How do you get people to add stuff to your Wiki?

[Sunfrog]

Do you just say "Come play with my Wiki?" How do you get your Wiki to be successful? Why would people add to a Wiki? What would compel them to do so?

[boron]

Many people contribute to Wikipedia for free from a simple desire to share their knowledge. Some people post here and there to advertise their sites or try to get links. It can happen that I answer on some health related topics if I can help someone with this.

Again - saying which wiki in particular you're talking about can help to answer your question.

[Mystic]

People will take time and contribute if they gain from it or they feel strongly about it.
For eg. sometime back I saw a wiki having contests and awarding people who make contribution on a weekly basis.
Another exaple is Lostpedia (http://www.lostpedia.com), Lost fans who are very passionate about the TV Show would go and contribute.

[Arthur07]

Yip, as everyone has said if you have something worth taking about users will contribute.

If you are just starting up and you are really stuck, you could probably find a few new users in the same position and agree to contribute on each others wiki's and perhaps post a link to each others wiki. Just an idea. You would to do is ensure that everyone is promoting their wiki otherwise its a bit unfair. (Make sure your linking to a wiki which is somehow related).

[Submerge]

Simple, if there is any content or potential to gain knowledge from their standpoint, they'll contribute. But with no content there, it'll be some hard work.