Keeping Members

Hi, in around 9 days I will be setting up a gaming community site. I'd like it if it became a sort of 'big board' or something, but I have a question as to keeping members for more than a few posts.

One idea I had was making it so that you need a certain amount of posts, like ten or so, to unlock the general/off-topic boards, here is how I'd think of formatting the public forums (the ones that need the post count are in red, the - is category, the + is a forum)

-Gaming Zone
+Battlefield 2
+Battlefield 2142
+Crysis
+Frontlines: Fuel of War
+Call of Duty 4
+Quake Wars
-General Board
+The Pub
+Software Discussion
+Hardware Discussion
+Graphics Discussion
-Game Editing
+Mapping
+Modding
+Recruitment
-Clans & Servers
+Clans
+Servers
+Tournaments

Generally you'd need a post count to access the 'cool boards'. We'd have a suggestion forum, of coarse, but you get what I'm saying. Any ideas?

So is this a good idea for keeping members? Or do you have any other ideas?

[markbolyard]

I think that will help with registrations, but in the end, all you need is good content that members will want to keep coming back and reading. You are always going to have members that show up make a few post, and disappear... so focus on providing them with content, a service, something of value for them to keep coming back.... helps if you and your staff make them feel welcome, and recognize that they are there. I see a lot of forums where new members make a introduction, and no one bothers to welcome them... That's my thoughts.... you are limiting access, and even if they meet your post requirements to enter those forums, it doesn't mean that there is anything in them that will keep them there.

[FallenMorgan]

K...perhaps if we get servers, we can have a sort of "premium membership", and premium members can get admin access, or something related to the tournament I'm planning, thanks btw!

[req2d]

Different memberships will be more of a turn-off then something which will attract users. You need to get popular first.

I suggest running game servers for all games listed as well as have community teams registered for various leagues.

[FallenMorgan]

Originally Posted by req2d

Different memberships will be more of a turn-off then something which will attract users. You need to get popular first.

I suggest running game servers for all games listed as well as have community teams registered for various leagues.

Your right, I myself am often turned off by the whole premium membership thing. Also, it is possible we can set up a server or two. Especially when Frontlines: Fuel of War comes out.