How to bring back forum activity?

Hello everyone,
My gaming forum used to average 200 - 400 daily new posts, however; this has gone down to about 50 - 100 new posts a day.

I have tried to promote the forum on the main site, but that doesn't seem to be helping much, even tried to add unique content - but not sure if that has helped.

What would you guys do if this happened to you?

I'm trying to do post exchanges to try to bring back the activity, and I'll see how that goes.

First of all your gaming forums have maybe 3 or 4 forums related to gaming, and the rest are webmaster related topics.

Problem one right there.

Cater more to your audience. If it's a gaming website, offer gaming discussion.

May be you should offers some reward or incentive to the members on a number of posts to get back to your forum and participate actively.

I could go on and on here.... Check out the link in my sig if you aren't already...

Originally Posted by velizio First of all your gaming forums have maybe 3 or 4 forums related to gaming, and the rest are webmaster related topics. Problem one right there. Cater more to your audience. If it's a gaming website, offer gaming discussion.

Well, the webmaster related topics are dead - the gaming forums are more active, we have 5 topics related to gaming.

May be you should offers some reward or incentive to the members on a number of posts to get back to your forum and participate actively.

Good idea, what did you have in mind? Just kidding, I think I'll release a contest soon.

Yeah, contests help get a community active, I would recommend that as well. Also things like custom user badges work, along with other ideas along that same line.

send out a newsletter to everyone with givaways, or something. That's what brought me back here after I forgot all about it.

Originally Posted by cpvr Good idea, what did you have in mind? Just kidding, I think I'll release a contest soon.

Well I didn't have any thought of getting a reward or incentive by joining your forum. I have seen a few dead forums suddenly become active when the members come to know if they keep on posting, they can get something out of it.

Originally Posted by etechdesigns Well I didn't have any thought of getting a reward or incentive by joining your forum. I have seen a few dead forums suddenly become active when the members come to know if they keep on posting, they can get something out of it.

Ya, I just tried an reward - posting on a few online games and told them if they posted 60 times or so (no spam) they would receive $600k in game money.
Worked like a charm, we're up 300 posts today!

you need to spend 1-2 hours making threads. that always boost member activity on my forums.