Competitors lurking on your forum

[Beverly]

Have you ever found your forum competitors lurking on your forum? Did you IP ban them or welcome them to join the community and post regularly? How do you deal with competitors?

 

[CM30]

Never found competitors lurking on my forums. Ever.

 

[Ld762]

Normally I see people welcome other admins to their site.
Your must be in a real competitive niche

 

[RH-Calvin]

I think competitors should visit your forum or website, as this will increase your popularity more and help in populating your website.

 

[Azareal]

The mere fact that your competitors go out of their way to visit your forums just shows how well your forums are doing as otherwise, they wouldn't really care that much about it so, I'd just see it as a sign of success.

As for dealing with them, I wouldn't really do anything unless, they started breaking the rules and so forth (same that I'd do for any member).

 

[THF_Martin]

I have never had proof that it has happened but it is bound to happen. I welcome it honestly. If you IP ban them for it, they will have fuel to make you look bad.

 

[Soapbox]

Everyone is a potential competitor. Let them be, they are more than welcome.
You can't live in fear, considerations like that take the wind out of your sails and rob you of much needed energy I feel.

 

[Moonface]

Leave them be. Everyone looks at things for inspiration and ideas to use for a starting point to their own creations. If they outright copy you, chances are they'll fail, because it means they have no capability to do their own stuff to be unique and stand out from an already established community.

 

[Mikaya]

Don't think I've come across any but if they were to, I wouldn't take any action (I would welcome them, in fact) but only if they behave and no break any rules. It's nice to know they care about your forum. 😛

 

[Joshua Farrell]

I love competitors! It gives me a chance to see how they run things on their forums, and to see where I need to do better, if I find something wrong, that the competitor is doing better at.

 

[Atrox]

The mere fact that your competitors go out of their way to visit your forums just shows how well your forums are doing as otherwise, they wouldn't really care that much about it so, I'd just see it as a sign of success.

As for dealing with them, I wouldn't really do anything unless, they started breaking the rules and so forth (same that I'd do for any member).

This reply is spot on. 😛

 

[Claraviolet]

That's something.We are supposed to welcome them just like any other user.If they are trying to attract other users to their own forums,only then we have to step-in ^^