How to Create and Maintain a Successful Forum

[Deleted member 25872]

0) Plan your forum. This is the most important way to know what people are into. Open up a word document or notepad. Have a look at some of the popular forums and get some ideas!

1) Create your forum. Try and make your idea unique to other forums. Forums can be created for free at http://www.prophpbb.com/ http://www.freeforums.org/

2)It is a good idea to create maybe two or three threads in each forum area, so that visitors to the site, and new users, will have somewhere to post. Many new forum users are too shy to post new threads on their own.

3) Share your website on social media. This will be a great way to get users and other people to sign up on your forum.

4). Create a set of rules and put in on Global Announcement. Rules are very important so people know how to behave on your forum

5) Look out for good and active people. Pick them to be a moderator on your forum. This will help keep spam and from people breaking the rules.

Thanks for reading. If you have any questions on this topic, don't hesitate to ask. I hope you have a great day! 🙂

 

[commandermadi]

One of the most important tips you didn't mention is to really strategically plan your forum before launch. Decide the niche you are best willing to provide content for, check how many people around the web might be interested in your niche and most importantly check out for competition, especially fierce one.

 

[Deleted member 25872]

One of the most important tips you didn't mention is to really strategically plan your forum before launch. Decide the niche you are best willing to provide content for, check how many people around the web might be interested in your niche and most importantly check out for competition, especially fierce one.

Thanks for picking up on it! The original post has been edited. 🙂

 

[awesomeaniruddh]

Some great tips. I'd like to add on that you probably don't want to be running a free forum for too long because it seems unprofessional. You want to get a domain ASAP. If you can't afford one, then FP offers one to you in exchange for 4000FP! So you get to contribute to your favourite forum AND get a domain!

 

[Deleted member 25872]

Some great tips. I'd like to add on that you probably don't want to be running a free forum for too long because it seems unprofessional. You want to get a domain ASAP. If you can't afford one, then FP offers one to you in exchange for 4000FP! So you get to contribute to your favourite forum AND get a domain!

Thanks! When I Receive 4000FP I will contact the admins! 🙂

 

[Deleted member 25872]

BUMP*

 

[Cyber]

Also you could temporary get a domain

Here:
http://www.freenom.com/en/index.html

 

[Korora]

Also you could temporary get a domain

Here:
http://www.freenom.com/en/index.html

Yes, besides getting a .tk I would suggest someone to get a .ga because it seems a lot more apealing to an audience.

 

[Deleted member 25872]

I personally think .com,.net, .org, and other personalized URL's are very professional if you can afford it! 🙂

 

[DudeThatsErin]

Great tutorials!

I personally think .com,.net, .org, and other personalized URL's are very professional if you can afford it! 🙂

I agree. 😛

 

[Reddyash]

My suggestion is when you are creating a forum
1. Have your own hosting and domain name which will make your forum to be professional.
2. You can use free forum softwares available at your hosting company or internet.

 

[BruceTheMoose]

I think keeping a forum clean and tidy is also very important, people don't like mess.

 

[DudeThatsErin]

I still don't think you have everything down. People can follow your steps to the letter plus everything here and have the problem I have which is with activity. It was good at the beginning but now it just sucks.

 

[Reverse Flash]

One thing that's worth noting is that it helps if you have a unique niche
Avoid free forum hosts like Forumotion or IcyBoards and install a forum software like MyBB or phpBB onto a web-host (preferably paid, but free ones work too in the beginning)
Even better if you use a paid forum software like IPB or XenForo
Also, make sure to get a domain name
.com's are the best, but .net's, .org's, and .co's are also good

 

[flash_drive]

Honestly , everybody has 99cents & if your looking for a VERY cheap .com domain for a year go on google and search "GoDaddy 99cent Domain"

Should be first link!

 

[Reverse Flash]

Honestly , everybody has 99cents & if your looking for a VERY cheap .com domain for a year go on google and search "GoDaddy 99cent Domain"

Should be first link!

Hmm, yeah
I honestly did not know about that
*goes off to get a .com domain name for $0.99*

 

[Forces of Steel]

Make sure to install an anti-spam plugin of some sort. Introduce specific security questions that most humans should be able to answer. Consider using a puzzle-like verification method, too.