Content Creation Preparing content pre-launch

[Unlocked]

When you're launching a new website, whether it be a forum, blog or static website, how much content is the right amount in your opinion to make sure is available before letting the site "go live" and inviting members in?

Personally for me, if I was launching a new forum I wouldn't let it go live to members with anything less than about 100 topics/posts on it. There needs to be some content ready for people to engage with right away, even if just to attract those first few members in. Similarly with a blog, I'd want to make at least 10 or so blog posts and make sure comments were enabled before starting to drive traffic to my blogs...

What are your thoughts? How much is the right amount, and can there ever be too much pre-launch content?

 

[Ravenfreak]

I tend to have at least 2 threads in each sub forum before I start to promote my forum. 100 is a bit much, but it could be more effective. Though I typically like to give the link to a few close internet friends privately so they can help me add posts to the forum before I open it to the public.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

When you're launching a new website, whether it be a forum, blog or static website, how much content is the right amount in your opinion to make sure is available before letting the site "go live" and inviting members in?

Personally for me, if I was launching a new forum I wouldn't let it go live to members with anything less than about 100 topics/posts on it. There needs to be some content ready for people to engage with right away, even if just to attract those first few members in. Similarly with a blog, I'd want to make at least 10 or so blog posts and make sure comments were enabled before starting to drive traffic to my blogs...

What are your thoughts? How much is the right amount, and can there ever be too much pre-launch content?

Typically, I will fill up each main niche board with around 5-10 topics.

I don't want to launch with multiple pages of content on each section because it's likely that it will be too much content and a lot of it will go to waste.

If you do with to do that though, try to post topics with just questions and then when you want to revive those topics as you grow your community, then you can reply to them sharing your answer to the questions with a question of how your other members feel about the topic.

The main thing is posting content that encourages engagement.

 

[Shortie]

When I start a new forum, before even letting it go live I make sure that there are at least 5 - 10 topics in each forum so that there is content there for new members and anyone visiting to see.

If I can, I also allow people early access to help with replies to fill it with not only topics but replies as well.

 

[Noyaudiop]

For forums, I like your idea of 100 topics/posts—it sets the tone and gives newcomers a place to dive in. For blogs, I’d probably aim for 8–12 solid posts to start, but I’d also mix in things like FAQs or evergreen content that can evolve over time.