Restarting or Theme Change?

[The Green Stranger]

I am considering taking my forum in a completely different direction. I want to change themes, but I know several members are in love with the current theme, although they do not post and keep it active. I really believe this change of direction is needed and could benefit the forum as a whole, but I don't want to lose my memberbase because of it. Would I be better off starting a new forum or overhauling the current one?

 

[Geoffrey]

If members aren't posting or active at all, don't be concerned about them. If they really cared, they'd be active. Do what you have to do to make the forum survive.

As for changing themes or starting a new board, a new theme is certainly a lot easier to add and will be easier to promote (so you're not seen as stopping and starting forums, which is often frowned upon). If your change in direction is drastic enough though, a new board may be necessary if your content is going to seriously change, your layout will be totally different, etc.

More information on what you're doing would help. If you're not comfortable posting that publicly, you're welcome to PM me and I can help you privately. 🙂

 

[RH-Calvin]

You won't lose your members, but changing a theme can effect your search engine rankings. You need to work more proficiently to keep up your ranking even after changing the theme of the forum.

 

[Migi]

I think what Geoffrey mentioned is ideal. If the change is major enough that you need to change too many fundamental aspects of the forum, starting a new one sounds like a better idea. Otherwise, you can try to add new changes or features to current forum, push discussions throughout the forum, and see how it goes first. You can always make the old theme an option at user control panel if you want to add new theme but worried if some members still like old theme.

 

[Cody]

I would just make a new theme. You can always leave the old theme as an alternate theme so that those who love it can still use what you currently have. Starting a brand new forum is an option, but it's going to be a lot of work.

 

[Ash]

New themes can sometimes help get new users and maybe even get some of your old users to post more. Like said above if the users don't bother posting then don't make decisions based on them

 

[Scorpio]

As previously said by a few, it doesn't matter what the inactive users say. If it'll help the forum then change the theme and if the older members love it make it so there are two available (three is using phpbb [prosilver] )

 

[pandaa]

I would just make a new theme. You can always leave the old theme as an alternate theme so that those who love it can still use what you currently have. Starting a brand new forum is an option, but it's going to be a lot of work.

I agree with this. A theme change really isn't the biggest thing in the world, and content is what it's always going to be about. Case in point, I've been on some pretty ugly forums for a long time, just because I liked the subject matter and the memberbase. 😛 If your members make a fuss, you can always put the theme back as an alternate option, but I would focus more on developing your community than aesthetics at this point.

 

[USHost247]

If the members are not active at all, then they're not really putting any kind of benefit to the forum, so don't worry about changing the team losing member base because their already gone. A theme change is not the biggest change in the world. You need to focus on was going to make your website survive in last. In a forum it some more about the content rather than the look. Of course looks are great, but what makes a forum thrive is having great members that actually post and keep active on a daily basis. Do what you think is best for your own website as you know your website the best, members will come once it is thriving again.