What we need Damian is a landing page that looks like a forum. But it's got no content on it until the surfer sends his email. Then he will gain trust in the site by posting on the forum. But the forum is really a fake forum.
And the initial aim is to sell a membership.
On a landing page with no pictures or videos.
Tell everyone your brilliant marketing strategy in Vegas.
You said you had a site planning to test this brilliant idea. Have you got a link or shall I remind you of it in the future?