okay so i've heard everywhere what to do once your have members BUT WHERE DO YOU GET THEM people say keep a good forum this and that.. that never got me anywhere every person signed up on my forum i asked them to sign up.. or they come from ForuMansion (not sure if theres any of those -.-) but it just isn't right... where can i advertise or where have you advertised? I mean you have to have advertised somewhere.. this is not counting paid advertisement as well just to much for the average person -.-

Then it means you haven't reached the correct audience with same interest as your site is.

I had the same problem before. My site is music-related, which is very subjective and most like unpopular to be advertised in place like this since it's very specific. So I went to visit sites related to the genre of my site, post a comment, leaving links, asking people to join, and spread it through social networks. Eventually they come, but if your niche is something too unique or specific don't expect that it would come fast.