Quotes from Richard Millington

sole goal of the inception stage is to achieve critical mass by cultivating a small group of highly active members in the community. This group becomes the foundation upon which to build the community. Unless a small, active, group is established it is impossible to develop a successful long-term community.

Your goal is to get these members into the habit of regularly visiting the community to see the responses to their own posts. It takes time until visiting a community becomes a habit. Until then, members need frequent reminders to participate. Automated reminders are not enough.