Is it a good idea to request posting packages to an offline board being built?

If it's offline how will they post to it?

If it's offline how will they post to it?

By granting the posters admin access.

Yes, it’s a good idea to request a posting package while your board is offline and being built.

 

 

 

That way, when you’re ready to open, your forum will be seeded with content rather than being empty. This allows you to hit the ground running, with more content available for new members, as opposed to having limited content when you first launch.

 

 

A posting package is designed to help you by providing the resources you need to kickstart your forum.

I completely agree with you [mention=5]Cpvr[/mention], it's a great tool for when you are just starting out and you want your forum to get more threads and posts that aren't made from the staff themselves.

 

I don't think you should always be relying on the posting packages but when you're starting or even sometimes when the forum is slow it is a good idea.

I'd wait until your ready to launch the forum. It'll help you get new members when your paid posters are regularly creating new content.

Yes, it’s a good idea to request a posting package while your board is offline and being built.

 

 

 

That way, when you’re ready to open, your forum will be seeded with content rather than being empty. This allows you to hit the ground running, with more content available for new members, as opposed to having limited content when you first launch.

 

 

A posting package is designed to help you by providing the resources you need to kickstart your forum.

You and I have different definitions of offline, it seems… to me, offline is “not connected to the internet”.

You and I have different definitions of offline, it seems… to me, offline is “not connected to the internet”.

Its contextual. With most forums, offline means 'closed'.

Its contextual. With most forums, offline means 'closed'.

It doesn’t mean that outside of the forum world, though. It doesn’t even mean that across all of the forum world, it only means that in the specific platforms that call it that.

 

E.g. SMF calls it maintenance mode rather than offline (and has for the last 20 years)

It doesn’t mean that outside of the forum world, though.

Aye, well this is a board about forums. Anyway, it's a moot point and simple semantics. Offline, closed, maintenance, whatever, the inference was obvious.

That’s just it, it wasn’t obvious to me.

It is better to launch your forum with some content rather than no content. Buying posting package is one of the best ways to build content early on. If you have funds, you can also hire paid posters. I have seen a lot of forums using these methods to build activities before officially launching.

Honestly what's important is that you open with people who want to be there on day one who aren't there because they are staff or paid to post on the board. I seen so many who think they can just open with no one or just staff and expect to flourish and it just doesn't happen. I don't think it is a problem to use post package services to help with this but it can't act as a substitute for a people genuinely interested in being there. With boards I owned outright, I had integrated myself into a network before hand which helped with not only getting people willing to be with me on day one but also anything else the community needed or wanted. I only had to show my needs and it always seemed like someone was always ready and willing to step up to fill that need.

 

The act of building a forum is far harder then many think because there is so much work that needs to get done before you even get to putting up and building an actual board. It's no surprise that so few boards that get built actually last long enough to even get established. It is however as equally a rewarding endeavor if you manage to pull it off.

I think it's a great concept to have content for when your community opens and it will look as if people are more active. This is more welcoming at the opening/beginning of a website/community/etc. My biggest recommendation or consideration is that I personally wouldn't request posts too early. Meaning if I Intend on opening in February, I shouldn't be requesting packages in December. I would want the packages within days of opening. The closest to opening the better. These users could also end up being beta testers and happen to come across little bugs which is also helpful!

I think requesting posting packages definitely helps! Especially if it's a new community needing some engaging content. Heck even if you have a well established community, requesting packages from time to time can help boost activity.

Yes, but really if your forum lacks activity and needs a wee boost, even with new content made also...