Hey everyone!

Newbie to forum management here, but I've set up a forum for students, supposedly "around the world" to talk about school life, colleges, ask and receive help, or just chat. I feel like it's a great way for students to communicate.

You probably already know the problem: there's no one there. I've done forum posting (they're not great links, but hey, they are) and I've tried to get the word out by suggesting that adprima.com add me to their list of helpful education websites, and they did.

To no avail. My 3 friends are the only ones on (with a sprinkle of posts from like 2 of my other friends) and together we've made 800 something posts. I was hoping to attract other people. Now, my friends are barely on anymore, and I've got myself a virtually empty forum.

What can I do guys? Please help??

I just need some way to get the news out there, but I have no money to do advertising, and frankly, I just wanted to provide a free service without ads to students to communicate. That was my whole purpose. And of course, to make myself feel good.

The website is http://www.studentforums.co.cc/

I don't want to put you down as such but the reason I personally wouldn't join in because the site isn't really anything different than lots of other sites out there, its just a forum. I think in the days before the explosion of social-networking you may have done better, but communication, chatting, networking, being engaged with other people has been done to death now, you need an edge.

go to universities and schools and advertise your site there... well, not all advertisements are done online for websites, when I was studying, the site friendster only came to me by word of mouth... everyone was just into it. of course your site has to have something worthwhile to hang out at

It is different though! I know it is. I've searched on Google, and the only forum similar to it is http://forum.student.com. That one is powered by a very old version of phpBB, has such a bad layout, and has some inappropriate boards (for school students at least). And so, I started this. Definitely NOT on some wim of mine...

And you mentioned something worthwhile. Should I post like daily jokes and fun facts and stuff?

Originally Posted by yuechen

To no avail. My 3 friends are the only ones on (with a sprinkle of posts from like 2 of my other friends) and together we've made 800 something posts. I was hoping to attract other people. Now, my friends are barely on anymore, and I've got myself a virtually empty forum.

What can I do guys? Please help??

I just need some way to get the news out there, but I have no money to do advertising, and frankly, I just wanted to provide a free service without ads to students to communicate. That was my whole purpose. And of course, to make myself feel good.

Originally Posted by yuechen

It is different though! I know it is. I've searched on Google, and the only forum similar to it is . That one is powered by a very old version of phpBB, has such a bad layout, and has some inappropriate boards (for school students at least). And so, I started this. Definitely NOT on some wim of mine

You are entirely missing the point of this

Originally Posted by LawsLoop

I don't want to put you down as such but the reason I personally wouldn't join in because the site isn't really anything different than lots of other sites out there, its just a forum. I think in the days before the explosion of social-networking you may have done better, but communication, chatting, networking, being engaged with other people has been done to death now, you need an edge.

Reread the part I have put in bold.

Students don't use forums anymore for "communicating", they use IM, SMS, Blogging, MySpace, Twitter, Facebook and the dozens of other "personal" type sites there are around.
5 to 10 years ago forums had become what Bulletin Boards were 10 - 15 years ago. Now, "Social Media" methods have taken over the communications area, leaving forums as the medium for discussing specific points and topics.

No, I've NOT missed the point (I think).

I know that social media has taken taken over for communication of FRIENDS for students. I know that. I myself have a Facebook, so it's nothing new to me. But what forums do offer that social media doesn't is the fact that you are able to offer and receive assistance/comments from the whole group at any one time (hence this forum! Or else, why would this forum even exist?)

My forum is not for students to go and communicate with their friends, it's to communicate with the entire populace of the forum as whole. For example, "What do you think of this new game?" or "Please explain to me how to solve trig identities." Completely different from Social Media. See my point?

Alright, enough justification for myself. If no one has suggestions, I'll have to think of my own...

I would not join your site despite the promotions. Why? It is because it's plain and simple like other sites.

I think you have good intentions with the forum, but it's just like everything else out there. Facebook and MySpace have groups where you can talk to people who aren't your friends and ask things like "What do you think of this game?" etc etc.

Places like Livejournal, Caleida, Blurty (is that even still around?), AdultBlogs etc etc, give people the opportunity to communicate with other "students" and seek help for schoolwork or advice or opinions etc etc. Go look for a community on Livejournal about Trig, and I'm sure you'll find one.

This site is good for education and interview .
Thankx

I think it would be better to go out and start promoting your website out to universities or where students generally tend to be if you have no marketing budget. I think student forums can still be popular as is the case of the student room forum which has remained popular throughout the social networking area.

So dont just give up yet and keep trying, there are still many things that you can do to make your site successfull.