can become hostile. Balance is needed both in rules and enforcement. When people become more familiar with each other, they might take playful jabs at one another. That can be a good thing as long as both sides are having fun with it. That can add some entertainment value. But again, balance is key.

[Dazzal]

Oct 23, 2018 12:22:17 GMT -8 @majority said:

I know that whenever I look at a forum, I judge by how well organized, detailed, and popular it is.

Sometimes premade things drive me away.
____________________________

@majority, what do you mean by that? Can you be more specific? Thanks!

[private]

Oct 22, 2018 17:44:42 GMT -8 bricabrach said:

     I'm one of a handful of active members at an old fan forum.  Nine new members joined in the past year, each made 0 -- 3 posts then disappeared.  A few did post in our Introductions board, in which case we warmly welcomed them.  When they asked a question, one or more of us answered or commented.  What else might existing members do to encourage new ones and thus help to build a critical mass?  On the other hand, I can't help but wonder if something we're doing is driving them away.  I'd appreciate any insights you're willing to offer.

Although I am not an expert and my forum has zero members,  I finally decided  to add my two cents.

It is not uncommon for members to join and not post.
Are you advertising your forum on boards for that genre?

[Former Member]

Oct 24, 2018 8:00:29 GMT -8 Dazzal said:

Oct 23, 2018 12:22:17 GMT -8 @majority said:

I know that whenever I look at a forum, I judge by how well organized, detailed, and popular it is.

Sometimes premade things drive me away.
____________________________
@majority , what do you mean by. Can you be more specific? Thanks!

I guess it just seems to me that a premade theme is kind of a lazy way to make a forum look nice. I know it's not, but thats just the way it seems to me lol

It makes a forum look more staff-involved when they put effort into coding it themselves.

[Interested Bob]

Judging a forum by its theme is not always the best guide to how good that forum is.

Some forums, mine included, use a fairly basic theme, obviously changing colours and so on, but still pretty basic, because the admins of those forums consider that the conversations are the most important part of any forum. (on my forum, and others too, I'm sure, there's actually a lot of behind the scenes stuff that people aren't even aware of, but it makes their visits easier)

Admins on other forums spend a lot of time building loads of themes to choose from, which is nice, and some forums look stunning. The conversations there can be just as interesting as on the simple forums, of course.

The simple fact is though, that, no matter how pretty the forum looks at first glance, a month or two down the line you no longer even notice the theme, unless the default theme changes. You're so familiar with it, you just don't actually see it any more.

Once you reach that point, it no longer matters what the theme is like, and you start to notice whether or not the conversations are interesting.

If the conversations are boring, people stop visiting.


It all comes back to that, at the end of the day...

[Dazzal]

Thanks for commenting @majority. It's true we all have different taste in what we like a board to look like. I love pretty boards and it puts me in a cheerful mood to post.

Interested Bob I totally agree with your comments. I have found some members will join the board and ask where this and that is when they haven't even visited the boards/forums. When I first visit a new board I visit each forum and familiarize the way the owner has it set up.

I think most of us have a brief summary of what the forum is about on the front of each forum.

I also think that some people join to see what the board actually looks like and the topic discussed, especially if guests can't view all forums. If they don't like it, they move on. I don't understand why those types of members just don't delete their memberships if they don't care for the board? It's so simple to delete in the Profile. Plus, it doesn't waste the owners/admins time in tracking them down to see if they want their membership continued. If I don't hear from them I delete the profile within 6 months time.

[bricabrach]

     Wow, I'm happy to see all the wonderful folks offering many suggestions!  Thank you so much.  I've gleaned the following main points from your comments:

• It's fairly common (unfortunately) for new members to never post.
• Advertising is vital to increase the number of new members.
• Social media has largely replaced forums because they demand less work from their participants.
• It's good to include a board for unrelated chat (we do have one).
• Everyone's on phones, so the mobile experience is important (ours looks as good as v.5 allows).

