Tips for keeping your Thread ALIVE

I have noticed a couple of things I wanna share. This may help new folks out who aren't used to the forum yet.

When you post a new thread, it gets put in the New Threads area to the right and in Recent Posts accessible from the top of the page.

The trick is to keep your post in the New Threads section during the busiest times of the forum so you get the most hits and hopefully, your thread will get bumped up to the Active New Threads area where it will stay longer.

Don't post a thread late at night or in the middle of the night say after 11 USA time. This seems to be the slowest time of the forum as not many people stay on all night. (yes I know this forum is international but this seems to hold true)

Even thought your post will stay in New Threads longest at this time, not many people will see it, and the few that post new threads during the night will soon knock your post out of the list without too many people having posted in it.

Also you shouldn't post at the busiest times during the early evening. So many people are on and posting new threads that your thread will quickly get bumped out of the New Threads list. You can post at this time if you are really sure you have an attention getting title and a good enough thread body to hold people there.

For normal not too spectacular post I recommend posting from morning to early afternoon. At this time there is a good balance of people looking at new threads and not too many people posting new threads at one time. People like to jump on ATS and check their U2U's and threads before they start their day.

Video and or pictures in a thread helps especially if they are good..

Stories that can be ongoing as new information comes in can help.

Try to make the subject of your post controversial enough for many different groups to discuss and enjoy without being rude or downright ugly. This being said, often times the threads that promote heated debate will last longer than regular threads.

What do you do once your thread leaves the New Threads area?

On your own thread don't post too much unless someones requires a reply from you. The next day when your thread seems to be no longer 'active' go through it and during morning or afternoon to early evening time find some post you can reply to. ATS does not have way to alert everyone if a post has been replied to.

People post so often on ATS they don't always think to go back and check all the threads they posted on to see if anyone replied to their post. After you post your replies send the person you replied to a short U2U reminding them you replied to their post. When they log on they will see the U2U and more likely than not, go to your post and reply back to you.

ATS is busier on the weekends than during the work week.

Lastly, always remind people in your original post to Star and Flag if they enjoyed your post. Giving people Stars and Flags for their post and threads will help the threads stay active and they are great attention getters.

These are my observations. If you have other tips for keeping a Thread ALIVE please post them below.

If you disagree, I invite your reply.

If you liked this post Please Star and Flag!




[edit on 2-12-2009 by JohnPhoenix]

reply to post by JohnPhoenix


Dude thanks for the tips.I barely ever make any threads because there's always someone to beat me at it regarding controversial issues.

I got 2 tips:

1)Keep the threads nice and short.

2)Please don't make threads with far-fetched conspiracy theories like the 'NWO using toilet paper to kill everyone'.Those kind of threads tend to dilute other conspiracies and make this site look like a joke.

[edit on 2-12-2009 by merkava]

hey. the NWO might be using toi;et paper to kill everyone..

why cant i use that as a title??

i get a sore botty from paper, it must be a consipiracy.

I agree good tips. Thats my problem is that I stay up late at night looking through this stuff and get inspired to post at 1am. Im going to try out some of these tips starting now...see im posting at 10am, Im taking action here ladies and gentlemen!

reply to post by JohnPhoenix


It doesn't really matter what time you create a new thread, if it's good it will stay on the front page regardless. Threads with great information and in depth research or breaking news that is in line with the subjects discussed here will "survive" longer.

While some members (like myself) work overnights and tend to keep en eye on ATS others check often and will comment or flag good threads no matter how neglected they may seem.

The number one way to keep your thread "alive" is to put some time and effort into it, some OP's took days to compile and the member spent a good deal of time putting the info together. Just remember to include sources and links to support your topic and add a great deal of your personal opinion.

Great suggestions, except this one: "

"Lastly, always remind people in your original post to Star and Flag if they enjoyed your post."

I feel that soliciting S&F is unnecessary. If the post warrants it, then one will get the due recognition. Sure it would be nice if more people S&F threads they enjoy, but asking for them seems desperate and juvenile. No offense by that...just seems like something a child would do.

