Need help with my forum

[84ckd00r]

OK I started a forum its a not really doing well. I was wondering if anyone could help me? I started it to find out something for my IS and after that I decided to keep it running, the only problem is there are only 7 members and the topics are posted by me because I'm one of the only people that start threads. Most of the threads are about games because I'm not sure what will draw attention to the site. If you could check it out and give me your opinion i would be thank full. "http://gamerrant.aceboard.com"
Thanks

[Ninmast]

Alright, first problem I see is that you only have three real sections, none of which offer anything original, anything that would contribute to your audience and give them reason to come there. You need something that will set you apart.

The second thing I see is that you only have a few rules, and they really don't address anything. In addition, you undercut your own authority and the strength of your rules by turning around and badmouthing someone in the same line. Granted, it's Jack Thompson, and we all have a bullet or two with his name on it. (Oh, I'm sorry, did I say bullet? I must be brainwashed to kill. I meant nerf ball with his name on it. ;D ) Still, the point remains that putting that in what little rules you have pretty much cuts your feet out from under you.

Finally, making a second account to pat yourself on the back and compliment yourself is in extremely bad taste, and I assure you, that only hurts your credibility. It hurts it tremendously.

[84ckd00r]

war_gears is a joint account, I just used it to set up the site but I'm probably going to get rid of that account and I'll add to the rules. For topics that set the forum apart, I don't know what to put put, what do most people like to post about?

[Ninmast]

You might try discussing roms and emulators and such. That'd still apply to your theme. Just don't offer downloads to material under copyright and such. You'll get in legal trouble.

[84ckd00r]

I hope you don't mind but I'm going to use this forum site as an outline for mine. I will also post a link to this site to help spread the word. OK?

[This One]

You know you can put the link to your site on your profile, right?

[Ninmast]

What do you mean by using this site for an outline?

[84ckd00r]

for topic ideas

[Ninmast]

I would not recommend it. This is a creative writing forum, not a gaming forum. Besides, we do what we can to offer originality. Copying us would not only be unfair to us, but it would be incredibly rude.

[The Silent Orator]

If you need help with ideas to the board, go to invisionfree and look up all the gaming baords they have. Look at the idaeas the have.

Don't copy them. Get your own ideas. Form your own ideas. Think about what you think your members will want to talk about.

... er, I did run a gaming message board a while ago ('bout two or three years ago), but because I went on vacation, eventually the members just left.

To be a good owner, be active with your members. Be strict, yet fair. Enforce your rules but don't break them.

... and as the years go down the road, don't let the vets badmouth the new members and just because someone's member on a forum for 6+ years doesn't give them the right to break rules.

That's pretty much all the advice I can think of giving. I'll add more when I get to it.

[Son of Marth]

make sure it looks original, dont make the default color scheme a pre-done template, its ok if some of ur alternate schemes are predone, but the default one, it should be original, and reflect ur forum (if its a LoZ forum, dont have an FE skin as the default, but dont be afraid to put an FE skin in as an alternate).