Well build your town with a set theme e.g medical or modern or style of the country. Also add some co-mayors and make a town threaf
Town thread, public farm, portal, free water placement if you have it. And have all that in place before you start selling plots, not as a future maybe. My town went from 0 to 33 residents in one week, and so far only one minor grief, and only two departures. Good luck!