Upcoming Plans

For now, my immediate goal is to add at least three members a day for the next month. So far, this is going very well (an average of about seven members are joining every day). We haven't even been open a week, and we already have 20 registered members, which is awesome.

So that gets me into the question, how do we keep these people? I really do not want to see this forum becoming a vacant wasteland with 1,000 registered members like so many others. I also want to keep this forum personal; meaning I do not want to get to the point where new users feel completely overwhelmed and have no idea on where to start. Plus, I think the administration of a site should be done from the bottom-up, rather than from top to bottom (e.g., writing.com).

Anyways, I plan on creating a number of things to keep people coming, such as a monthly/quarterly newsletter with things like member's birthdays, columns, featured stories/poems, and even a writer's market. That won't be happening until we reach somewhere between 70 and 100 active members. Before that, though, I'd like to start having contests. Won't be giving anything away, but the winner will have the satisfaction of knowing they won

Besides all that though, I want to know what will keep everyone coming back in terms of features (sense of community stuff goes without saying).

You could have free caviar, that would keep everyone coming back! Well, no, not really.

What do you mean, done from top to bottom, not from the bottom up?

And what is a writers market?

haha, cavier tastes disgusting though

A writer's market is a listing of places that are accepting submissions for either magazines or some other type of literary instrument. I know of plenty already that only accept work from 10-19 years old, and will pay for the work. Plus, there's always new magazines popping up that will gladly publish anything you send them.

Referring to the bottom-up method, I just mean that an administrator should interact and actively respond to suggestions and comments from the users. A top to bottom method means the users have to seek interaction with the administration and are pretty much ignored.

I came here because it seemed to focus on writing, stories posted get more than "wow" as a reply, and plus, it looked cool. I'll stay here as long as those things keep happening.

Wow! You have high expectations of this forum... Does your other forum provide you with all that you expect here? Do they have responses like ours? Hmmmm... I'm wondering on checking out this forum of yours.

-Z

I agree with you on the contests part.

I've found many forums attract members through competitions, in any topic.

It doesn't matter about the prize, maybe just a title can be carried on the person's profile, or something. I find a healthy competition often spurs people one to write, attract people to register and enter and then like the site. It also helps to keep the board active.

I love contests! I'm glad you're aiming to do some.


Oh, perhaps I should put something new in here. I think articles with writing tips would be very useful, and will keep me coming back, at least.

A special rank does sound like a good prize. Thanks for bringing it up!

It's not that much. You already give good feedback, I'll stay even if that doesn't keep up.

Yeah, I'm from another forum... which I've been a part of for a year... and a half... and it's going to the dogs, and I'm kind of annoyed with it at the moment. Still participating, but annoyed, so I'm keeping my options open...

I think I could recruit you some members... I know a few online buddies that are die-hard writers... kind of scary if you ask me...

Actually, caviar is delicious on Sushi.

That being said, it would be great to have a birthday list, like you mentioned. I spend more than enough time here, but I don't browse to find out who's birthday is it. That would help. Or maybe something like the main page, with our friends works, our works and such, but with birthdays...Did that make any sense at all?

Firestarter beat me to it! I was going to say a special mention on their profile, or something like member of the month but with contests. Like, "Congratulations borntobeawriter for winning this weeks contest! Written in big bold letters on the front page (aw, I can see it now!)

Anywho, great idea Nate!

...You do realize that thread was from 2004, yes? :P

Heh, this thread was started three days after the moment of YWS' creation.

However, a birthday page would still be a good idea.

My favourite part is:

I really do not want to see this forum becoming a vacant wasteland with 1,000 registered members like so many others.

Oh crap. Someone from my feed liked it and I didn't even check the date.

Who pulled this out? lol

Me thinks it was Jabber........