Feeling frustrated

[iPhonefreak]

First off, this is the most frustrating to me. And in no way am I trying to get you to feel sorry for me, or i am in absolutley in no way bashing anyone at all, but it's been bugging me. Do I build bad forums? It seems like everyone signs up to everyone's forum willy nilly and it's like they put up a forum and they come. But I've noticed they don't seem to last very long. Where my forums stay up for years, and It's like pulling teeth getting members. Now, my new forum it seems to be getting people a lot quicker, but it's seem to plateau. I just don't get it at all.

Secondly, does anyone else think forums are getting a little bland? I mean, we are kinda falling into a routine here and nothing new is being done. Not really with us humans, but the software and all.

Thanks.

 

[Fergal]

it's seem to plateau. I just don't get it at all.

Plateaus are something we all experience when trying to do anything worthwhile. The real challenge is to move beyond them. Successful people are the people who don't give up when they reach plateaus, have a look at this link to see a great Bruce Lee quote on the subject http://isomkuadejournal.com/wp-content/ ... teaus3.jpg

I always liked SocialHut and feel that you should be proud of what you achieved there. When you work hard at something and it is not as successful as you would like, it is difficult to know if you should keep working at it or if you should try something else. Unfortunately I don't know the answer to that question.

 

[Migi]

Everyone loves one thing for a certain period, then gets bored of it. When something big happens they get excited and become active again, then disappear again. It's a circle. Everyone tries to come up with something new for the forum to invite members, but our brains have limits too. Unless you have easy, fun, popular new content every certain period (e.g. a new manga/comic chapter released every week so members have something to discuss every week), it's sometimes hard to keep on going.

And to your opposite I think it's us humans who are getting boring, not the software and all. I'm not following online forums too much lately but those which are advertised here for example have similar genre or content that it feels boring if you keep seeing it everyday. I don't say you guys build boring forums or bad forums. It's just like you get bored with singing or listening to the same song after a while no matter how much you like it at the beginning. It doesn't mean that the song is bad.

Basically it's something natural.

So it's like what Fergal says. If you can get through this point and come up with a solution, you win. If not, the forum dies. To me, taking a break once in a while is the cure. Just like how you enjoy holiday between school years/semesters, you refill your spirit to work again. And you need to understand when members have that kind of period too. What you can do is to give them that easy, fun, and popular content (which I know is not easy too, so hang in there!).

 

[iPhonefreak]

Thank you all!

Fergal-Thanks for the words. A lot of hard work has been done on social hut.

Phio- I haven't had a break since August of 2011. It may be time for one. 🙂 Thanks for the words!

 

[Medora]

Promotion forums will attract a certain group of people who believe that promotion forums are the end-all of promotion, when really they should be viewed as one of many ways to assist a forum administrator in improving the "visibility" and "attractiveness" of his forum.

Of course people will want to sign up to each other's forums to advance their own, as this is the simplest way to go about their promotion strategy, and this causes anxiety for the people who want to do more but do not see that they have to move beyond post exchanges and tit-for-tat posting with fellow forum administrators.

 

[Kaynil]

I personally think you and Archer have done a terrific team in your communities. I've enjoyed my stay. You are friendly and it feels good to be there. I am not much of a technological speaker so the niche is not one of my magnets, however I have found interesting discussions there and I know you enjoy talking about it, so keep doing it. Keep bringing the news, the topics and hopefully it will keep the forum interesting.

I think you are not alone feeling frustrated and feeling your effort is going through the hole in the bucket of your community. I've had that to the point I have basically given up my own forumotion community.

People are signing up, that means you are doing something right then, for many that is a difficult part. Now you have to figure out what make them change their minds, for me the promotion pone is a cycle. It gives a very nice first impression but we quickly discover there isn't much activity going around. it is a vicious cycle, you can't get the activity and your users selfishly won't put it into their shoulders to bring it if they feel confident they can find a forum as good as yours with more people.

Something that cost me a while to admit but I shall pass to you: Don't try to do everything by yourself. If you feel it is too much for you, don't try to rationalize it and simply be frank with yourself. If you have who to trust they can help you around. Also don't be afraid to encourage your members to engage for everyone well being in the community (just be careful that you don't put it as a chore).

I think you are in the right track asking for opinions, I think you should start to make a poll in your own places to see what things your members like and what things they like to be changed. Browse the suggestions boards and see the suggestions that pop often and if they have been properly addressed.

This may not be what you asked for but I still hope it can be helpful. 🙂

 

[iPhonefreak]

Thanks Kaynil! My philosophy is to never give up, and I won't stop making forums till one sticks.

 

[master412160]

Good luck mate! I believe in you and each webmaster here has probably been faced with your situation.

Its a challenge to test how far you'll go.

 

[iPhonefreak]

Thanks to everyone that has replied! I am glad I am not alone, but never give up!

 

[Ashley]

I've been on a couple of your guys forums and honestly, you and Archer both do a fantastic job of running them! I swear, for a niche like what you guys are doing, the pair of you have the patience of saints. I don't even have that level of patience for a niche like this, which is why I'm doing the niche I'm doing at all. All you gotta do is just keep pushing at it and try like heck and things will work out eventually.

 

[BeautifulAngel]

I thought Social Hut was doing amazing personally. I thought you did a fantastic job and I think that you're an awesome administrator. 🙂 Just keep up the good work, your hard work and dedication will pay off!

 

[iPhonefreak]

Thanks all! 🙂

 

[Bob Evans]

Where my forums stay up for years, and It's like pulling teeth getting members. Now, my new forum it seems to be getting people a lot quicker, but it's seem to plateau. I just don't get it at all.

I have felt the same way many times regarding my online store. One day there are a few sales and I think it's really going to take off and there will be a flood of new buyers. But then after that little rush - nothing happens for a week or more and I think: What's going on? I just don't get it. And I still don't. It's a mystery to me.

But I think it's important to keep building on what we do best and not let setbacks or obstacles put us off. People will always come and go, but if you have a core group that seems to stay with you, then that's an achievement in itself and something to feel good about.