How to encourage better discussions?

**ltn1dr** · 09-25-2006, 07:49 PM

I think this always happens, I even saw this happen here on EF.

When you have a few people hyped on your forum about a contest, how do you go about trying to make sure their quality of their posts doesn't drop as they try to rapidly increase their post/day output?

Luckily, my forum is a teen forum and was bound to have crappy posts anyways, but I still would prefer better discusssions.

Thanks in advance!

**xboxundone** · 09-26-2006, 06:08 PM

quality is hard to push especially when running a contest or giveaway. As even though you state certain things someone always tries to work the system but you as the owner should warn them if you feel the posts are not up to snuff and let them know it won't count towards the contest.

**007** · 09-27-2006, 01:24 AM

Yes. I've started to add a small line to all of my contest rules along the lines of:

All posts may be subject to review before automatically counting towards the contest.

If anything you can use something like that as a fail-safe, but just remember that if you are too strict then nobody will post in the first place.

**junger** · 09-29-2006, 04:11 PM

It is tough to keep quality conversation going when posters have other intentions. If you have a system of moderators in place, they should be the first point of contact.

**Mark Bolyard** · 09-30-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007

Yes. I've started to add a small line to all of my contest rules along the lines of:

All posts may be subject to review before automatically counting towards the contest.

If anything you can use something like that as a fail-safe, but just remember that if you are too strict then nobody will post in the first place.

I completely agree. Seems the if I am the one posting to encourage a better conversation, then it goes ok. But if the posts / threads are discussion among members, they tend to get less detailed and lengthy.

**64 bit** · 10-01-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junger

It is tough to keep quality conversation going when posters have other intentions. If you have a system of moderators in place, they should be the first point of contact.

Yeah, just have yourmoderators comb posts before the judging, and add that line in your contest rules:

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007

Yes. I've started to add a small line to all of my contest rules along the lines of:

All posts may be subject to review before automatically counting towards the contest.

If anything you can use something like that as a fail-safe, but just remember that if you are too strict then nobody will post in the first place.

**dogisland** · 10-01-2006, 09:45 AM

You could offer prizes for the weeks best post; reward quality as well as quantity.

**ltn1dr** · 10-02-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogisland

You could offer prizes for the weeks best post; reward quality as well as quantity.

I actually like that the best.

Give them another intention to post better rather than providing consequences for not having as good posts.

**MonkeyBiz** · 10-02-2006, 02:07 PM

Looks like it is almost too late to save this forum....A huge contest in the beggining and now most of the posters have left.

contents aren't a very good idea. Once the contest ends visitors go bye-bye.

**ltn1dr** · 10-02-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwebuser

Looks like it is almost too late to save this forum....A huge contest in the beggining and now most of the posters have left.

contents aren't a very good idea. Once the contest ends visitors go bye-bye.

Thats why you keep making contests

**MonkeyBiz** · 10-02-2006, 04:34 PM

Yea..and how do you make money? If you have to bribe your visitors to stay then there must be something wrong with the community?

**Mike** · 10-02-2006, 04:41 PM

Nothing wrong with contests when launching new forums. You will get a good share of spam posts, but that is to be expected.

As for this forum, I think you will find it will be just fine. Plenty good things in the works for this place

**ltn1dr** · 10-03-2006, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwebuser

Yea..and how do you make money? If you have to bribe your visitors to stay then there must be something wrong with the community?

Well obviously you're supposed to make money money than what you spend on the prizes...

**MonkeyBiz** · 10-03-2006, 10:57 AM

Some guys ar giving away $500-2000 in prizes whihc is a pretty biug investment

If you fail, you just gave away alot of moeny

A better approach may be to write lots of content before you launch the forum and have paid posters seed the forum.

**ltn1dr** · 10-04-2006, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwebuser

Some guys ar giving away $500-2000 in prizes whihc is a pretty biug investment

If you fail, you just gave away alot of moeny

A better approach may be to write lots of content before you launch the forum and have paid posters seed the forum.

Then again, you stated in an eariler post that your forums have never had over 100 posts, meaning that I take Lee's advice over yours because he has been successful with his

No offense.