Ever seen those members that register and never post? Yeah… we all wish they would post something. Maybe reply to a thread or just post an introduction. So what can we do to get them posting? Here are 3 Ways to Get New Members to Post!

1) Force an introduction thread

Most (if not all) forum systems have some sort of group promotion system based on post count, so make your new member have to post an introduction thread. If you set their permissions to see only that forum and not be able to reply to any other threads, then you can get them to post an introduction thread (just make sure that they know they must post an introduction thread before viewing the rest of your forum, else they might be confused and leave). Forcing them to post an introduction thread is a good technique because sometimes all new members need is a little push, and this is a great time to do so. Posting an introduction thread has a huge advantage: that it allows you to personally greet your new member onto the forum. Yes, you can get one of those modifications that automatically sends the new member a PM, but nothing beats being welcomed by the members and staff that post on this thread. It makes you feel great that you registered right from the start. Encourage your members and staff to reply to as many introduction threads as possible, maybe help the forum member out with a few links here and there. Your ultimate goal is to make them feel welcomed. This small step will go a long way!

2) Points System

Why don’t you reward the members that post by giving them points? Now these points must have some value to it, otherwise you should just not do this all together. But a good example in using this system is for requests. If your forum has some sort of resources involved, then doing requests is a great way to motivate members to post and be rewarded with points. If done correctly, your points system can actually create a micro-economy on your forum, do it badly, and you might just discourage posting all together. Members can exchange points for other services, etc. But again, your points must have great value for it to motivate your members to post more than they do currently.

Another way you can use points is to serve as a way to promote your member to a new position on your forum. For instance, if your member reached 5,000 points then they will be moved to “Silver Member” status, if they reach 10,000 points then they reach “Gold Member” status, etc. This is a great alternative to promoting members based on post count alone, because it provides different routes to reaching that promoted status. You can still set it up so that members that post a certain amount reach that promoted state, but now maybe a member that provides you with many resources can reach that same status with less amount of posts.

Both ways to use this point system are great, you just need to find which one would work best for your forum. Remember that it might be a combination of the two.

3) Display latest or popular threads

Many new members don’t know where to begin when they join a new forum, so a great way to lead them into a discussion is by displaying your latest or most popular threads on your forum. Displaying your latest threads shows your new member what someone has recently posted, and maybe they will be interested in posting there as well. Showing your most popular threads will show your new member where your forum is most active. Both can be used well enough to give your new member a starting point, so you decide which one you would like to show (or maybe both).

Related posts:

1. One Effective Way to Get Members