I really want my forum to get a boost

All my members complain that it's pretty much dead, and that we can't keep members.

Ya, keeping active is the responsibility of both the members and the admins. MOstly on admin's part too. You ahve to show you are as active as them. Think about it. If admins and owners aren't even active in their own forum, because they're bored of it or something, why would the members be. eh?

I don't know about what rules you have in place but get rid of most of them,leaving the bare minimum legally allowed i.e no child porn,threats of violence ect..

Under a few different names or get others to do it for you start posting some interesting/strange/thought provoking topics/threads.

TBH colour schemes on forums are last thing on peoples minds when they join a forum imo.

EDIT* - I could see how the lilac colour gets jarring after a while plus it makes the place look like a knitting forum or something.

Victoria, I think your biggest problem is going to be the massive lack of people currently using the internet to mingle.

Even though the world's population is now the largest that it has ever been, most people today don't seem like they can be arsed to dawdle their net time in forums.

I think most of them are playing online games or visiting forums specific to one concept or hobby.

I mean either that or I'm in The Village and secluded from the world's real population.

... knitting is cool nowadays. And it IS for craft so um yeah.

I post a lot each day. A lot.

Any more thoughts? This is still a problem for me. *sigh*

I know I need a better banner and colour scheme and whatnot, but I can't do that right now, I don't know how to get it done.

You have to differentiate. What's better about your forum/site that your competitors don't offer. Give people a reason to come to you and they will.

Joining now!!! always ready to help someone out on a forum