Attracting more people to the site?

[c0_re]

I tell everyone I know about the site, but what are some other ways to help get more people stopping in?

[Cassiepeia]

Banners and links on your blogs and things can be good. Recommending us on non-dog sites when a dog question comes up (although do it politely of course because we don't want anyone spamming...not that you'd do that, I know).

Not sure what else you could do. We should have stickers or something that people can put on their cars. That would be cool. LOL

Cass.

[Sentry]

The mastiff boards I belong to have T-shirts with the site logo. Global paws could have a globe with paws for the continents or something like that? They also have a drool towel with the logo on it too but not sure how many would buy those beside us mastiff owners,LOL A bumper sticker or air freshern would be good too. I personally love the mastiff's site calendar and having members' dogs in it is great. We have a picture contest then pick the top 12 for the calendar.

[c0_re]

I would for sure buy some GlobalPaw stickers(and maybe a t-shirt or bandana for the dog) if they were available.

The blog is a good idea I"ll start linking to global paw from my other forums as well.

[dogs4life]

More traffic would be wonderful, thanks cO_re!

Cass gave you great ideas, I'll add a couple more.

If you have a Youtube account, you can link GP to that.

Also if you enter into the photo contests, you can ask for you're non-GP friends to vote by linking to the contest forum or the poll thread.

ETA: One more thing, I try to answer dog related questions @ Yahoo Answers. I list resources such as great threads & articles here on GP.

[Swiftwind]

If we had GP badges (aka buttons) I'd definitely buy one... I love badges! Stickers, too. Oh, and I'd buy a mug. Have you thought of setting up a Cafe Press account?

[RedPowerLady]

As a newbie here are some things I can think of:
1. More Forum Threads. The threads you have are great! That is one reason I chose this board over others. However when I first came here I was surprised that there wasn't more. I can think of several other Forum Thread Titles that could be included so the site would appear at first glance to be very well rounded.
2. Have a disclaimer that is very clear about how people here are for adopting etc.. and not breeding. When I first read a reply to someone who was breeding I was a bit scared and put off. I mean I agree with the POV (and on top of that the members are great) but it still was a little scary reading so many people seemingly "attack" a new member.

As someone who helps with web design here is one thing I can think of:
1. Perhaps a more colorful/designer look to the forum.

And here are some marketing tips I came up with for a friend. I'm not sure if it all applies but it still may be helpful:

1. Contact blog owners, ezine owners, etc.. and get an interview with forum owner about the forum for them to put on their blog etc..
From an article I read these are starting places: podcast.net (podcasts), ezinehub.com (ezines), sydic8.com (RSS feeds/blogs)
2. Join an Online Network such as linkedin.com, ryze.com, myspace.com, orkut.com, friendster.com, tribe.net
3. Put an online survey on the forum asking how likely people are to recommend the site/business etc... You can do the same asking members how they think the site can improve.
4. Put your forum in the search engines
5. Participate in a Banner/Ad Exchange program
6. Advertise on Craigslist
7. Search for similar forums and or businesses and have them as partners (each linking to each other)
8. Have forum owner and others put a signature at the bottom of their email.
10. Post on Free classified ads.


Having said all that. I think this forums is really great and I am happy to be a member of it. I did some research before joining a forum and this is the one that stuck out as best to me.
And you have quite a bit of members!!!

[Carrie]

Great ideas Redpowerlady and everyone. I am so unknowedgable about these types of things. But I am impressed.

[dogs4life]

Originally Posted by RedPowerLady

As a newbie here are some things I can think of:
1. More Forum Threads. The threads you have are great! That is one reason I chose this board over others. However when I first came here I was surprised that there wasn't more. I can think of several other Forum Thread Titles that could be included so the site would appear at first glance to be very well rounded.
2. Have a disclaimer that is very clear about how people here are for adopting etc.. and not breeding. When I first read a reply to someone who was breeding I was a bit scared and put off. I mean I agree with the POV (and on top of that the members are great) but it still was a little scary reading so many people seemingly "attack" a new member.
<snip>
Having said all that. I think this forums is really great and I am happy to be a member of it. I did some research before joining a forum and this is the one that stuck out as best to me.
And you have quite a bit of members!!!

Great suggestions, Thanks Redpowerlady.

Originally Posted by Sentry

The mastiff boards I belong to have T-shirts with the site logo. Global paws could have a globe with paws for the continents or something like that? They also have a drool towel with the logo on it too but not sure how many would buy those beside us mastiff owners,LOL A bumper sticker or air freshern would be good too. I personally love the mastiff's site calendar and having members' dogs in it is great. We have a picture contest then pick the top 12 for the calendar.

Sentry, great suggestions. Love the drool towel, that's a fun idea. We've been toying with the idea of t-shirts but nothing solidified. Maybe we can have a t-shirt design contest open to members and non-members. The Calendar was going to made from Photo contest winners but we haven't been dilagent with having the contests.

Originally Posted by c0_re

I would for sure buy some GlobalPaw stickers(and maybe a t-shirt or bandana for the dog) if they were available.

The blog is a good idea I"ll start linking to global paw from my other forums as well.

What kind of stickers would you like? For your car? A bumber sticker or window sticker? We have crate stickers...well not really crate stickers, just our kid decorates the dog crate with her stickers so that gave me inspiration.