Advice on Poker Forums

[freepp]

Any advice on how to attract people to your poker forums? And how to get people to post regularly?

[Joe]

pay them. $, sex or drugs.

Getting forums off the ground is probably the most difficult thing to do if you are not generating a ton of traffic. Even then it can still be, especially if your trying to launch just a general poker forum.

Here's the reason, theres already 100's of poker forums out there with thousands of members each. Why would anyone want to join a forum with no members and little activity? It's not like your offering sign-up bonuses for people to join :P

I'm not saying it's impossible but it is very difficult. I have tried unsuccessfully several times to get forums going. What I found is that the forum has to have a focus or niche that fills some sort of void. Take this forum for example, it has only been around since January yet it is pretty active........but also keep in mind there was really no other forum on the internet just for poker afffiliates. Had I made this for online casino affiliates or just a general affiliate forum, it probably wouldn't have grown so fast.

Once again......getting a general poker forum running is going to be very difficult without massive traffic unless you pick a specific niche, maybe something as simple as one that just focuses on Party SnG players, or the Stars Sunday night tournament. I don't know, kust throwing ideas out there.

Another thing to keep in mind is that motion creates emotion. Register 8 different usernames in your forums and talk to yourself everyday :lol: :lol: :lol: It's funny, but it works. If people see activity they will be more likely to join.

[mattc]

Originally posted by Jeremy@Apr 28 2005, 04:45 PM
Another thing to keep in mind is that motion creates emotion. Register 8 different usernames in your forums and talk to yourself everyday :lol: :lol: :lol: It's funny, but it works. If people see activity they will be more likely to join.

Hehe - and that begs the question - who ELSE are you on these boards? :P

[tmc94]

I just recently launched my poker forum and I went into it with the idea that activity leads to activity, as Jeremy said. I expect it to be a slow build but one of the tactics I've used is to get a few friends to post and post a lot. Gaining critical mass in a message board can be tough but once achieved its well worth it in building the community you are looking for.

With that in mind, this board can be a great resource to help each other. Freepp, tell me where your board is and I'll go help with an effort to get it going. Maybe we can all take turns doing that for each other. I'd certainly welcome any help in that regard.

[Stephen]

I agree with tmc - it is definitely important for everyone to help each other out....

Some other things to consider:

1. For those that do not have the critical mass, evaluate joining forces with 2-3 other sites. If it is done with agreement and trust, you can each build on each other and get where you want to go quicker.... Just remember that this is a partnership...

2. Having the same-old topics of comparing different poker rooms, ring games etc will be hard a hard market to conquer. Think of new ideas/concepts which will attract people in the first place, and all the rest will slowly fall in place.

Stephen

[freepp]

Thanks for all your input guys. I actually set up a contest which one person would win a free chip set at the end of the month. Didn't really seem to work.

Now I am offering people points for posting. 1 post is worth about 10 points, 2 for a reply on your post, etc.. You add it up over time, you can purchase goods with your points, ie. poker books, poker chips, and even ipods. This promotion got me about 2-3 regular posters (I am just starting out). Anyone interested visit http://www.freepponline.com/phpbb2/index.php. (If this is spamming, please feel free to edit it out).

Anyway, anyone interested in a partnership PM me. TMC, I would love to post on your forum in exchange for you posting on mine.

[CasinoMack]

I've probably set up 30+ forums in my time, with only two being worthy of called successful. 1 was really successful (I'm talking, 7 figure successful) and another is semi-successful (I'm talking pays the bills).

Its hard. Its not easy. I have a poker forum now that is dying a slow death, but I don't know if I should turn it into another poker related review site or pump some life back in. IMO a general poker forum is very difficult to get off the ground.

I've considered turning it into a poker affiliate forum (Jeremy ), but am not eager to jump on that wagon yet, however 80% of members are affiliates.

Lemme know if you have any advice

[tmc94]

FreePP and anyone else, here is the deal I will make with you:

I'll spend one week posting on your board - at least 3 new posts a day and I'll try to respond to a bunch of other threads. For that, I'd like you to do the same. If we all work together, we can help to build the activity that leads to more activity and make our message boards successful.

PM me if interested.

[Joe]

give motive. what's poker player all want?

i go to forum to learn stuff, show off or killing time.

suggested topics, hand history study, hand of the day, best play ever, new discovery about poker skill...

go out for a drunk, wish me get laid will you. :lol: