I don't know what you tried however there are hundreds of possible solutions.

A good sturdy cat tree in the right location is the key. Here is our latest trees (big for our 8 furkids)
http://www.declawing.co.uk/scratchingposttree.html


The tree needs to be in the correct location, ie close to where the cats sleep.

Allow for a full heigh scratch, without the tree wobbling.

All cats have different preferences to a 'good tree'

This varys :-

1 : As to size of tree

2 : As to orientation either vertical or horizontal

3: As to material solid wood, carpet, sisal rope, sisal material, cardboard

There are endless ways of encouraging scratching ON a post and discourage scratching elsewhere, I'm writing an article which I'll post when I have finished it.