Could collaboration be the key to making forums busy and thriving again?

[Cedric]

If you’ve been around the admin community - on forums like Administrata, Another Admin Forum, Forum Promotion, and others - you’ve probably noticed something: it’s often the same familiar faces. We’re a group of dedicated community builders, each striving to grow and maintain our own spaces. Doesn't matter if it’s a general chat forum, gaming, entertainment, or even another admin-focused forum, the niche doesn’t matter - we’re all working toward the same goal: creating a welcoming and active community.

I've often had an amusing thought. Let's look at the bigger picture. Right now, many forums feel like tiny villages in a big, quiet world. A world that, let’s be honest, isn’t as bustling as it once was.

Now imagine this....... what if all those villages joined forces? What if we worked together to build a thriving city? Combining our efforts with other admins in the same niche to create something far more dynamic and engaging than we could alone. Think about the energy, the activity, and the opportunities that would come from a united community.

It’s food for thought: could collaboration be the key to making forums busy and thriving again?

 

[Bryn]

Would this also include collaborations as a result of mergers? I've seen these mentioned about and saw the benefits one provided.

 

[Cedric]

Yeah. Now it’s just a thought I sometimes play with. But most of us own a forum. That is similar to some people we know.

Obvious example: FP, Administrata and AAF.

Another prime example: @Jay™ owns both Discussion Hub and OffTopix. It makes sense to merge them. Both have more or less the same audience.

Imagine if these just combined. We as members don’t need to visit 5 forums, just two. Our engagement level would automatically rise.

 

[Katrina]

I tend to think of FP as being City Hall with the other forums being various types of businesses and homes surrounding it.

When Malcolm and I did Promotion Future, we knew that the road would be rough without FP's support. FP has that name that is an automatic magnet for new forums who want to promote.

Yes, I do see the same types of people, but there are forums out there who aren't connected to us at all. I tried to reach out to them when I was doing PF, but they weren't interested in promotion. I had a very long list of forums and eventually gave up trying to reach out to them.

As for collaboration, the benefits of the smaller forums than FP is obvious, but the benefit for FP....what's that?

 

[Katrina]

it’s all pure speculation and fun of course. In reality this would be a lot harder than it sounds.

But still, there is some truth to it. We’ve seen a few new general forums rise up. A niche that is already very saturated. @Ashley S

I think some mergers don't happen because of head butting when the vision and even moderation protocols aren't the same. And egos? Maybe that plays a role?

Then I guess I have to admit that the history of some members means they don't work well together or even like each other. It takes a lot to overcome that and be willing to work together.

 

[Cedric]

As for collaboration, the benefits of the smaller forums than FP is obvious, but the benefit for FP....what's that?

it’s all pure speculation and fun of course. In reality this would be a lot harder than it sounds.

But still, there is some truth to it. We’ve seen a few new general forums rise up. A niche that is already very saturated. @Ashley S, @Phun @Gizmo - three general chat forums. Imagine if these three would combine forces instead of going each their own way.

See what I mean?

 

[Cedric]

I think some mergers don't happen because of head butting when the vision and even moderation protocols aren't the same. And egos? Maybe that plays a role?

Then I guess I have to admit that the history of some members means they don't work well together or even like each other. It takes a lot to overcome that and be willing to work together.

Well yes, you’d really need to be able to work together and have the same vision. Otherwise it’s a lost cause.

 

[Bryn]

Imagine if these three would combine forces instead of going each their own way.

Even if their forums are of the exact same niche, I would imagine both take a different direction so them combining in the near future may cause some friction between Gizmo and Ashley, but I don't know.

 

[Cam]

We could merge every forum being promoted on here and create something like.... Reddit?

One thing that has become clear in my experiences from buying/selling forums over the years is that it's all much easier said than done. I have intended to re-create a sports forum for many years, going back to my days of running Cmt Sports Forum, which I first started on ProBoards when I was 12. It's been my goal, but I continue to struggle and keep to that goal.

In the last few years, I've purchased a number of communities, especially ones within that same sports niche. I own a few different sports forums, with a couple of them being reasonably active. These two that are active both have their own unique users. Would it make sense to combine them all into a new modern Cmt Sports Forum (throwing that name away of course)? Potentially, but what users would stick around for that change? Heck, I could have kept DiscussionHub.io and got a head start on the off-topic area of this new sports forum.

Since you mention Jay owning DH and OT, I really question whether the correct move would be to merge. Sure, the users that are on both forums will gladly migrate to OT, but there are also a few users that have a special attachment to DH that probably wouldn't. At the same time, how can Jay effectively manage two separate general chat forums? It's tough either way you spin it.

