I tried this once. My existing users complained that it was unnecessary clutter. They said if they wanted info from site xyz they would go to site xyz. So I removed the feeds.

The forum being new I won't get that complaint, I wondered if it would help to have a lot of various (quality) feeds provide 3000 or so posts before I shut them off.

Subsequent posts would come from new members, the forum just wouldn't have that completely empty feel. I know duplicate content etc..etc are considerations but I'm just asking about having posts to start with.

[edited by: JS_Harris at 11:03 pm (utc) on Jan. 3, 2009]

I would steer clear and start small with unique content. Get yourself a few accounts/userids and start posting some interesting stuff and have your own conversations.

Then once you get a little content, invite some friends and family to help seed it more...

Then once you have a nice base of interesting topics, kick off some ad campaigns to bring in new visitors... Be sure your landing page is designed to get them to contribute... Don't just drop them on your homepage.

I utilized Adwords for 2 years on one of my new sites to keep it rolling.

Now I don't advertise anymore, and the site brings in over 1000 visitors a day from natural search (due to having all unique content).

So if you seed it with copied content too heavily, you may get penalized from the get go... Not a good way to start out.

hmmm - talking to myself in my own empty forum? Doesn't sound very motivating but if that's what it takes.

Great suggestions, thanks.

Starting a forum is no easy task. I would guess that over 95% of them fail due to lack of an active user base, and lack of unique content to discuss.

Also keep in mind, folks don't have a lot of time these days. Make it as EASY as possible to participate. And add a lot of features that "notify" users when activity occurs on threads they are interested in, etc. Keeps them coming back.

Don't go overboard and spam them every time a comment is posted, but give them the option to be notified if they select it.

Then add features like an inbox, etc. These things help users connect and keep them coming back.

Good luck!

Yup, it's hard getting a forum rolling. Talking to yourself is definitely something you should do! :P