Personally, I believe that a lot of places become popular simply by word of mouth. If you can create an inviting environment where you and your friends hangout and have a great time, then it is likely that those friends will start telling their friends about your sim and invite them to visit. I also think it is a good idea to promote your sim via social media. If you have a Facebook account for your avatar, then that's good place to start. Again, be patient and always stay focused on creating something that you and your friend like. Don't worry about that the competition is doing. Good luck.