problem getting more members...

dandantheadminman · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:53 pm Post subject: problem getting more members...

anyone got any ideas as to how we cna get more photographers on here? as I know for a fact there are a hell of lot out there, just they can't find the site,

any ideas how to build up the forums rep a bit more?

fozzybear · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject:

Did you manage to create an about page i can link to..

it would be nice to have a page detailing why you have setup the site, what you are looking for about the site. I could then link to the page which would encourage users to join

dandantheadminman · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject:

ill try and sort an 'about' page when i have more free time
_________________
Ride like you have insurance.

rad2themax · Quite High User Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 136

You need better SEO (search engine optimisation).

When i type 'mountainbike photography forum' in google for example you're nowhere near the top of the results and this needs sorting out. Typically the comes with time but it will only happen if you do a few things.

1) In your metal tag section there's no description line containing keywords people would search on, have a look at this code below that i've got on my site and copy that over for this forum. Filling in the correct details obviously:

<TITLE>Home|watford riders</TITLE>
<link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" >
<link rel="schema.DCTERMS" href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" >
<meta name="DC.title" content="Watford Riders" >
<meta name="DC.creator" content="Max Quinn" >
<meta name="DC.subject" content="Biking; BMX; MTB; jump; dirt; skatepark; trails; watford; riders; trials; 'watford bmx'; 'watford mountainbike'; 'watford skatepark'" >
<meta name="DC.description" content="Group of watford BMXers and mountainbikers showcasing their media." >
<meta name="DC.type" scheme="DCTERMS.DCMIType" content="Text" >
<meta name="DC.format" content="text/html" >
<meta name="DC.format" content="663 bytes" >
<meta name="DC.identifier" scheme="DCTERMS.URI" content="http://www.watfordriders.co.uk" >
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">

2) The way search engines find and rank your site is by following links to it from other sites. You need to arrange link swaps with other sites, i'll happily put a link on the links page of my site for it and so should everyone else on the forum that get's free advertisment by posting their site/portfolio up on here. Also email some mountainbike sites asking for link swaps. Chainreaction for example have a links page that you can get onto.

3) Proper hosting will help you get up there. My hosting costs £30 a year from sniffhost and has everything you need. I know it's alot to throw in but something to think about for the future.

I'm not an expert myself but some of that should help. Look on web design forums for other SEO tips aswell. Smile

Hope i've helped, Max.
_________________
www.watfordriders.co.uk

dandantheadminman · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:55 pm Post subject:

thnx for the tips

yeh i've put a few of the meta tags in, but obviously not enough!, lol, thnx

also, yeh, pm me and we'll sort out the link swap, ive already done with a few, but i need to sort out some more i think

thnx for the input
_________________
Ride like you have insurance.

jedi · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:49 pm Post subject:

i was telling smithy from smokeriders.co.uk about this site.i know a few mtb photographers who i'll tell when i see them
_________________
ride it like you stole it

dandantheadminman · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:31 pm Post subject:

thnx buddy
_________________
Ride like you have insurance.

jetsetdan · Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 12:33 pm Post subject:

i tell everyone i meet these days about both forums buddy. Wink

Word of mouth is always the best way...
rad2themax covered the techie stuff so i wont bother. Razz

_________________
Ride like you have insurance.

Save a tree, eat a Beaver!