A few suggestions to help boost forum activity

[MadPanda]

Here are a few suggestions I have come up with, hope this helps!

1) Maybe add a "technical support" section that guests can post in so that if they are having trouble signing up they can ask for help - this would hopefully increase membership

2) If possible, add a "reputation" system where you can give people +rep or -rep for good / bad comments. This causes people to work hard to make intricate posts that people will find helpful or useful to receive more "rep." It kind of turns the forum into a game and may boost activity.

3) I'm not sure if this has already been done but make sure to write blog entries about this forum; that will increase the number of hits on the search engines.

I'll post more as I think of them

[JonPerry108]

I think the '+' and '-' thing was done before, If I remember rightly. The problem with it, in my opinion, is that it leaves a lot of room for childish behaviour, vendettas etc. There were (again, if I remember right) a few people with a lot of negative 'rep' points, merely because one or two individuals may not have liked them personally, or disagreed with them. There could also be the issue of people 'fishing' for good 'rep', and this could influence what they actually say on a discussion (i.e. they may not say what they actually believe, or their real opinion, merely because they want to get more positive 'rep' points).
I think the tech support is a very good idea, though...

[MadPanda]

hmm all good points; however, another spin on it would be that maybe people would post more productive, serious, and informative posts because they are hoping to receive +rep. But who knows, the only way to find out would be to try it I guess but if it holds too much risk then yea it may not be worth it. Just a thought though

[lowkickr]

Why not just post productive, serious, and informative posts simply because it is the intelligent thing to do?

[MadPanda]

I agree that this would be the preferable option; however, we all know that some people do not take the time to post productive posts. I'm just saying that sometimes people work harder to make intelligent posts when they know people can rate them. Again just a suggestion it might help or it might not, I honestly don't know.

[lowkickr]

Well either way, suggestions should always be welcomed.

[skeptical]

My 2 cents about + and - points: This is a MA forum and as such, we should already be posting woth integrity. I know that there will be some who won't but this is why we have forum moderators. Also, members should not be "punished" for having an opinion that's unpopular if that is what they truly believe. There is something to be said for staying true to one's convictions, even though it's unpopular.