Server owners: how did you get your first 50 players?

The hardest part of running a server isn't the plugins, it's the first players. Let's share what actually worked, so new owners don't have to guess.

Tell us:
- What kind of server you run and how long it's been open
- What brought players in (server lists, TikTok, YouTube, Discord, Reddit, friends, events …)
- What didn't work and wasted your time or money
- How you got players to stay after their first visit

Real numbers help a lot ("10 videos on TikTok brought 30 players in a week") even if they are small.