Are contests good ways to promote forums?

I'm just curious on your guys (and gals!) opinions on this topic. What do you think? Is it an effective way to gain new members?

WhiteEagle

Like always it depends on the subject, for example the logo contests here attract a large number of users, but most contribute only in competitions (a couple have become regular or semi regular posters) a competition while may draw numbers in will not make them stay, so before thinking about attracting people make sure you got things to keep them.

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yeah and the price is important: money works and prices like books not

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Tim said it very very right, and I am curious how you know that Tim, because it took me some time as a forum owner to realize that

The rule is to give away something that is interesting to your members and relevant to your community's subject. Also before you start a contest you must have a plan to promote it - I mean promote it in other sites too - as your aim to get new members from a contest.

In general you are creating a contest to give the opportunity to new people to know your site. So you must be sure that your forum is active while the contest runs so that those new members will stay.

yeah and the price is important: money works and prices like books not

I guess you are talking for our only failed contest where the prize was a book I will agree with that for sure Something else I found about the prize is that the digits of the amount is very significant. A contest for $100 can be much more success than one with a prize of $99. I hope I can test this with a 4 digit contest later

because its the same with every type of promotion, be it web site promotion or selling stuff on street corners.

Tim said it very very right, and I am curious how you know that Tim, because it took me some time as a forum owner to realize that

Basic rule of advertising "have something to advertise" a competition is another forum of marketing, it will get a large amount of only semi targeted visitors, most are not coming to look at the forum but rather to enter the competition. The key is to say this is our competition but have a look at all these benefits.

If I was going to run a competition I would probably create a landing page introducing the competition but also the site, making sure to highlight the best bits, you want to make entering the competition easy but also draw people into the site fully.

Looks like I chose a good prize of $50 then. It seems to be working so far, I have quadrupled my forums membership.

I have quadrupled my forums membership.

That's great but how many have actively participated? beyond the competition

All of them are participating in the forums.
Since it's a referral contest, people have to like the forum to join, right? Kind of stupid to refer people who won't participate.

Kind of stupid to refer people who won't participate.

Not really, the only reason for referring people might be the prize money... Usually referral contests only count active referrals, like maybe new members with at least 25 posts.

No wonder Meth0d won so fast...:O

Maybe you should have asked here before actually starting your contest. I'm sure you would have gotten some good pointers on this topic.

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Referal contests are not so good as people cheat, and it is hard to check that(there are tons of proxies out there )

Also post based contests are not good as they are usually bring a lot of "thanks for sharing this" posts in your forum, which doesn't helps at all.

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Referal contests are not so good as people cheat, and it is hard to check that(there are tons of proxies out there )

Also post based contests are not good as they are usually bring a lot of "thanks for sharing this" posts in your forum, which doesn't helps at all.

you forgot the "good to know" posts!

Thanks for the tips. I have some better ideas for future contests Meth0d will find it way harder to win next time, especially with all his friends around as well.

Try setting up a user referral program.  Reward your members for inviting and promoting your forum. For every member that they refer and becomes and active user, they get points. Those points can then later be redeemed for forum privledges, services or any other type of reward. (T-Shirts? Ipods? Online Memberships?)

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