[Alcatrik]

Hi all,

So I'm looking to open up my own roleplay community in the next 6 months (no need to worry - this isn't going to be a shameless pseudo-advertisement, I'm not even going to name it here.).

The thing I'm really struggling with is marketing: what makes a community successful from day 1 and what makes another flop?

I'm sort of hoping that as long as the community itself is really good, word of mouth alone will mean it'll be successful - but I have a strong suspicion that isn't the case, particularly given that many communities open up with Godfather clones and sketchy owners to a thriving playerbase, but others with pretty awesome scripts and mapping sink like a rock.

I've got a really solid script (I like to think that it's pretty unrivalled) and I think I have some good policies (like an NG faction that acts as a sponge for new players so that they don't have to wait 2 days+ to get into a faction) - will this be enough?

So in a nutshell, what do you guys think makes a grand opening successful?

[SickAttack]

Get a gamemode that is overused and repetitive.

[Alcatrik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SickAttack Get a gamemode that is overused and repetitive.

and occasionally steal from the donation pool?

[SickAttack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcatrik and occasionally steal from the donation pool?

That's what everyone does, and it seems to be working out for them very well!

You will have to work 10 times harder with a community made from the ground up.

[Morpheine]

You need an Premium Account script / code this is a good way because want to have more than he have at premium account put some advantages who attracts the player to donate.

[Smithy]

There's honestly nothing specific that is the 'go to' for creating a new community.

It used to be that if you used a unique script, many years ago, and had a completely 100% unique setup and development, that you would get players. Then it become the copy LS:RP time period, where everyone was copying LS:RP to get players (PR:RP, LA:RP etc), and finally we're at today where it seems sticking 'REFUNDS' in your server name draws in players.

I can't speak for everyone. IMO, setup a nice website, get a UCP (seems more or less mandatory today), a nice forum and layout that's your own (simple, yet don't copy other sites), and just start building hype (showcase your projects, your site, etc).

Alongside the above, have a great, friendly un-powerhungry staff team (impossible these days) and you're good to go.

EDIT: Also don't treat a SA:MP server like a business and try and make money from it. Enjoy it.

[YGComeUPs]

make sure you don't copy anything and make it from scratch

[Rukka]

It's very hard to start a community up from scratch with a roleplay gamemode, as there are many of them already about.

The key to getting the server to grow is by always having players online and having enough to play with. Gather a group of friends that will play on it and ensure they keep playing so others can see your server is active. Also if you have forums don't add a load of sections as it'll look empty and inactive.

Also don't go around offering admin powers to anyone that applies, keep that strictly for trusted members.

[YGComeUPs]

yeah these servers that offer admin to first 5 people bla bla thats bullshit, have a nice good professional staff team

[Sew_Sumi]

Clear direction, consistent rules.

Perma-bans, are perma-bans.