right now i dont really have the $$$ (i know its like $15 a yr) but i run 2 other (non forum) sites and my own business and im strapped for cash cuz the price of equipment
That gave me an idea though. Maybe you can do what I did...Use the same website as is, just get that top-level domain and have it override the URL...I don't remember what they called it, but my website does that. It's actually freewebs, but I can save money on the actual website hosting and just get the domain or whatever. Also, just a note, if you want things to succeed, you're going to need to spend time and money. So if you're really serious about this, at least get a domain. Even if it gets big, you'll never know it's full potential without one.
as far as having members invite their friends, that dosent work that good because a lot of the people on the gns board are only able to communicate there (they dont have other peoples sn's or aim names cuz the mods there are so strict)
Well there's more than one way to bring people to your site...And I guarantee there's at least a couple of people who would join who would have other friends online...Or at least they would refer them to you...If you're site's good enough, people will come...And if it's really good, people will refer others...It's one of the best ways to build a site...So just start with like search engines or something and work your way up.
that forum dosnet have pm-ing so if i were to post it (which i have) i will get taken down in a matter of minutes
i have to advertise in more discrete ways (for example, the newest user box, i make a user with the web address as it username that way it can only be taken down once someone new registers)
Maybe you have to rethink the way you're advertising your site...People don't want to go to a site just because they see a link...It's in poor taste, and they may be more turned off about the site to actually want to stay, even if the web site and content is really good...If it doesn't look like you're just pushing it in their face, the people who come will be more likely to stay...And that IS a lot better than drive-by people who just come and go and just end up wasting your time and theirs.
im really overwhelmed with work right now
so thats why i havent even been here to post anything for a couple of days
Maybe you shouldn't be jumping into another project if you're already busy...Remember, if you want it to succeed, it
will take a lot of time, and a lot of work. Just look at Moo...He's got to be going crazy by now.
PS.: Thanks Moo and keep up the good work. If it wasn't for you, I don't know where a lot of us would be.