I have been administrator on my board for near four years and I have noticed a serious decline in interest in the Star Wars genre, but its been recently revived with the influx of new games and books that have been coming out. My board, Star Wars: Galaxy is now seven years old, somewhat an impressive feat in my eyes and it's struggling to attract new members. I feel as if I've done it all in the sense that I've posted on forums, directories and the like and yet I get the views but never attract the members. I'm very dedicated to keeping this site and the roleplay alive but I'm really just not having any luck with it. Any ideas? or suggestions?
I don't think we can really help you here without taking a look at the board. Can you post a link? Also, I think that a Board Analysis might help you. As you discovered, when you forum is seriously faltering, advertising rarely helps.
As far as I know all the Star Wars RPGs are struggling, and I don't think the games (especially SWTOR) are helping RPGs at all. First of all, they're taking away potential members. Second, SWTOR is struggling itself. I've got a wait-see attitude about this new game, 1313, they're putting out, but I don't necessarily see that as a boon to RPGs. I see it as taking interest away. And It's not just RPGs. Discussion boards are really struggling too. TOS closed their discussion forums, Njoe is dead. TFN, who knows if you're not already a member? The rest...minimal posting. It's the twitter/facebook/too long between book releases effect.
I think just more advertising and affiliating in general. Don't be afraid to advertise on boards that aren't Star Wars. If it's been a long time since you've changed your ad, do so. You can do an ad contest if you like. You can also send out an email update telling everyone who registered about your game, perhaps a new event or update. This can bring back old members.
Not a review , just some thoughts on top of my head: It sounds very shallow but not just updating your ad but updating your skin, giving it a new look, might give it something fresh. Star Wars fans that are still hardcore likely prefer a larger font (being over 30 their eyes start to suffer). Also, one of your forums which contains news hasn't had a post in 2012, so perhaps update it to give yourself a more active look? I would take the OOC categories of forums lower so the focus is more on IC play (now stuck in the middle) for new comers but have your "starter guide" and application linked on top or as the first forums. I wonder about your advertising strategy. I can see an affiliate forum, but not an advertising forum, which you should have if your are posting on other sites. Does this mean you have not yet posted on other sites, only in resources sites and the like? Have you checked in Google if your site pops up on the first pages if looking for Star Wars PBP?
changing banners, changing skins, maybe adding a widget (like a music box or playlist box), all are good ways to give your site a nice, new, refreshed look. Some servers allow an easy skin changer, so in case some members don't like new skin, they can go back to an old skin (jcink is very nice to its members with this method). Post up a request for affiliates in affiliate sections on directories. If you don't get people asking you, you at least get traffic on the site. If I notice activity has died down, I'll browse through my current affs, delete the ones that are dead, and try to replace them with new boards. Also, try throwing up your ad on sites with 50+ members, there's bound to be at least one or two members interested int it ^_^
Actually, this is really sound. It's called Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and popping up on the first page can dramatically increase your guest-visitor count. There are lots of guides out there.
I took a look at your site, and here's some things I found: ■ Your rules are very negative. This is probably my biggest pet peeve when looking at sites. You can make rules firm without using a lot of "No", "Don't" or with a tone that sounds unfriendly. You want people to feel welcome. You can keep a little of it, but I would tone it down considerably. Also, you comment "There is little need for a large amount of rules and conduct policies here." but that is exactly what you have. If you want to keep that amount of rules, then leave that out. I would look around at how other sites (especially those claiming to be rules light) organize and tone their rules. ■ Most modern RPers loathe ranking and leveling up systems. I know it's a common format for SW sites, but I think it's a huge reason many people won't join them. Trust your players to come up with well-balanced characters, and deal individually with the people who do not. At the very least, make a combination system where people can choose up to Knight/equivalent, and earn higher. With alts, people will make characters of all different ranks anyway. This puts a bigger burden on the admin, but personally I believe if an admin cannot handle it, then they should reconsider being an admin. ■ I would rewrite your rules so your RP rules are first. The first rule is a very strange choice for a first rule. I would put that at the end. People who do such things are likely not to be genuine members, and that is who you want to encourage. ■ Make your RP forums the focus, not the OOC forums. You have all your IC forums as subforums, and most of the OOC forums on the top-level. Put some of those OOC forums in subforums, and bring out those IC forums. Your forum is at it's heart a roleplay forum - so IC should be most noticeable. ■ Your power system seems fair and well-explained.
I can't find your site so can't say for myself whether your rules are good or not, but if you can loosen up your rules, do so. Strip down the rules and requirements and that will open your site to more people. They may not be the ideal roleplayers, yes you may get some "noobs" but beggars can't be choosers. I'd rather be dealing with struggling players than having no players.
^This. I hate ranks and level up systems. I won't join an RPG that has them, and my Star Wars RPGs (past and present) do not have these. I'm writing an RPG, not playing a video game.
Much like Synlah said, I think that to rank a site is to make it a popularity contest. That shouldn't be the inherent goal of a site in itself. However, from a more pragmatic sense, if you can gain members which would vote for your site on ranking sites, then it is sensible as it would allow more traffic, but I am generally opposed to the idea of ranking systems.
