My site is mainly driven by freeroll players (absolutelyfreerolls.com – LOL) so I never got into this first looking to make a lot of cash.
My forum had about 30 members before I started my forum freerolls and like you my cash games were empty. I let my forum build up a bit more before I decided to start another cash game attempt. Once my membership at my forum started to grow, I set up a poll to find out where everyone likes to play the most for cash). The concensus left me with 2 main rooms. My last buy-in game ($2 Buy-in + $50 added) had over 14 players and I got 4 new depositors out of it. That’s about what I was expecting.
The second room was only one table but that got me 2 new deposits as well. Again, just was I was hoping for. I have a few more buy-in games coming up and I hope I get the same results. What I recommend doing is schedule your buy-in game after your freeroll (a few days later). Also, ask the poker room to add some $ to the prize pool. Most will do it for you. If people are just playing for the buy-ins, why play in yours, they can hit a sit’n’go anywhere for the same price. But if they are playing for a Guaranteed Prize (the added money), they will be more apt to buy-in then.