Darksat IT Security Forums

Just as an example...

I have just launched a posting competition over at n2kdesign.

The prize is a £10 amazon gift Certificate for the winner after the four week running period.  All members both new and existing are automatic participants.
You can find out more at http://www.n2kdesign.co.uk/forums

Just follow the big red 'Competition' button. see you all there.

Posting competitions are good but the prize has to be a really big draw.
I had one that was a mini leatherman type tool on one of my old forums.
but something tech is always better for forums.

So far this amazon voucher has drawn a few hundred posts today alone, and one new member!

Way to go.
Sounds like a good investment so.

I still need new forum members tho.

I am thinking of adding a bonus to the competition.  Anyone who gets a new member into the forum during the contest and who makes a set number of posts, will receive a bonus of 1000 points for the refferal.

what you think?

Bring in competition and get bonus points.
I dunno.
seems like a lot of work for a 10 quid gift voucher.

Not that much work tho is it.
Only gotta pass the word to someone and its better than nothing.  Couple of people seem to be battling it out for the £10 voucher lol.

I thought you were to at one point.

Anyway at least its generating some traffic and content, altough few people are start new threads (foolish people ;))

I already have a forum to start threads in. ;D
I need to do more in both yours and mine though.
Give me a few days.

Blogs are so much easier to deal with.
you dont have to worry about members posting, etc.

er.. Forums and blogs have two completly different purposes so their not really comparable.

Blogs are easier to SEO and to rank but forums are usefull as well.
A forum can make a business look successfull and gives the appearance of providing good feedback.
they are also more fun if you do get a lot of members.

I wouldn't bother seoing blog or forums. I just include them in my site as a way to add more content and rss pings to help the SEO.

Mod_rewrite is good for forums.
As for getting members, friends come in very handy.

They certainly do, altough I have only ever had one referral at my place!

You either need more friends, or more nerdy friends. ;D

Do you guys think that the forum "market" is too overcrowded now?

Perhaps but once you get above the smaller forums and start to get some good users and posts you get some really good content/Spider food.
Forums still have a lot of life left and are becomming more popular among regulalr users.
A load of webmasters have forums but once you pass critical mass they are really worth it.

More friends I think is the answer there!

More Nerd Friends  ;)  ;D

Spider Food!!! Augh now I'm hungry.

Wonder what percentage of the population visits internet forums?

Never really fancied a spider sandwich myself.  ;D

as for the percentage of internet users who visit forums, good question, im sure most people have visited forums at some stage, they show up fairly well in Google searches, how many actually register and post is another question.

No I don't think that the forum "market" is overcrowded at all. People usualy don't just join one forum and they usualy join two or more. Well thats just my personal experience anyways, I have run into people that I met on one forum on another forum with a completly different subject. What I'm trying to say is................................just try it out I don't really know its complicated. lol

I've been considering running a contest but does anyone have any tips to use them to create members who are going to stay after the prize is awarded?

Content and Community

You need high quality content to keep them there, and a good mix of community and chat.
About 2/3rds info/Content and 1/3rd Chat is a good/average mix.

Plus constant prizes are also good.
I know one forum that gives away free hosting for forum posters.

I only post here because of Darksats long security posts ;D, I've given up on general conversation forums waste of time.

But I would say not many people will stay after the contest.

I forgot about that.
I didnt really get around to promoting it.
Anyway, Looks like your the winner.
PM me your address and I will get one of those MP3 players and send it to you.

I'll donate it to the next contest ;D

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