 

[Jay™]

I see the logic in forum merging in some instances; however, as Cam said above, there are many users who have grown to like one place. For me, I lurk in many communities, and most of them have the same discussions. However, many of them have their own twist and take on them, which I like. That being said, I've contemplated merging both of my GD sites and decided I'm not doing it. Both communities have a different feel, even in the same niche.

Most of us here are forum owners, and we want our sites to be better and the best. I agree with Cedric's above comment about banding together; everyone should support each other to keep forums alive and not kick other forum owners.

It was also mentioned here that FP is a hub for everyone to enjoy. I see every user here on just about every other site I visit; we need to have fun with it and support the folks here as well. This place has been the center point for many years and will continue to be so. When I was an admin here, it was fun. Doing the battles was fun, helping others was fun, and spending time doing things on here to have others enjoy it was enjoyable. I want to see that continue for everyone.

Cheers 🙂

 

[Gizmo]

it’s all pure speculation and fun of course. In reality this would be a lot harder than it sounds.

But still, there is some truth to it. We’ve seen a few new general forums rise up. A niche that is already very saturated. @Ashley S, @Phun @Gizmo - three general chat forums. Imagine if these three would combine forces instead of going each their own way.

See what I mean?

The way I see mine is that even if only two people posted I would still stick to it because it's a hobby and a passion. I regretted selling my previous forums but let down after let down with people who were supposed to be running them with me.

Honestly I'm shocked by the amount of people going onto my forum willingly and taking part. It's a month old tomorrow and we are already surpassing a lot of newer forums that are this young and yes some members are from paid posting but I also have people posting there because they like the forum.

 

[Nebulous]

Now imagine this....... what if all those villages joined forces? What if we worked together to build a thriving city?

I probably wouldn't like that. I've been on a few MEGA forums with thousands of active members. Makes you feel like you are lost in the crowd, shouting into the wind. Makes you feel like, whats the point of even posting? Nobody will see or acknowledge my post as it will be buried in a few minutes. I think a forum is perfect when it has around 20-50 active members who post on a regular basis.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I'm a social media influencer, I guess. LOL. That's what others have called me.

I've developed my social media fanbase through many techniques. One of the biggest techniques has been through collaboration.

It allows each collaborator to share their audience. It works really well if both collaboration partners are doing the same or nearly the same niche.

I definitely think forums should jump on board.

Collaborate a contest with one another. Utilize both forums. Get both forums involved where cross-membership and cross-posting is required. That keeps it interesting. It keeps it fun for everyone involved, too.

 

[cpvr]

I think collaboration definitely has a place in revitalizing the forum community. Sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas, and even forming affiliations can create a stronger network among forums. But merging forums or niches into one ‘city’ might not be the ideal solution for everyone.


Every forum has its own unique identity, culture, and vision. That individuality is what attracts users to specific spaces—it’s the charm of being part of a ‘village’ tailored to their interests. Merging too many forums risks losing that diversity, and with it, the personal touch that makes each community special.




Instead, I think the key lies in partnerships. Admins can collaborate on shared events, cross-promote their communities, or work together on projects that mutually benefit their niches. By maintaining individuality while fostering connections, we can bring more activity and engagement across the board without diluting the essence of what makes each forum unique.




So, while combining forces might work in some cases, I’d advocate for a collaborative network of thriving villages rather than a single bustling city. It’s about finding the balance between unity and individuality to truly strengthen the forum world.

 

[greenhost.cloud]

If you’ve been around the admin community - on forums like Administrata, Another Admin Forum, Forum Promotion, and others - you’ve probably noticed something: it’s often the same familiar faces. We’re a group of dedicated community builders, each striving to grow and maintain our own spaces. Doesn't matter if it’s a general chat forum, gaming, entertainment, or even another admin-focused forum, the niche doesn’t matter - we’re all working toward the same goal: creating a welcoming and active community.

I've often had an amusing thought. Let's look at the bigger picture. Right now, many forums feel like tiny villages in a big, quiet world. A world that, let’s be honest, isn’t as bustling as it once was.

Now imagine this....... what if all those villages joined forces? What if we worked together to build a thriving city? Combining our efforts with other admins in the same niche to create something far more dynamic and engaging than we could alone. Think about the energy, the activity, and the opportunities that would come from a united community.

It’s food for thought: could collaboration be the key to making forums busy and thriving again?

I love this idea. It's like envisioning a vibrant city where every forum contributes its unique flavor, creating a bustling hub of activity. Collaborating could really amplify our efforts, turning those quiet villages into a lively metropolis of shared passion and engagement.

 

[Nomad]

Collaborations can help but it is not a sustainable method, you cannot expect the users of another forum that you collaborated with to consistently post on yours