Even on a niche forum there is always room for unrelated discussions that could actually produce really good content. F or instance, some members feel more comfortable posting new discussions in the general chat area, versus the niche subfroums. And, maybe this is more true when a member likes being on the forum or associating with the community but doesn't know much about the niche. That can happen a lot when you are friends with the forum owner or members but not really an active participant in the forum niche.
So, if you crack down on these members who are active in the areas of your forum unrelated to your niche, you'll risk losing an active member who is more than happy to create new content (even if not in the area you want). By trying to get your forum back on track, you would quell member enthusiasm.
So who do you find a balance in this situation? One idea would be to post original content in your niche subforums (as admin or owner) and allow regular members to post where ever they feel more comfortable. One advantage in doing this is how you are able to lead the discussions in the direction you want, rather than waiting for forum members to take the initiative.
I think it's very important to have at least one section unrelated to your niche where users can discuss anything they would like to. THAT however, should not be a big focus, it should just be there in case anyone gets burnt out on discussing your niche.
There's always a general chat forum in every community, and that's good. sometimes it's better to focus less on the niche. I would try my best to encourage discussion in the main areas and hopefully others will follow.
There should always be a place where members can take a break from the general niche. I would get bored even if it was my own forum and I couldn't go anywhere to take a break from it. I'd be more than happy to let members post when they feel they want to and where they feel most comfortable. 🙂
If you have no 'off-topic' section, you are already pushing potential members away! I know personally I won't sign up to a forum unless it has an off topic section regardless of how much I like the forum niche. I still need somewhere to post about other stuff or it becomes boring.
When my forum was still around, I had a friend who actually registered because we were friends, not because she knew what the forum was actually about. So at the beginning she spent most of her times around the off-topic area. She befriended newcomers who also posted there. Eventually I could make her to get to the on-topic area a few times, but still not too often. She was fond of the off-topic area.
I don't think it is bad to have a situation like that. And without the off-topic area, I would lose a valuable member. There should always be a balance, like what posters above had said. But we definitely shouldn't lose focus to the main area/niche of the forum!
I saw a forum split into two in an attempt to remain focused on its topic. One site was gonna be the on topic discussion, the other side the off topic stuff.
Both sides pretty much died out entirely, til eventually they just added a general discussion forum back in to regain activity.
So yeah, focusing on your niche to the exclusion of all else can certainly be a bad thing.
Not as to stifle people, no. I think the display itself regulates most reasonable people. This needs to be clear in a 'for dummies' way. If there is any doubt, the content should do it. If then people post off topic, it's never a problem to, as a matter of policy, move these posts over to a misc. section or to the relevant section.
