Getting players is the biggest challenge for most game server admins, and getting it right decides whether a server lasts a month or several years. There is no trick to it. It is a series of small, sensible steps done consistently. Here are nine of them, in the order that works best.
Get the server ready for new players
A new player gives your server a few minutes at most to impress them. Before you tell anyone about it, make sure the first impression is a good one. Ask yourself:
- Are all my settings the way I want them?
- Have I installed and tested all of my mods together?
- Does the server run smoothly, with no lag?
- Is there a voting plugin installed (see step 4)?
- What do the most popular servers for this game run, and am I missing something players expect?
- If I joined as a brand new player, would I want to stay for weeks?
If any of those answers is "no", fix it first. You only get one first impression.
Invite your friends
This is not always possible, since friends do not always like the same games, but it helps a great deal. A server with four or five people already playing looks alive, and players are far more likely to stay on a server that is not empty. Just take care not to favour friends and family too obviously, because new players notice, and it puts them off.
List your server on ranking sites
Do not rely on the game's built-in server list to bring players in. Those lists rarely show every server, and when thousands of servers exist for one game yours is easily lost.
Think about how you would look for a server as a player: you would search online and compare a few options. Do the same search, find the top five or so results for your game, and add your server to each of them.
Get votes
Most ranking sites order servers by votes, and higher rankings bring more players, which keeps you higher up. A small server with players who vote every day can outrank a much bigger one.
Many games have a plugin or mod that rewards players for voting daily. If you cannot find one, or would rather not install one, at the very least ask your players to vote and explain that it directly brings more people to play with them.
Join gaming communities
Forums, Reddit and other communities where people discuss the game are full of players looking for somewhere to play. Many have a place where you may advertise a server for free. Read each community's rules first, then post. You will often make genuine friends there too.
Start a community Discord
Players need somewhere to talk when they are not in the game. A Discord server is free, simple to set up, and turns a group of strangers into a community. Put the invite link in your server's message of the day so every player sees it.
Once it exists you can run polls on new content, create voice channels for groups tackling hard challenges, and add channels for whatever your community cares about.
Talk to your players
It is easy to set up a server with some mods and leave players to it. The servers that survive for years are the ones where the owner has a personality and is present. Run events, do things players do not expect, and take part in the game. Players enjoy a server with active, friendly admins.
Reward referrals
Your players know other players. If they invite friends, you get growth that costs nothing. Thank the players who bring others in. It can be as simple as public praise, or once you monetise your server, a small in-game reward. Keep it fair: too much reward for a few people can look like favouritism. Keep notes on who is helping, because those people are the backbone of your community.
Do not give up
Growth is slow, and the first few players are always the hardest to find. If it has been over a month with little progress, ask your players how they would feel about a relaunch with a fresh wipe and a bigger launch push. A second attempt with more people ready on day one has a much better chance.
Almost every large community started small. What they had in common was patience, regular effort and a willingness to keep improving.
Community & Growth
Community & Growth
Community & Growth