How to Grow Your Discord Server in 2025: A complete Guide

Starting a Discord server is easy, but growing a Discord server into a thriving, active community is a challenge that many server owners face. In 2025, the competition is fierce, with millions of communities vying for attention. Whether you run a gaming clan, an anime fan club, or a study group, you need a solid strategy to attract and retain members.

If you’re wondering how to get more members on Discord, you’ve come to the right place. This ultimate guide covers the most effective, proven strategies to advertise your Discord server and build a loyal community.

1. Optimize Your Server for First Impressions

Before you start inviting people, your server needs to look professional and welcoming. Think of your server as a storefront—if it looks messy or empty, people won’t stay.

• Clear Channel Structure: Organize your channels with clear categories. Don’t overwhelm new users with too many channels at once.
• Professional Design: Use a high-quality server icon and banner. A unique, animated icon (if you have Nitro) can make a huge difference.
• Onboarding: Set up Discord’s built-in Onboarding feature. This helps new members choose their roles and channels immediately, increasing retention.
• Welcome Message: Create a friendly welcome message that guides new users on what to do first (e.g., “Read the rules,” “Introduce yourself”).

2. Leverage Discord Listing Websites

One of the most powerful and passive ways to grow your Discord server is by using Discord listing websites. These platforms act as search engines for Discord servers, allowing thousands of potential members to find you organically.

Why Use Listing Sites?

Listing sites put your server in front of people who are actively looking for communities to join. It’s free advertising that works 24/7.

Top Recommendation: Astrocord

When choosing where to list, you want a platform that is modern, user-friendly, and high-traffic. Astrocord is a prime example of a next-generation listing site.

• Modern Interface: Unlike older, clunky sites, Astrocord offers a sleek experience that makes your server look good.
• Easy Bumping: You can keep your server at the top of the list by “bumping” it regularly.
• Better Visibility: Because it’s a newer and faster-growing platform, your server has a better chance of standing out compared to oversaturated legacy sites.

Pro Tip: Don’t just stop at one. List your server on multiple directories, but focus your bumping efforts on high-quality ones like Astrocord to maximize your return on effort.

3. Master Social Media Promotion

Don’t limit your promotion to Discord itself. The biggest servers often have a strong presence on outside social media platforms.

• TikTok & YouTube Shorts: Create short, viral clips related to your server’s niche. If you’re a gaming server, post funny gameplay moments. If you’re an art server, post speedpaints. Always include your Discord link in your bio.
• Twitter/X: Join conversations relevant to your niche and plug your server when appropriate (don’t spam!).
• Reddit: Look for subreddits that allow self-promotion or have weekly “advertise your server” threads. Subreddits like r/DiscordAdvertising are a good start, but niche-specific subreddits (e.g., r/Valorant for a Valorant server) are often better.

4. Host Events and Giveaways

People love free stuff and fun activities. Hosting events is a great way to increase Discord members and keep your current ones active.

• Nitro Giveaways: A classic for a reason. Hosting a Discord Nitro giveaway is a surefire way to get a spike in joins.
• Game Nights: Host weekly game nights (Among Us, Jackbox, Minecraft) to build a sense of community.
• Tournaments: If you’re a gaming server, organize tournaments with small prizes.
• Art/Meme Contests: Encourage creativity and interaction.

Crucial Step: When you host an event, ask your members to invite their friends to participate. This creates a viral loop of growth.

5. Form Partnerships with Other Servers

Networking is key. Find other servers that are similar in size and niche (but not direct competitors) and propose a partnership.

• Cross-Promotion: You post their ad in your “Partners” channel, and they post yours in theirs.
• Joint Events: Co-host an event or tournament to merge your communities for a day.
• Shared Resources: Share staff or bots to help each other out.

Partnerships help you tap into an existing pool of active Discord users who are already interested in your topic.

6. Focus on Member Retention

Getting members is only half the battle; keeping them is the other. A server with 10,000 members but only 5 active chatters looks dead.

• Engage with Everyone: As the owner, you should be active. Reply to messages, welcome new people, and start conversations.
• Active Staff: Recruit moderators who are friendly and active in different time zones.
• Leveling Systems: Use bots like Arcane or MEE6 to add leveling systems. People love seeing their rank go up as they chat.
• Unique Emojis: Add custom, funny emojis that people can’t find elsewhere. This encourages them to use your server to use the emojis (if they have Nitro) or stay to use them locally.

Conclusion

Learning how to grow your Discord server takes time, patience, and consistency. There is no magic button, but by combining a professional server setup with strategic promotion on listing sites like Astrocord, active social media marketing, and engaging events, you will see results.

Start today by polishing your server’s look, listing it on Astrocord, and planning your first big event. Your community is waiting!