Makes you join?
- Thread starter .Zach
- Start date
The design can really make a difference whether I join a forum or not. If I see that it was quickly made without any effort I normally won't join the forum, I mean if the admin didn't put any work into making the site look nice, who says he'll put any work into running the site?
Stats are also something I look at, but that is a bit more secondary. I'll join a smaller site without a lot of people if the ideas are good and original, and if it looks like the admin is putting a lot of work into it.
Lastly I'll look around the forum's discussions to see if interesting people are on the board, otherwise why bother registering if there is no one cool to chat with? If a board doesn't allow guests to view it I normally won't register.
Those are pretty much all of the basic steps I take before joining a forum.
Stats are also something I look at, but that is a bit more secondary. I'll join a smaller site without a lot of people if the ideas are good and original, and if it looks like the admin is putting a lot of work into it.
Lastly I'll look around the forum's discussions to see if interesting people are on the board, otherwise why bother registering if there is no one cool to chat with? If a board doesn't allow guests to view it I normally won't register.
Those are pretty much all of the basic steps I take before joining a forum.
As long as it offers what I'm looking for.
I was looking for a webmasters general chat forum that allowed me to advertise my website.
so I signed up for forum promotion.
I don't care if it's ugly, that is kid of a ridiculous reason not to sign up.
I was looking for a webmasters general chat forum that allowed me to advertise my website.
so I signed up for forum promotion.
I don't care if it's ugly, that is kid of a ridiculous reason not to sign up.
Not really, it can really tell you how much devotion an admin has to a forum. Think of it this way; will a forum owner care more about a forum he spent 2 days designing or a forum with the same stats with all default images/theme etc.Xtron said:
fantanoice
Madly Diligent
Stats are always nice. I don't usually like forums with a member to post ratio less than 1:100 (though if it's between 1:50 - 1:100 I don't mind too much). Nice skins are always a plus as well.
I also like helping out smaller forums, because it's easier to become known at them and to make friends. If the forum is small, but still active for its size, with a nice theme and something I can contribute to, I'll generally join them.
I also like helping out smaller forums, because it's easier to become known at them and to make friends. If the forum is small, but still active for its size, with a nice theme and something I can contribute to, I'll generally join them.
Rich Edmonds
Seasoned Veteran
Completely agree, same things I look for as well as the design, staff etc.fantanoice said:
Red Herring
Paragon
I often prefer the creativity of the owner.
I know some friends of mine who have no idea how to edit PHP files, but they've done wondrous things with phpBB3 simply by inserting BBCodes onto forums, redirect forums, and have amazing ideas for the Community to take part in.
I often like to investigate the community as well. And of course, the genre. The design has never actually affected my opinion too much, even though it can be the winning point.
I know some friends of mine who have no idea how to edit PHP files, but they've done wondrous things with phpBB3 simply by inserting BBCodes onto forums, redirect forums, and have amazing ideas for the Community to take part in.
I often like to investigate the community as well. And of course, the genre. The design has never actually affected my opinion too much, even though it can be the winning point.
Lee Lawson
Seasoned Veteran
I say good welcoming and polite staff always solving other members problems and helping other around forums. If your forum hasn't got nice gentle staff then no one will want to join your forum as your staff will scare them away with their behaviour and how they act towards other members of your forum.
Design is another thing. Have a good design on your forum your bound to get members. If you have a dark dull theme with no bright colours at all it will scare away members, but if you have a dark theme with a few bright colours well it shouldn't scare away members. All bright themes are good so I like forums with light themes.
I find some modifications and features on forums good. You can get a plain forum with no features and it is sitting there rolling in a ball of dust while you have a forum with 6 features init and your on a roll baby. 😎
What your forum is about catches my eyes at times. When you havea nice neat general community forum about discussion can be quite interesting or a gaming forum with a few features un-seen or a promotion forum with some features that other promotion forums can't copy.
There's lots more things i see in a forum but i can't be bothered covering.
Design is another thing. Have a good design on your forum your bound to get members. If you have a dark dull theme with no bright colours at all it will scare away members, but if you have a dark theme with a few bright colours well it shouldn't scare away members. All bright themes are good so I like forums with light themes.
I find some modifications and features on forums good. You can get a plain forum with no features and it is sitting there rolling in a ball of dust while you have a forum with 6 features init and your on a roll baby. 😎
What your forum is about catches my eyes at times. When you havea nice neat general community forum about discussion can be quite interesting or a gaming forum with a few features un-seen or a promotion forum with some features that other promotion forums can't copy.
There's lots more things i see in a forum but i can't be bothered covering.
Lord of Games
Reputable
For me, I check out how the members are with one another. If it seems friendly, then I'll check out the subforums. From there, I'll decide whether or not to join.
prettylolita
Reputable
the members if the are rude I wont even join.
I try and make all my members feel like family they tend to like that and it really helps get more members.
I try and make all my members feel like family they tend to like that and it really helps get more members.
EvenAngels
Reputable
You know, for me its actually the way people greet new members. The first thing I'll do is check the intro topics to see how people speak to each other. 😛
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