In the message board world, forums close just as quickly as they open, although those that close usually die off slowly before closing.
I used to be an avid message board member in the early 2010's and late 2000's. I created message boards left and right that I thought had potential but ultimately ended up going nowhere. I believe this is mostly because 1) I had no eye for demanded topics amongst the Invisionfree/Zetaboards community (the community I was a part of) and 2) I was late to the game and younger than most of them, and thus less social awareness
With that in mind, how long do you reasonably foresee your message board being open?
Keep in mind that when I ask this, I make no assumption about anyone's message board. I am just asking how far in the future do you think your message board will be open.
Mine's at the one year mark. However, I cannot honestly answer this question. I would HOPE it would stay open AND stay active for years to come. But with most members having their own forums & on each others, I see a lot of burn out.
I think it's entirely based on owner motivation and user interaction. I've had forums that have lasted weeks, some lasted months, and I've had forums that have lasted for years (my longest was 2001 -> 2018 before I made the decision to shut it down and focus on a different project for a different group of people), it really depends on if you can get the activity going, get the engagement and keep the motivation. I know that I'll always be involved in forums to some degree, because I love forums, but each project is going to be different and is going to depend on if you can keep motivated until the traffic picks up and it, hopefully, catches on.
Used to being inactive or in most cases just nothing going on, Yeah at times I feel like sites are dying however if you are able to keep it going then please do so 🙂 Nowadays it's not easy to get a site running with traffic and people being active unless you have luck.
End of the day Bayside for me is not active as I like it to be, no new content other than when I get around to doing it and also it's 6 years old this year 🙂
My latest film forum has only just hit 6 months so obviously I want to at least make it to a year and beyond.
The other one, well it will be 19 in August so all being good we'll not only open for our 20th next year, but I'd like to think we will still be going for the 25 years as well!
I foresee Christianity Haven continuing on for at least a few more years. As for Crafter Craze, it depends on how frustrated I get with trying to get new active members.
