How do you start a forum?

[David]

There are a few novice forum owners here on FP, so my general question is: How do you start a forum?
What process do you undertake to create a new forum? Do you get a design and then think of forums? etc.

(this is not a thread for "I'm not going to create one, or I already have a forum etc.")

 

[Taz]

I would say the first steps are:
Think of a name
What software
What genre
Which Design
Hosting

Thats what I have so far.

 

[wigsaw]

I think the most important piece is research.

-Know how many forums already cover your topic
-Research all forum softwares available to you. Just because someone says vB is the best, it might not suit you.
-Get accounts on places like FP or TheAdminZone for quick answers to any questions you might have.
-Run your forum for a week or so with just your close friends to monitor any errors that may arise.

You can have a great name, shell out money for vB and great hosting, but you need to have the essentials locked down first 😀

 

[el canadiano]

The first one is right. That's why a lot of general discussion, general gaming, and admin/promotion forums don't do so well. There isn't that much need to go for vBulletin/IPB if you have, say a phpBB/MyBB/SMF forum which is doing well (and to be honest, the free guys are usually better when it comes to if the package is light or resource-intensive). The only one I'll add is to make at least 25-50 topics before opening, and make the forums asthetically pleasing. You won't get away with not doing homework in any subject in life, whether you like it or not.

 

[Icon]

It takes you some time to decide what the forum's title's going to be and what the forum's going to be about (you have to make sure the idea of your forum is not the same as other forums, lets say, you're going to make an anime discussion forum, before making the forum you have to search for other anime forums, if there's already an active anime discussion forum out there, it's really useless to make a new one, unless you're planning to compete against them), and how you're going to set the style and forums / sections / category up...

I've never owned any forum, I just administrate some, if I would ever start my own, the first thing I would do is look for a good free host, install a good free forum software (e.g. MyBB, phpBB, and so on), make a customized forum style, and set up the categories... After everything's done, I would install some add-ons I think necessary, post at least one Topic in each Category, and start Advertising!

And whenever I feel the forums are way too active, and I need a little help to handle any moderating or forum-related situation, I would promote the member who posts quality messages and who've contributed more than anyone / who've contributed a lot to the forums. One thing I would never do is promote my friends / best friends just because they are my friend, because, it's unfair from others' point of view, and they will have to earn the position just like every other members. When I can afford to pay money for my forum, I would switch to a vBulletin and a paid host.

 

[Dylan]

First of all you need to create the forum on based around a subject you are passionate about. This helps keep you motivated and dedicated to making your forum a sucsess.

Once this is done you need to choose the following things

• Software
• Forum Name
• Webhost
• Domain
• Design

 

[Wrighty]

You need to look at the competition - see what they do well, see what they do bad. Then do their good things better, and do their bad things well. 🙂

 

[wigsaw]

Another good idea would be to discuss your idea with some friends. At first you might think having a promotion forum or a general chatting community is a good idea. Your friends could go on to point out how many there already are and save you a LOT of time and hardship.

Of course this goes along with researching your niche but honestly people aren't doing a good job because how many promotion forums or generals do you see pop up daily? It's beginning to overwhelm me.

 

[el canadiano]

You need to look at the competition - see what they do well, see what they do bad. Then do their good things better, and do their bad things well. 🙂

You're right, but I just wanted to add maybe you want to create something that isn't quite big (maybe something without a forum).

 

[HawkPokemon]

First I think of a topic, then a name, then a url name, then the Forum skin. Once the Forum is created I add auto activation. Then I edit the skin to how I like it. Then I change the board preferences. After that I add smileys, and a Chatbox. Then I make the groups. Finally I do the Forums and now its all set. From time to time I will edit/add things.

I do this with Forumotion.

 

[Teekay]

Think of name, forum type and forum/categories, maybe also a theme to go it
Either get a free domain or go start with a paid domain
I already got paid hosting so I don't need to worry about that
Once the forum is set up, create the forum/categories
Create banner etc
Create start threads and some posts in every section
It's now ready for launch

That's about it.

 

[David]

Thanks for the comments.

For me, I would analyze the competition and see if the idea I have actually has potential or not. Then I would think of a domain because there aren't many good ones left.

 

[dan213]

All good posts here. I usually go in this type of order:

• Browse potential competitors, see what you can improve on with your site.
• Think of a domain name, this is the step I hate the most.
• See if there any special deals on hosting.
• Decide on software, I usually always use MyBB.
• Think of a design, I usually have a custom one made so it's original.

 

[Acorn]

...Start by not making a general discussion forum 😛

Well, not in every case, but general boards are a very heavily filled up niche. They're probably the hardest to get off the ground nowadays.

 

[David]

...Start by not making a general discussion forum 😛

Well, not in every case, but general boards are a very heavily filled up niche. They're probably the hardest to get off the ground nowadays.

True, they are the hardest, but I reckon in the long term, quite worth it. If your general discussion forum can break the million post mark, you're in the top 50 or so English general discussion forums.

 

[22_22]

Before you start a forum you need to decide on..

Forum software.
Genre of forum.
Forum style.
Sub name and domain name.
Fill every section with some posts and topics.
Find the right staff.

All I can think of at the moment. 😎

 

[Nebulous]

What process do you undertake to create a new forum?

I start with installing a forum software on my host.

 

[David]

What process do you undertake to create a new forum?

I start with installing a forum software on my host.

I knew someone was going to make that response.

But do you? Did you first install the forum software or did you first think of the idea?

 

[Deleted member 7467]

I start by finding someone I know real well to help get it started. I hate opening forums on my own.

 

[Bluezone777]

One thing I think many overlook is the necessity of having at least 10-15 preferably more close friends willing to join your board at the start and start up the beginnings of a community. Many people start up without anyone but themselves and it's a huge turnoff regardless of whatever else you do as no one wants to join a board without a community already present.