How to Promote Your Minecraft Server

Last Updated: October 16, 2021

So you've just made a Minecraft Server - maybe it's a simple Vanilla server, or maybe it's based on some exquisite and unique mod pack. No matter what, this guide will help you get the word out there and get people to join your server!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Advertising on forums

1
Choose a good forum. There are quite a few forums out there. Pick one you like for now, and make an account on it.
2
Find the server advertisement section. Have a look at how others format their threads and present their servers. Every forum site will be a little bit different in this regard, some allow inline images that allow for beautiful presentations, and some are limited to just formatting. Some may allow attention-grabbing characters in the thread titles. Get a feeling for what can, and cannot be done - that way you can utilize every resource available and have a clean and professional presentation for your server!

Advertisement
3
Write an extensive and detailed description about your server. Try to be detailed and keep your description well written - at the same time, however, keep your audience's profile in a corner of your mind - don't make your description sound like a law document. Maybe throw in a couple of fun facts that will make your server stand out from the crowd, like, how this dog at spawn is named after someone special in your community. Be professional but friendly. Some things you can list:
- What makes your server unique and different?
- What's the IP, how many player slots do you have?
- What kinds of game-modes are available?
- Who does your staff team consist of?
- Which is your website URL and do you have a Discord server?
4
Keep track of any replies, and make sure to get back at them quickly and politely. This will help your thread stay active and up high in the forum lists. Even if someone isn't particularly fond of your server, you must act in a calm, professional and polite manner. Not all servers appeal to everyone, and you need to respect that. After all, you don't want to be seen as a "rude" server owner by other potential players.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Advertising on Server Lists

Server lists are an easy way for potential players to find your server. Don't, however, go for a large server list where your server will get buried down at spot #12045 - try to find a relatively new yet respectable list website. That way you'll have plenty of traffic at your disposal, yet you won't have to compete against giant well-established server networks.

1
Design (or have someone else design) a nice eye-catching banner for your server. Make sure it's in the right dimensions (Usually 468x60 pixels) and has a pretty good visual representation of what your server is about. Some listing websites allow animated banners, but some don't, so if you go for an animated banner, make sure you have a static alternative!
2
Plan out and write a detailed description about your server's game-play and unique features. Unlike a forum post, however, stuff like your server's IP or website can usually be filled in on a special form - people have a short attention span, don't make it even shorter by being repetitive. Take advantage of the clean layout a server list provides, and use your description to write interesting facts about your server.
3
Make sure to fill out any forms the server list allows, like Video and Discord server links. They help with user engagement. It's one thing finding a listing with "just another PvP Minecraft server", and another one finding a server with a video trailer where an active friendly community and impressive buildings are shown, with a link to join Discord directly.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Advertising through Videos

1
Create a video. Although videos might not help with attracting crowds through other platforms (YouTube, Twitch) directly, they make an excellent addition to forum posts and server lists. Even if they're not something to be particularly proud of, audio-visual engagement will give your server a definite advantage over a similar server with just a text description.
2
Reach out to smaller YouTubers and Streamers for an advertisement deal. Unlike the free methods mentioned above, this might be costly, but on the upside, you'll know exactly what your ad's audience will be!
- You can find people looking to do advertisement deals on certain forums - usually video ads will consist of a YouTuber uploading your server's trailer on their channel, or promoting your server by uploading videos in which they join your server and hang around and/or play on it.
- Usually the latter will be more effective - that is assuming, of course, your server's gameplay is good and something that would attract potential players.