Hello everyone, I have a problem and I am requesting some help. I currently do not have a form and wish to change that situation by opening a forum of my own however, the previous forums I have operated have failed and have wasted much of my time. I usually put a great deal of effort and time in my forum and yet they turn out to be unsuccessful. I believe the topic is one of the major problems, as well as the accessibility of the forum ( Where I can advertise it - or where people can hear about it ) and finally the competition. Being original is becoming harder and harder considering the amount of content the internet contains.
Therefore, you guys may possibly be able to help me out. I would need a list of topics and ideas that would motivate you as a user to join a forum. Any tips or guidelines are greatly appreciated.
I wouldn't suggest making a gaming forum unless you have MANY good ideas on making it original and something other gaming forums do not have.
I wouldn't suggest making a promotional forum at this moment as many many have been opened and unless you have things that others can't copy, then well, go for it! Now days, promotional forums are all the same and people don't usually want to visit them because they already know what it will be.
General Forums generally never make it as well. If you make a forum based on one topic for say, you will gather many of the same related members which would be nice and your members know they have something in common. Thats totally your call on what subject.
There are many different things out there that you can make a forum on now days and the key to making a successful one is to make it unique. People love uniqueness.
Also, the hosting! Members generally do not like free hosts that are slow, ad-supported and usually crash!
If you need really good hosting for free, I would recommend WeHostYour.Info! We have a free package that will allow you to get started and to get on your feet. If you tend to like the hosting, you can purchase an upgrade for only $1 to the next level of hosting! Also to mention; it's not ad-supported! We will not place ads on your site, we know that placing ads are annoying and takes away from traffic! That's not what we want to do, we want you to enjoy your hosting, not get annoyed with it!
I really hope that you get some good ideas on a subject and to get a successful forum. Good luck to you!
YourMaster, I'd suggest that your first considerations should be based on what interests you, rather than what interests potential members. As you have already found out, running forums is not easy and it takes a lot of time and dedication. You are much more likely to stick with your forum over the long term, if the topic of the forum is one that interests you and that you have some expertise in.
What topics do you like discussing? What are the topics that you are comfortable with and feel that it is a subject where you can be helpful to other people?
This is primarily because experienced forumers tend to think broadly within predefined "genres." :idea: The truth of the matter is that often newer administrators are most successful because they have not been indoctrinated with the categories that you and me tend to think in. (Promotion, gaming, entertainment, et cetera...)
I would tell you to think outside the box, but in this case there is no real "outside." The closest you will get to "different" is by zooming in as far as possible. Take out your microscope and get down to "cell zoom." Search around until you find a cell that both interests you and isn't yet occupied. 😉
Recently, a friend and I were looking to start a gaming forum. Realizing the genre was far too broad, we did just as I explained: took out our microscopes and found a fantastic unoccupied cell. A few weeks ago, we launched the first ever forum dedicated to Gaia's MMO, zOMG. In just seven days, two thousand posts had been made and one hundred member had joined. 😀
Originality is out there and waiting for you - finding it is the hard part! :great:
Even if it's a rare topic, if you're interested in it chances are there are like minds out there. You have to figure out where these people hang out online. go there and advertise. Then be prepared to work your ass off every day for as long as your forum's around. Because once activity kicks up the work grows it does not decrease. If there's one thing running a large forum has taught me it's that it isn't a put-your-feet-up job.
But your job does change as your forum grows, you become more like a manager of your lower staff, kind of like the one pushing the buttons and adjusting the levers. Yet you still need to just go on there and converse and interact with members esp. new members. {Hopefully you enjoy doing so!} The more in tune you are with it the more successful you can make it.
A small forum should start out more specialised. Otherwise it spreads itself too thin. As it grows you can begin to expand into related topics, etc. if you wish.
I cannot thank you enough for your amazing advise! You brought up some great points that I would have never thought of. I will be looking deep within me to find topics that interest me, and others.
I'll keep you guys up-dated and will obviously be advertising it on this website if the forum ever gets created.
Once again thank you dearly,
-Master
I should be good for now, I'm currently brainstorming some designs and topics. Until I get further ideas I rather be a Moderator. Since my previous forums have failed, I really want to make the new one that will last much longer.
Thank you once again for your wonderful help.
-YourMaster
