What can you possibly do?

So I guess this is more of a question to the community and a plea of help that I know I'll get a few trolls here and there(it's the internet, I've come to terms with that), but I'm stuck. You see, my FC has lost some active members to just, life. Things happen, also they just lose interest with the shiny game. I'm okay with that. I still enjoy it, but now I'm left with the task of trying to get more and more members to fill in those gaps and more with new members. Yet I see almost no new members and trying to advertise about your FC gets you nothing but hate from other players as they accuse you of being just as bad as the Gil Sellers(I would only shout every minute or so). So, help on ways to recruit new members? I don't know where to go from here. A lot of my members are talking about the option of just splitting, which I would rather not happen at all. I want to go out fighting at least.

Maybe just advertise on http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/forums/820-Coeurl ?
Or try sending a tell when you join a party finder and see anyone with no FC.
The same could be done by your FC memebers even if they cannot invite directly.

I've seen people using the Party Finder to advertise for FCs, might be worth looking into.

hmm, when you party with people who arn't in an FC ask them if they would like to join? Partyfinder adverts are also an option. (Though some people find this annoying like the shouts.) Put up an advert on the forums here. Do you have a FC website or facebook group? Put a link to it in your signature.

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Originally Posted by Mazi

I've seen people using the Party Finder to advertise for FCs, might be worth looking into.

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I will try to stay away from that kind of FC, though. The party finder is for finding parties, not for advertising---and that is my opinion; however, if the FC is doing something that in my opinion isn't right, it's likely they simply aren't a good fit for me, hence I won't join them.

One way (which is the good old fashioned way) is to use the party finder to do content as you normally would, and when you find a good player (in terms of skill or chatting or whatever your criteria) that isn't affiliated to an FC, ask them. Better than advertising and getting a bunch of people who just want perks and don't really interact with your FC at all.

After all, you really only need 10~12 to have a healthy roster for current content.

Perhaps you can still get into the FC recruitment contest before the Jan, 14 deadline?
Link:
The Free Company Recruitment Contest Entry Deadline Draws Near! (1/10/2014)

I can't get a decent video done. I can't shut my hud off, and it would be mostly just me as my three other actives right now are actually busy with something in life(One just got back from vacation). So, while it's a good idea, I don't have the manpower/Time to do the contest.

I did not know you COULD try and recruit in the server forums. Thought it was just in the Company Forums. I'll try that. And there is almost no one left with no company. Honestly, those that are in Coeurl, are those that do not want one. I've tried going to the lower areas, around Sastasha, to see if there are groups trying to do that, but, no one. Any low dungeon is just higher levels doing the Duty Roulette and the Party Finder is just full of Hydra/Primals/Coil.

The most common approach I noticed is fc members asking non fc players after they successfuly played together using PF if they'd be interested in a Free Company. Like others said using the forum for your server is certainly a good idea. Otherwhise try to shout in Mhor Dona once in a while that your fc is looking for members. But don't spam it once every minute that will only get you negative attention.

Thanks for all the advice so far people. It does help! I'll try and just say it in each city ever, hour? Would that work? It isn't super spammy at all(though I don't think once a minute would be either but...)?

Run Free Titan HM services.

Any person you carry through who is a decent player, ask them if they want to join. There are lots of decent players stuck in not so decent FCs. If you guys come across as both friendly and competent, you will get new members.

Join party finder groups and socialize. Find people you enjoy playing with and play more with them in the future.

If you find someone you really get along with, ask them if they're looking for a FC. If so? Invite them. If not? Oh well; you've made a friend.

Then again, I feel that guilds/FCs/whatever (if they're to be formed at all) should come from groups formed naturally during the course of normal gameplay rather than via 'recruitment', so meh.

- Can use forums to post about your FC recruitment
- Shout (recruitment info)
- /tell players (never ever toss blindinvites , it just will ruin FC reputation at all)
- Make people know you , trust you (as already mentioned HM clears , get 1~2 Newbs in coil T1-3 runs , help ppl's , make friends)

Shouting about your FC every minute is a lot. I can see why people would get annoyed by that. Try toning it down to once every half hour to an hour. Or only do it when you change zones or something like that.

Sorry to hear you're having problems. I run a Free Company and I understand that it can be a hard task replenishing the ranks, though I'll share some information on what I've been doing since release.

I first started up the Company with a couple of other people I met while doing a Brayflox run a few days after release. From then onward I kept bumping into new people I got on well with, both in runs and while messing around in Gridania. I never liked the idea of doing shouts and decided early on that we were going to be a small, hand picked bunch; favouring quality over quantity. How my recruitment works now is as follows:

1. Are they in a Company? If the answer is no, move onto number 2.
2. Is their name offensive? If no, move onto 3.
3. Send them a tell, a simple greeting will do.

I want to find out more about them, before I unlock our front door and let them roam free with our family; so before outright inviting them I will start a conversation. I'll comment on their class, their appearance or anything we have in common and see how they respond. Obviously hostility, ignorance and sabotaged broken English are signs that I need to move along. After this though I'll cut to the chase and tell them honestly;

"We're looking for new members and I saw you weren't in a Company. If you would like to join us, you're more then welcome."

You can even go on to comment about the current problems you've been having:

"Our Company is going through hard times. We've had a few people leave due to real life issues and so on. I'm here trying to get it back on it's feet."

Honesty is key. You don't want to start off on the wrong foot with people you could possibly be spending the next couple of years of your life gaming along side. After all, a Free Company is the main attraction to a lot of people playing these games; they play for the Community; as do I. I've had a number of our members say they might have left the game a long time ago, were it not for our Company.

Once you have the members you need to keep them occupied; don't leave people out. Provide help whenever you can. As a leader you also need to be the most selfless of the bunch, always sticking your neck out for others. Be polite, be fair and try to set a good example. It's also important that you weed out any bad eggs, that might give your Company a bad name or upset your other members.

Best of luck to you Lokean, from Ashira and Seventh Heaven - Cerberus.