Just my 2-cents

Great additions folks. Keep them coming. It would be nice to figure out a sure fire formula that is proven to work every time.

Originally posted by JohnPhoenix
It would be nice to figure out a sure fire formula that is proven to work every time.

Just keep posting in it until someone replies.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by JohnPhoenix



While I am sure you had good intentions in mind by posting these tips I feel I need to interject with a few points you made in your OP.

Try to make the subject of your post controversial enough for many different groups to discuss and enjoy without being rude or downright ugly. This being said, often times the threads that promote heated debate will last longer than regular threads.

That isn't the point of making a thread on ATS (and shouldn't be the point of writing anything for that matter). You don't need to make a thread or post on ATS simply to get attention and generate controversy. There is enough of that as it is already. If you are purposely skewing your threads thesis to make it "controversial" in an attempt to generate massive discussions, stars, flags, replies, etc then you are not only cheating yourself, but everyone else who is on ATS to learn and deny ignorance, NOT to make and partake in controversial, catchy, and attention getting threads like it is a game who can make the thread with the most stars, flags, and replies.

You should make threads/posts out of a desire to teach, learn, share---NOT for other self-serving reasons such as making sure your thread is a top thread.

People post so often on ATS they don't always think to go back and check all the threads they posted on to see if anyone replied to their post. After you post your replies send the person you replied to a short U2U reminding them you replied to their post. When they log on they will see the U2U and more likely than not, go to your post and reply back to you.

That is also improper etiquette in my opinion. Of course there is nothing wrong with letting a few friends or people you know are interested in what you wrote know about your thread, but to continuously and purposefully "plan" a conversation in your thread just for the purpose of generating traffic in your thread is not right in my humble opinion. When a member replies to a thread of yours they automatically subscribe to it and can see who the last poster to reply was, so there is no need to go the extra steps in an attempt to bump your own thread.

Besides that, if your thread is well organized, researched, and thought out then you won't need to worry about any of this---trust me.

Lastly, always remind people in your original post to Star and Flag if they enjoyed your post. Giving people Stars and Flags for their post and threads will help the threads stay active and they are great attention getters.

Yea, this is a BIG 'no-no' for a lot of people. To ask for flags and stars is definitely improper etiquette and quite frankly somewhat self serving, childish, and egotistical. Personally when I see a poster ask for them, I give them neither in most cases. Again, if your thread is well meaning, researched, presented, etc then you will have no problem getting stars, flags, and applause.

Just remember that it isn't about YOU, it is about ALL of US. ATS is not a popularity contest and making threads is not some game about who can make the most threads with the most stars, flags, attention, etc, etc. I am not trying to come off as rude, so sorry if I did, but I think it is important for members, especially new ones like yourself, to understand these very important aspects about the very foundation of our site, the user generated content and making it live up to "denying ignorance."

So we can basically read this thread as a guide to trolling/flaming for stars and flags 4 newbs?

I guess this just demonstrates the downsides to the S&F system.

reply to post by JohnPhoenix


I don't understand your point in this thread JohnPhoenix.
I thought ATS was a place where people came to share information. I admit some of the information may or may not be worth sharing but it would all depend upon your perspective. I had no clue that this was about stars and flags and points. What will these things get you? I sincerely don't know. If I get enough of something will it lower the interest rate on my visa card? Do I get frequent flyer miles? What? Should I go drink some booze because no one has of yet read my short story in this months contest? Well darn......

Give me stars and flags and points and some roses if you like this answer.

1. If you are going to make a thread on a far fetched topic, at least back it up with sources.

2. Search the topic before posting, just in case its already been posted

Originally posted by JohnPhoenix

Try to make the subject of your post controversial enough for many different groups to discuss and enjoy without being rude or downright ugly. This being said, often times the threads that promote heated debate will last longer than regular threads.

