Making A Successful Forum

[CoolGuy]

Let's talk about this topic and help out struggling forums.

I say:

Have a rather interesting skin that matches what the forum is about.

Don't make too many forums at the start of forum. This can be done when you have a nice memberbase who are posting in them.

Get the name of there. Post the link in other forums and websites.

Have a very nice banner.

Have very good core members and moderators. By good I mean coming often and posting. Inviting members.


Come on guys this is a hot topic. Let's chat

 

[adam_uk]

i was going to say dont make to many forums at the start it scrares members away

also doing some reasearch before hand on what competition you have will help

 

[CoolGuy]

Yes that's also very true.

 

[DomainOgre]

I think getting a core membership base and capable mod staff is the most important.

 

[CoolGuy]

Yep. indeed. But I believe in installing mods early they shall be very active and bring peopleto the sites .

 

[DomainOgre]

Yes, good ones will .

 

[Slewey]

agree with all the facts...

getting core members and a good staff would be most important indeed...


having some contests etc. once in a while too...

 

[Roenick]

agree with all the above.

i would also say using an intuitive interface is key. i've seen forums that use inferior software and are difficult to navigate. this scares users away.

i also like the idea of a user hierarchy like they have here where posts # and np$ are displayed. it encourages more posts.

 

[CoolGuy]

Of course.

Mods for whatever forum it is whether it be Vbulletin,IPB,Phpbb should be installed but again the modsshould be appropiate to the site. Too many mods on a forum can kill it.Looks sloppy etc. If it was a graphic artist forum a picture gallery mod should do well.