Bumping and Roleplay Advertisement

[Astaroth]

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Recently, we have seen a growing trend of "bumping" on the forum.

"Bumping" is the term for responding to a thread (particularly one started by the poster in question) with the word "bump" or other non-content, for the sole purpose of "bumping up" the thread to the top of the active thread list in a forum.

Responding to a thread for the same purpose, but while actually posting new content such as a reminder or new information, is also a form of bumping. However, this method is acceptable; simply bumping with non-content is not.

Why is this?

There are several reasons not to bump. First and foremost is that non-content posts (i.e., not relating to the thread topic, not adding to discussion, not containing information or opinions) are the very definition of "spam".

"Spam" is the term for unsolicited electronic messages with no value to the reader. There are several types of spam:

1. Senseless posts. Examples of this would include bumping, "first/second/etc. comment", memes without any relevance to the conversation, etc. If it doesn't concern the topic of the thread or a related discussion, it's safe to say that it is probably spam!

2. Misplaced content. Examples of this would include posting a one-on-one roleplay request in the middle of an In-Character RP thread, or roleplaying in the General forum. This also includes bumping or out-of-character posting in In-Character roleplay threads.

3. Unsolicited advertisement. This can include posting an advertisement for a commercial product, advertising another roleplaying site outside of the Advertise & Affiliate forum, or advertising your on-site roleplays outside of Roleplay Talk.

4. Flooding. "Flooding" is the term for repeated posting within a short time frame with the intent to raise post count or get attention, particularly when posting the same message multiple times. Bumping is also a form of flooding.
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As stated in our Site Policies, spamming is not allowed on Iwaku, except for in the Asylum. No one wants to read spam! It clutters the forum and entertains no one, and often makes navigating through threads difficult. Don't do it.

Another reason not to bump is that it really isn't necessary. With the posting rate on Iwaku and the size of the site, it will take quite some time for a thread to fall off of the first page within a given forum, even in the most active areas. We understand that some of you come from larger, faster-paced sites where this is not the case, and that you may be used to having to post repeatedly to even hope that you'll catch someone's eye. But that is not the case here. If a thread goes unnoticed for long enough that it falls off the first page, one bump is fine, but there is no excuse for bumping several times within the same day, let alone a few hours!

And the final reason not to bump is that there are better ways to get attention to your roleplays.

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What are some better ways to draw attention to RPs?

We have several really good methods for advertisement. First and foremost is the Roleplay Ad Submission Form for group roleplays. Filling out this form will get your RP an ad in our cycle of Roleplay banners at the top of the forum. If you do not have the graphics skills to make a banner, you can always request one!

You can also make an advertisement thread in Roleplay Talk, using the RPAD prefix. Make sure to provide the basic idea of your RP as well as links to any In-Character and Out-of-Character threads if you want to be successful at snaring players!

If you want to test a premise out and see how much attention it will attract before putting in the effort of planning a roleplay, you can start an Interest Check in Roleplay Talk as well.

Checking out the Roleplay Invitation Request Thread (and the SRP "Invite Me" Thread for those of you with a taste for smut) is another good way to find players actively searching for RPs. Pay close attention to whether they are interested in group or one-on-ones, and if their tastes match the RP that you're promoting. You can also go to their profile and read their Roleplayer's Resume for more details. Remember that if a member has not posted here or is not someone you know well, do NOT contact them about your RPs. This is spam. Feel free to post your own invitation availability in these threads, too!

For those of you trying to find partners for one-on-one's, the One[x]One Requests & Plot Discussions subforum is where you should post your Partner Request thread. (Or, for a mature-themed RP, Mature Signups & Requests.) Keep in mind, too, that partners for one-on-ones are much more likely to want to plot an RP with you! If you're having trouble finding a partner for a one-on-one thread that you started alone, try instead finding a partner first and floating ideas past them. You can always shelve that plot for later when you find a partner whose interests match up, and in the meantime you can put that energy to better use with the partner you have!

If you're really itching to use a particular character, but don't have a partner for them, we now have the Iwaku Personals. Remember that this is for your characters, not for you as a player! Fill out the form in-character and PM it to Layne, and you will be matched up with another character.

As a last resort, you can jump into Cbox and check interest with the chatters. However, linking repeatedly or bugging the chatters DOES count as ad spam. Wait until several new chatters come in to link again.

Another thing that can really make all the difference is having an attractive signup or request thread. You can read this Workshop for tips. Make sure, too, that your thread titles have no typos, misspellings, or incorrect grammar! Your thread title is the initial hook for players, and some will dismiss your thread for mistakes in the title before they ever see your awesome plot.

Above all, be patient. It can be very frustrating not to get a response, but losing your cool will only alienate potential players/partners. Relax, have fun, and if a plot doesn't work out, shelve it for later and try something else!