Old time BBS: Question for Sysops

[Ilwrath]

Apologies that this isn't strictly Amiga related, but really, I have no idea where else I'd find a collection of past BBS sysops, anymore.  ;-)

Some discussions around here got me to thinking about the old days of BBS, and ways to recapture that.  First off, I think you need users.  

To that end, my question is this:  Ignore the internet, and roll back the clock 15-20 years...  What methods did you use to gather and gain callers to your BBS?  How did you get the word out to the local community about your system?  Heck, if there were no WWW, how would you get the message out, today?

I remember handing out fliers and business cards at local shows, as well as sharing ads on other neighboring systems, but I'm sure some people had some better ideas than this...  

[odin]

Start a cracking group and stuff your BBS number as 'World HQ' in the file_id.diz? ;-)

[adolescent]

Get on FidoNet, AmigaNet, CLink!, etc.  Get your name out in .nfo files, .diz, etc.  Release BBS mods, doors, etc. on Aminet for other sysops.

adolescent (former) sysop of Ill Communication
2 nodes, V.FC, +1-310-329-BAUD <-- don't bother, been dead for years.

[LoadWB]

Local user groups, mostly.  Fliers at libraries worked as well.  Some local business ran BBSs which became pretty good community spots, and I even saw a BBS advertised in the local paper.

Word of mouth worked well, too.

[hotchalupa]

Or better yet... Keep it close-knit to people you know, don't advertise, and reduce the risk of going to jail.

I speak from personal experience...

[Plaz]

Back in the day it was pretty easy to get traffic. I posted my info other BBS lists, told a few friends, then made an animated avertisement using dpaint that I uploaded every where I could. In a couple of weeks I have two phone lines busy all the time. I also picked up the fidonet feeds that were popular at the time.

BTW reading this thread reminded me of that old animation. It eventually ended up on aminet many years ago, but a quick search doesn't find it there any more. If any one remembers or runs across a small animation called some thing like "Hurricane Shores", that was me. I wonder if I still have that around on floppy or an old aminet CD collection. I was very please with it at the time. (1994 I think)  :-)

Plaz

[James]

In Quebec we had this one huge mofo of a BBS called Juxtaposition that would issue the "Juxtaposition BBS List" every so often. The list was pretty complete, with description, number of nodes, what services were offered, what program it ran on etc. Putting your BBS on that list was a sure way to get started. And once a BBS has grown past a certain point, it attracts its users just by existing. Don't forget that users SEARCHED for new BBS back then and they were used to it. Not at all like today where you just sit there and everybody in the world spams you with adverts. It was more a "build it and they will come" type thing back then.

[juan_fine]

Ilwrath wrote:
...
To that end, my question is this:  Ignore the internet, and roll back the clock 15-20 years...  What methods did you use to gather and gain callers to your BBS?  How did you get the word out to the local community about your system?  Heck, if there were no WWW, how would you get the message out, today?
...  

An article in Compute Gazette by Rick (http://www.mousam-river.com/Harbor-Lights-BBS/2Harbour-Lights-BBS.htm), and Team Amiga (http://www.mousam-river.com/html/ITEM2.HTM )worked well for us...

John