How to get people to register?

[hoangism]

I recently started a hip-hop community. I get decent pagehits, but I've been finding it hard to convert those pagehits into members. How would I go about to encourage people to register instead of just visiting the page? Some ideas I've had are lock some forums for "members only" or to come up with some kind of contest or reward for registering. Possibly their own HipHopHead.net email alias or something. How did you guys encourage people to register?

[cpvr]

Why would the people want to register? Give them something to register for, get more content on the site - try to get unique content too, try to get in contact with rappers and such and interview them - and post hip-hop news to help attract hip-hop fans looking for news!

[hoangism]

Yeah, I've been in talks with some hip-hop artists on MySpace. Offering them a personal section of the forum so they can promote themselves or whatever. Thanks for joining and contributing to the forum.

[cpvr]

Yeah, I've been in talks with some hip-hop artists on MySpace. Offering them a personal section of the forum so they can promote themselves or whatever. Thanks for joining and contributing to the forum.

That's great news, be sure to keep us updated on the progress of your site!

[webmasterlabor]

It's all about CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT.

Make sure to post stuff people are interested in. Responses by the community members also count as content so emphasize responses that ADD VALUE to the conversation instead of the regular "me too" posts. I mentioned this earlier but people were critical of it but BOARD DRAMA and DYNAMICS is a form of content too. This is usually done by dramatists and trolls. Also, board PERSONALITIES is a form of content too.

[DateinaDash]

I agree with CPVR, give them a reason to register..perhaps hide a feature or only let them download things if they are a member etc.

[cpvr]

I agree with CPVR, give them a reason to register..perhaps hide a feature or only let them download things if they are a member etc.

Good point, Robson.
Since it is a hip-hop site, he could probably add a 'bootleg' section, which would be the home of Mixtapes, albums, singles, and such. A lot of the big-time hip-hop sites have that feature now, so I think one would be needed to compete.

[hoangism]

Wouldn't storing mixtapes and other mp3s on my site violate the AdSense TOS?

[Spencer F.]

You need to give them a reason to register. Maybe offer something for download or for viewing that requires them to register.

[Washere]

Yeah, I've been in talks with some hip-hop artists on MySpace. Offering them a personal section of the forum so they can promote themselves or whatever. Thanks for joining and contributing to the forum.

Sorry to disappoint you but the featured profiles on myspace are not always who they are. The people you have probably been talking to are fan clubs or big fans of people like "lil jon and the east side boyz"

[howardroark`]

Making your forum appear busy and visited a lot will encourage visitors to join. I hear a lot of places where you can swap posts with other forum owners. Try to google them or search at this forum...

[Spencer F.]

Making your forum appear busy and visited a lot will encourage visitors to join. I hear a lot of places where you can swap posts with other forum owners. Try to google them or search at this forum...

This is true. Post exchanges can help to gain a good number of new threads and posts when your forum is young. However, be careful, because a lot of people will not deliver good posts to your forum.

[cpvr]

Wouldn't storing mixtapes and other mp3s on my site violate the AdSense TOS?

I don't believe so... Why would it?

[Shaun B]

I must say thats a very good skin you have there. Thats definetely a plus.

Unfortunately, you do have two things going against you from what i've seen.

Firstly, the lack of activity is a turn off. Before you start advertising and marketing your forum, you need to sort that out. Theres no shame in creating 'bogus' accounts to kickstart your forum, and you can indulge in some post/link exchanges to get some specific posters. Even a company that offers pay-for-posts could be used here, if you're serious about your new community. Remember, nobody wants to join an empty forum, it's boring.

Secondly, CONTENT. Preferably quality content. Gather news on various major and/or unsigned talent from around the web and add them to a news forum on your site. Encourage others to do the same, or critique an artist or band they've seen live or bought a CD of. Content is great, as well as user submitted content. Use both wisely. Just make sure they need to register to see the good stuff, while you give guests only a taster to sate the appetite!

Personal tips:

Get some good SEO. Make sure you're optomised so people can actually find you. SP has some superb SEO resources, use them.

Portals. They're a user preference. Some like them, others hate them. You may be driving a certain percentage who hate them away from your site. Evaluate why you have one, and if it is absolutely neccasary. You would be surprised how many see a portal and run a mile.

Do major artists actually openly use myspace? If I were you i'd check the authenticity, but I hope you're right. That would be awesome.

Thats it I think. Good luck with the forum! I'll sign up now, just to boost the membership up

[xRealNinjuzx]

He never said big time artists, he just said artists.

If you recall, that one chinese rapper Jin got really huge BECAUSE of his blog. So who knows? Someone might be thanking you in the future for blowing up his career.

[hoangism]

Thanks for the input Shaun. I'll take it into consideration. As for the MySpace artists, I was referring to unsigned artists, not celebs. I highly doubt Black Eyed Peas and the sort actually have time to sit at a computer and surf MySpace. I was looking for more along the lines of "hometown heros" that have made a reputable name in their area.

[Shaun B]

No worries. I've been in the same boat too many times myself.

Sorry about the misunderstanding over the artists, I type before I think at times

[w4rzadmnjp]

Hello,

I am new here but will add some input on an idea. Give a reason for those MYSPACE artists to advertise for you too. Get a script made for voting. Have them submit lyrics, a portion of thier song and have people vote on it each month. Announce a winner each month then have a champion at the end of the year. Would get the artists promoting your site too.

I have something similar in the works now and will be moving over to my actual site next week. you can check my videos idea for best gamers here:
http://www.undergroundtournaments.com/utvideo/

If that catches your eye I can put you in contact with the script designer. Notice the ad rotation too. With that you can increase revenue if you would like.

TY
JP

[FutureSmart]

This is exactly what I did when my forum's activity went to 0 for three weeks. In a couple of months, I had 50 extra members.

[1]Create one, two or three accounts. Create personalites and posting styles for them, and use them to post new topics and reply. You can even have them talking to each other, even though it is actaully you, it saves the forum being full up with "Last Post: Admin".
[2]Advertise on sites related to the topic. Get a few link exchanges, and optimize your Google listing. If you Google for "CompuForums", you will see what I have done [my site is the 1st position.] Write a good meta description that will make people searching for your site or something related feel like the forum is for them.
[3]Unique Look and Feel. One of the worst things for people to see is a theme that hundreds of other forums are using. If you can, make one yourself, if not, either hire someone else or find a pre made theme that hardly any forums are using. People like to see a unique site, rather than the same old drab default template for X forum software, or the theme that every other site is using.


Try those tips I have just outlined above, and hopefully your membership will increase.