I had joined this forum about three years ago, rather late to this party -- the last book of the series for this fan base was published in 2007.  This is likely the main reason it's so quiet here.  The author used to list our forum on his website; this disappeared with a re-design some five years ago.  I asked him to please restore a listing, and he did!  Such an endorsement is about as good as advertising gets.  Original fan art is a large portion of our board's appeal, so the Photobucket disaster took its toll.  So I guess we're really doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

     Thanks so much!

[Interested Bob]

Everyone's on phones, so the mobile experience is important.

Not everyone, by any means, bricabrach ...

It's obvious that every web site should be mobile friendly, and equally obvious that mobiles are being used more and more every day, so of course it's very important that all forums cater for them, but I suspect that mobile users are the people that are currently more likely to prefer Facebook and similar social media, and it might not be wise to put all your eggs in the Mobile basket just yet.

There are still a lot of desktop and laptop users out there...

[Retread]

Oct 24, 2018 15:06:40 GMT -8 bricabrach said:

     Wow, I'm happy to see all the wonderful folks offering many suggestions!  Thank you so much.  I've gleaned the following main points from your comments:

• It's fairly common (unfortunately) for new members to never post.
• Advertising is vital to increase the number of new members.
• Social media has largely replaced forums because they demand less work from their participants.
• It's good to include a board for unrelated chat (we do have one).
• Everyone's on phones, so the mobile experience is important (ours looks as good as v.5 allows).

I had joined this forum about three years ago, rather late to this party -- the last book of the series for this fan base was published in 2007.  This is likely the main reason it's so quiet here.  The author used to list our forum on his website; this disappeared with a re-design some five years ago.  I asked him to please restore a listing, and he did!  Such an endorsement is about as good as advertising gets.  Original fan art is a large portion of our board's appeal, so the Photobucket disaster took its toll.  So I guess we're really doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

     Thanks so much!

Providing feedback to those who have participated in your thread is very good etiquette and encourages future participation.

When you lead by example this way, it sets the tone for a harmonious atmosphere and others will follow suit.

[bricabrach]

Oct 24, 2018 11:19:48 GMT -8 Dazzal said:

...
I also think that some people join to see what the board actually looks like and the topic discussed, especially if guests can't view all forums. If they don't like it, they move on. I don't understand why those types of members just don't delete their memberships if they don't care for the board? It's so simple to delete in the Profile. Plus, it doesn't waste the owners/admins time in tracking them down to see if they want their membership continued. If I don't hear from them I delete the profile within 6 months time.

Absolutely!  Our admin performed a purge about a year ago.  Those with fewer than five posts and haven't posted within a year were deleted.

Oct 25, 2018 1:38:09 GMT -8 Interested Bob said:

Everyone's on phones, so the mobile experience is important.

Not everyone, by any means, bricabrach ...

It's obvious that every web site should be mobile friendly, and equally obvious that mobiles are being used more and more every day, so of course it's very important that all forums cater for them, but I suspect that mobile users are the people that are currently more likely to prefer Facebook and similar social media, and it might not be wise to put all your eggs in the Mobile basket just yet.

There are still a lot of desktop and laptop users out there...

   Come to think of it ... we get very few posts labeled, "via mobile" -- so perhaps the mobile devices in themselves are not the problem.  It's more likely, as you said, that mobile users would prefer Facebook.

Oct 25, 2018 7:04:41 GMT -8 Retread said:

Oct 24, 2018 15:06:40 GMT -8 bricabrach said:

     Wow, I'm happy to see all the wonderful folks offering many suggestions!  Thank you so much.  I've gleaned the following main points from your comments:

...

     Thanks so much!

Providing feedback to those who have participated in your thread is very good etiquette and encourages future participation.

When you lead by example this way, it sets the tone for a harmonious atmosphere and others will follow suit.

  Thanks!  And we try to do the same on the fan forum, although it doesn't seem to help much.

     Once again, I wish to express my appreciation to all who have participated in my little discussion.  I'm singing!