Using A Posting Service

[duh]

I recently came across a forum posting service. They offers several inexpensive packages that has their registered members post on your board.

Being a new site, I thought this might be a good idea, but I wanted to see what you guys thoughts, and experiences are since most of you have been around for some time.

I thought about using the hacks that shows a certain number of unreal users, but it seems too deceptive to me.

Thanks

i have 2 of my staff that are using their spare time doing that, being paid to post on some of my aquisitions... this may be good when the persons are in-house, but i know from experience that the results coming from posting services are random... really random.

their goal is to fill your forum with copy/pasted content from their database which have tons of related and non-related topics...

the non-sense here is if you want to build a community... if your goal is to build a place where people will find friends, forget about the paid services... because once your quota is filled, these guys vanish... their job is done. so they are ghosts on your site... people will find it strange to see people discussing between themselves (and not with other members) and then vanish for no reason.

[iogames]

Originally Posted by nexialys

i have 2 of my staff that are using their spare time doing that, being paid to post on some of my aquisitions... this may be good when the persons are in-house, but i know from experience that the results coming from posting services are random... really random.

their goal is to fill your forum with copy/pasted content from their database which have tons of related and non-related topics...

the non-sense here is if you want to build a community... if your goal is to build a place where people will find friends, forget about the paid services... because once your quota is filled, these guys vanish... their job is done. so they are ghosts on your site... people will find it strange to see people discussing between themselves (and not with other members) and then vanish for no reason.

Wow! I totally agree

[duh]

Originally Posted by nexialys

people will find it strange to see people discussing between themselves (and not with other members) and then vanish for no reason.

Good point, I hadn't thought about that.

I have a few people interacting on my site now, but it still looks bare, especially because of the new additions. So I figured rather than have (site unmentioned) send fake users (from their ppc program) to me, at least I'd be paying for people that will actually register and post.

So do you think the hacks on here are better to use then - even though they aren't real people?

BTW, Thanks for the above replies.

[popowich]

I tried a variation of the pay for posts, got bit in the ass, and was dumb enough to try it a second time.

Just don't go there. Go through the pain of starting all your own threads and interacting with people in the beginning stages.

-Raymond

[KTBleeding]

Waste of money.

People aren't going to sign up and post on a message board because they see other people doing it. Most visitors don't really want to sit and read through post after post on a forum, and are most likely there looking for useful content.

Content is what will get visitors to sign up and become active readers / writers.

Instead of blowing your money on someone to fill your forum with garbage, pay a copywriter to create content for you.

[duh]

Ok, it all makes sense. I see echoed from everyone, that content is key - so I better get on the ball. Fortunately I do have a few users who seem to enjoy chatting so I guess I can go back and forth with them.

It really helps to see other's thoughts and ideas. Thanks for the valuable info. :up:

[popowich]

No, it does not make sense. GOOD content is king.

Senseless posts, dittos, gunk via a yahoo api, databases of regurgitated content, and who knows what else will hurt not help you!

Please, learn from my mistakes.

-Raymond

[dreads]

Hire good writers for 30mins a day..
You can easily find lots of people willing to work for 30mins a day for $100 or so a month.
Hire a couple of them.. and you should notice your forum pick up :P