How to get my forum "out there"

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:49

Ok guys,

I have finally finished a forum off, I couldn't have done it without a few helpful tips and tricks from some people on these forums. So a big thankyou to the people who helped me out. Very much appreciated and a reason I love this forum.

Now it's all finished and good to go. How do I go about getting the word out there. I have already emailed all the relevant clubs in Scotland pointing them to it and asking them to use it. I also put a banner in my own club with a link and a slogan.

I have just finished posting on a few relevant videos on youtube asking people to sign up.

Is there anything else I can do to get the word out there?

I have another concern, someone told me forums get spammed a lot, people putting sex links up etc? Is this true, as I have only seen one or two on OcUK in the last year. Or are the mods on here just really good at removing it quickly?

Cheers for any advice. (please constructive only)

Andr3w · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:51

The sexy spam posts get reported to mods quickly so they are removed.

Whats the forum all about? Oh and take the yellow strip from you sig, it hurts my eyes

stulid · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:51

Buchanan0204 said:
I have another concern, someone told me forums get spammed a lot, people putting sex links up etc? Is this true, as I have only seen one or two on OcUK in the last year. Or are the mods on here just really good at removing it quickly?

You need to make some people "DONS" so they can bash the noobs.

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:54

stulid said:
You need to make some people "DONS" so they can bash the noobs.

Ahh, hey Stulid. Didn't know you came in here. Once I get enough active members that I know I can make them dons. That might prove more difficult than you think. None of them are really tech savvy.

Deadbeat · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:54

Obviously you can't prop it up here, but you already know that. I haven't seen any earlier mention of this forum, but can I assume it's an entertainment-centred deal for some specific music or comedy or some such that goes on in these clubs you mentioned? If so, you could go to these clubs on the right nights and hand out flyers, with the club owners' permission of course, to the relevant people - the crowd, DJs/comedians, that sort of thing. Include the Youtube video codes to those vids you mentioned posting up and offer your forum for free access to any semi-big events that are coming up.

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:54

Andr3w said:
The sexy spam posts get reported to mods quickly so they are removed.

Whats the forum all about? Oh and take the yellow strip from you sig, it hurts my eyes

It's a primarily Judo, martial arts forum. I like my sig

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:56

Deadbeat said:
Obviously you can't prop it up here, but you already know that. I haven't seen any earlier mention of this forum, but can I assume it's an entertainment-centred deal for some specific music or comedy or some such that goes on in these clubs you mentioned? If so, you could go to these clubs on the right nights and hand out flyers, with the club owners' permission of course, to the relevant people - the crowd, DJs/comedians, that sort of thing. Include the Youtube video codes to those vids you mentioned posting up and offer your forum for free access to any semi-big events that are coming up.

Judo clubs lol, Nightclubs aren't my thing, too sensible for that.

Just noticed your sig. Hahahah!

Glaucus · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:56

Ocuk you need to be verified by a mod before you can post, you also can't use common email address to sign up with, this stops most spam, anything left is caught by dons.

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:58

AcidHell2 said:
Ocuk you need to be verified by a mod before you can post, you also can't use common email address to sign up with, this stops most spam, anything left is caught by dons.

That's a pretty neat idea. Having to verify a members before he/she can post. Surely the spammer will just use real looking names and a free email from yahoo or hotmail though?

Looks like I'll just need to keep on top of the spam

stulid · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:58

Buchanan0204 said:
None of them are really tech savvy.

I could be useful?

Glaucus · 3 Apr 2011 at 13:59

That's why ocuk ban such emails, you have to use a work or your ISPs email to sign up with.

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:02

AcidHell2 said:
That's why ocuk ban such emails, you have to use a work or your ISPs email to sign up with.

I think that would seriously limit the number of users, legitimate users from the forums. These are judo guys who 80% of use yahoo and hotmail, especially the younger ones. A few people have work emails and ISP ones. However as I mentioned I want to get as many members as possible without restricting people.

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:02

stulid said:
I could be useful?

You want to be a don on a judo forum lol. You kidding?

Deadbeat · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:03

Buchanan0204 said:
Judo clubs lol, Nightclubs aren't my thing, too sensible for that.

Just noticed your sig. Hahahah!

Ah, not really my area of expertise. Dunno how you feel about taking attention away from your club, but maybe get some other non-Judo clubs to do a write-up of what their martial art offers, a bit of history, maybe a few club photos and accolades from competitions etc as an OP, then visiting people could ask questions in that thread and have people from that club answer them. Could be worth having a health nut/professional do a bit about general fitness, diet & exercise, could be a way to get in to advertising clubs & your forum in local gyms.

If you get a few different clubs interested and they do a write-up, you could collaborate on a public display of sorts and hand out flyers to people in your local town/city centre, advertising it as a collective point for more info on a variety of martial arts. It depends how big your ambitions are, really.

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:06

Deadbeat said:
Ah, not really my area of expertise. Dunno how you feel about taking attention away from your club, but maybe get some other non-Judo clubs to do a write-up of what their martial art offers, a bit of history, maybe a few club photos and accolades from competitions etc as an OP, then visiting people could ask questions in that thread and have people from that club answer them. Could be worth having a health nut/professional do a bit about general fitness, diet & exercise, could be a way to get in to advertising clubs & your forum in local gyms.

If you get a few different clubs interested and they do a write-up, you could collaborate on a public display of sorts and hand out flyers to people in your local town/city centre, advertising it as a collective point for more info on a variety of martial arts. It depends how big your ambitions are, really.

I already have other sections for different martial arts and health and fitness believe it or not. I've already contacted other martial arts groups in the surrounding area. I'll look into the gyms... cheers for your help

~>Dg<~ · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:07

Buchanan0204 said:
I think that would seriously limit the number of users, legitimate users from the forums. These are judo guys who 80% of use yahoo and hotmail, especially the younger ones. A few people have work emails and ISP ones. However as I mentioned I want to get as many members as possible without restricting people.

get ready for a million spam bots from china and russia then

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:10

~>Dg<~ said:
get ready for a million spam bots from china and russia then

God... I hope not. I'll see how it goes and then if it does get bad, then I'll look into doing that.

Van Hellseek · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:20

Fill it with useful content, and then wait for said content to be indexed by google.

Buchanan0204 · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:27

Van Hellseek said:
Fill it with useful content, and then wait for said content to be indexed by google.

It already is indexed, I was really impressed how quick it was. Just need to rely on other users to fill it up.

Cheers.

Van Hellseek · 3 Apr 2011 at 14:46

No, I'm talking about writing relevant articles yourself, and posting them in the forum.

Getting the forum itself indexed means very little on its own, since nobody wants to join an empty/dead forum. You need to add content yourself and then wait for the content to be indexed, as this is what will attract new members to join and post.