Well that isn't really necessary. To me that seems as if the intention of the thread was to spark heated arguments rather than civilized conversations. When you post your thread, just make sure you address issues about the topic at hand with your point of view, but also refer to other opinions. I find this to be most effective, it encourages discussion, but doesn't always put the onus on you to defend your point of view.

Originally posted by JohnPhoenix

Lastly, always remind people in your original post to Star and Flag if they enjoyed your post. Giving people Stars and Flags for their post and threads will help the threads stay active and they are great attention getters.

Strongly disagree with this. Then again, i suppose it depends on what you're aiming for with your thread. Lots of flags doesn't always translate to lots of comments/deep conversation and vise versa. I agree with one of the posters above, this seems juvenile, its not an online game for collecting points. Comments and discussion > flags in my opinion.

reply to post by jkrog08


If I could have starred that post, I totally would.

Will everyone go and read that post? Please?

I fully approve of this thread and the methods it mentions in securing attention over facts. It made me my first million with Amway which I then quadrupled overnight with gold selling and then multiply that by OVER NINE THOUSAND with one transaction. You can read all about it in my new book - which for a very limited time only has 99% off (Yes it's a very expensive book - but it'll make you rich beyond avarice).

Wait a wee minute. I'm talking absolute crap.

I don't approve of this thread or the methods stated and think this can only slow down any true understanding and provide more charlatans with inroads to foolish peoples revenue.

I'd go so far as to say this thread should be locked.

-m0r

EDIT: I'd like to point out that the size element for formatting doesn't seem to work - but you can read all about it in my thread at 7PM EST - get there before TPTB delete it and keep us all ignorant.


[edit on 4/12/2009 by m0r1arty]

Thanks for this post! I'm new here and this is very helpful! Especially since I'd like to make my posts count and stay up here

I call conspiracy!

This thread is a conspiracy, for the original poster to have an ongoing thread. What better way to create an ongoing thread, than to make it about "ongoing threads"!!!!

reply to post by JohnPhoenix


You can also keep your thread alive by constantly bumping it. Or creating a real conspiracy with someone to bump it for you or create a sock puppet and play both sides.

Can't star but flag, just because I used to be in Love with a girl from Metareie.

The more people view the thread, the better for ATS, because advertisers like to see lots of page views.

So controversy, preferably multiple controversies, is highly desirable from a board point of view. What isn't fine is an endless thread consisting of two or three people duking it out amongst themselves. That usually bores everybody else to tears.

(And yes, I know I'm often one of the parties involved in such a slugfest, but then, I like slugfests.)

I thought jkrog08's post was good--in an ethical kind of way--but I view ATS as an entertainment site, so I'm afraid I don't take it all that seriously.

It’s always nice when a thread you create becomes popular but I think it’s important to keep in mind there is no precise science to that.

A few months back I did a thread on the Barefoot Bandit in Seattle it was largely ignored I don’t think it grew beyond a page or two.

A couple days ago another member did a thread on the Barefoot Bandit with the same angle I did and it made the front page, received dozens and dozens of flags and stars.

Same basic subject, same basic angle, but very often it’s really the current mood of the members as to what is going to really take off. Different subjects and topics reach temporary saturation points. Bored members then are on the look out for something new and different.

You really never know until you post it and put it out there, I have posted threads at 1:00 A.M. in the morning and woke up the next day to find out that the members in Australia bumped it up to the front page and the Israelis and Europeans too. It depends on how topical and relevant it is.

If I get up at 4:00 AM for a drink of water I will check the boards and post on a thread if it catches my interest.

It really is all about learning, helping others learn and sharing.

It’s not really about popularity or volume, a small yet notable number of very popular and prodigious posters have even ended up being banned in part because of that desire to create colorful controversial threads where tempers and
Frustrations flare and result in Terms of Service Violations.

It never really serves anyone when you become so intently focused your own integrity and ability to remain balanced and objective suffers as a result.

Rome was not built in a day, and Masterpieces take time!