There are few online marketing forums that are as thriving as this one
and it's not for lack of trying. I've seen other forums started by people
with "bigger names" than our fearless leader, Michel Fortin, and they
flop for lack of participation.

So what does it take to keep a forum as alive as this one?

Is it controversy? Marketing? Keeping the forum software updated?

First mover advantage? Quality moderators? Rules?

I'm trying to brainstorm this one.

What's your take? What do you love about CB over others?

-Ray L.,

It's the people.

But I couldn't tell you what made it fly from the beginning...before people were here.

What attracts me to this board are the helpful people, the relative lack of egos, the solid, practical advice, and this guy Mr. Subtle's cartoons, which are hilarious.

I also like the simplicity--just six main rooms.

It's the people... plain and simple. And that's a formula you can't produce. It's organic.

I mean, would this place be the same without Harlan? the Catsamani? Subtle? Even Angie!

Nope...

Another factor is the activity. IMO this place gets the perfect amount of activitiy. The Warrior Forum which is arguably much bigger than this, moves too fast for me. Not too fast for me to follow, but too fast for me to enjoy.

The vast majority of interesting posters here are also members there... but this place just rules. With all the activity the warrior forum gets, their copywriters forum is awefully sleepy, repetitive and second rate.

I can say that the people is definitely the biggie.

Plus, I don't think there's a lack of egos. The fact there are some is what helps pull people in. I love firebrands, and this forum does get its fair share of them.

As long as there's respect, egos is a good thing. It creates healthy debates, polarizes people, creates passion (copywriters are a passionate and emotional bunch, that's why we're copywriters!), and opens our eyes to different points of view.

Which is one of the things I love about this forum.

Another plus, the forum owner participates!

(I also can say that, every day, I learn something new. And this forum is definitely a powerful learning experience -- not just a social one.)

And it's the fact that the forum owner is the only one without an ego on the board.

Except towards Spammers!

I've seen those comments behind the scenes!



Peace.

Harlan

Michel,

You may have made that statement tongue-in-cheek-ly, but for sure that's
one factor I never thought about. A lot of the 'other' forums the owners
(who may also have great credibility in their field) seldom 'mix' with the
commoners.

But for sure there's high quality of people here. The question is what
attracted them here? Kinduva chicken-egg dilemna.

Which came first--the people or the forum quality?

-Ray L.,

Believe it or not, when I first created the forum, it was a way to promote my copywriting expertise and services. When I launched it, the primary forum (at the time) was the critique forum. I remember that I critiqued a heckuvalot of copy.

It got me pretty busy. I was drowning in quote requests and copy projects afterwards.

But at the same time, I saw a lot of other copywriters who wanted hang their shingle and shine using this forum. Even if they competed with me, I didn't mind... there's tons of projects out there to be had.

After the first few months, the forum took a life of its own.

As I said earlier, I always learn. I'm always a student. I will never stop learning. And this forum has helped me A LOT. And the people on this board are definitely topnotch. I've learned as much from them as they learned from me (if they do).

Yep. It's the people. I come back to this board because I like the people here and I get a sense of community. That's pretty much all you need to have a successful board. But, the problem is how do you get people to post initially.

It's a conundrum - no doubt about it.