As a previous server owner and developer, I recommend a few things.
Firstly, there are hundreds of other servers around who use default plugins/addons so I recommend investing in a developer to make you new content to make your server unique.
Secondly, make friends in other servers under the same game mode so they can come and try out your server. That should boost your player count to ten or maybe twenty.
Thirdly, have a good staff team to moderate the server even while you are not around. It makes the server more enjoyable to those who care.
Fourthly, do NOT advertise on other servers as people will begin to dislike you.
If you get enough of a player base, people will begin to try your server, and that custom content and genuine "community" vibe will keep you going. If you have a bad server with bad content, people will not stay because there are better servers around.
But in all reality, it is purely chance. You may be competing with an absolute titan of a server so it might be hard to compete or maybe that titan server shutdown and you have tonnes of isolated players looking for a new server. Really luck of the draw most of the time.