Want to run a forum but don't know what the problem is

[AnAccount]

Hey everyone, I've been wanting to run a forum for some time, but at the same time, it seems like whenever I want to run a forum, I can never make it last. Maybe it's the fact that I'm relying on too much help perhaps? Should I do advanced hosting and try to do some of these things on my own? What is it that I'm not doing right. Paid hosting is out of the question, as I can't afford it.

 

[dan213]

Forums really just take time, there are so many out there so you need to do something to make people WANT to come to yours. Think of something unique, I know it seems like all the good ideas are snatched up but really sit down and think about it.

Maybe try a post 2 host, I know there are some people on here that have experience with that. I used Site Frost for a short time and had a decent experience, I know others that had bad experience there but I am just going off what I know.

Send me a PM if you need more help and insight. I wish you the best of luck with whatever you do decide, just hang in there and roll with the punches while keeping in mind that punches are sometimes a good thing 🙂.

 

[AnAccount]

I've tried post 2 host before but that didn't exactly work out for me either. Maybe I'll send you a PM on your thing and we can discuss this from there.

 

[Expired Account]

Bashley, this may be bashing you a bit but I think you should give up on forum owning, you just closed your old forum and now you want a new one?

 

[Kevin X Dragon]

Go get paid hosting, .com domain, vBulletin or IPB, and a custom style. If you do all that I don't think you are going to give up that easy, after all you spent $500 or more on the forum.

 

[AnAccount]

Go get paid hosting, .com domain, vBulletin or IPB, and a custom style. If you do all that I don't think you are going to give up that easy, after all you spent $500 or more on the forum.

I don't have that kind of money and I don't have Paypal either, otherwise that would be a good idea.

 

[Marc]

Go get paid hosting, .com domain, vBulletin or IPB, and a custom style. If you do all that I don't think you are going to give up that easy, after all you spent $500 or more on the forum.

Yes, sell the forum and give up. Simple and easily done, 😉

 

[Lee Lawson]

Wasn't it you that said you are quitting foruming as in creating forums like 4 days ago? Also when it knocks you down, get back up and learn from your mistakes.

 

[Kevin X Dragon]

Go get paid hosting, .com domain, vBulletin or IPB, and a custom style. If you do all that I don't think you are going to give up that easy, after all you spent $500 or more on the forum.

Yes, sell the forum and give up. Simple and easily done, 😉

From what I see Ashley give up before the forum even reach lot of posts. With no active members and low amount of posts she would not get any where the amount spent if she sold the forum.

 

[Null-11]

Let me just begin by breaking down your own statement.

Hey everyone, I've been wanting to run a forum for some time, but at the same time, it seems like whenever I want to run a forum, I can never make it last.

First off, you CAN make a forum last. In fact it would be as simple as you still having an old forum online and still be posting on it. The only problem is, you're giving up too easy.

What do you consider failure? I think you're being too hard on yourself. You shouldn't view yourself as having failed simply because your forum didn't get any new members or posts. Learn from your mistakes. There is a reason why your forums didn't reach 100 members, 100 posts, or whatever goal you gave up on. And I'd say the main reason is 'cuz you didn't keep 'em open long enough. Don't give up that easy!

There is no such thing as failure. Just an opportunity to learn from our mistakes.

Maybe it's the fact that I'm relying on too much help perhaps?

Always seek help from those more experienced than you. In fact, if you have the right team helping you with your forum you'll quadruple your chances of success. If you try doing everything yourself failure is almost guaranteed. I'm speaking from experience here... I've had plenty of forums fail because of this. When I didn't have the right team or I just tried doing everything myself it went down the tubes.

However there is a catch: You (as the Admin) must be able to take full responsibility and put forth the most effort for your forum. You can't rely on others to bail you out just because your forum isn't growing at the rat you want it to.

Should I do advanced hosting and try to do some of these things on my own?

Only if you plan on following through. Advanced hosting is not some magic pill that makes forum successful. If you buy hosting and approach running a forum in the same way you have then you'll just end up wasting your money. And no, you should NOT try to do it all on your own. That'll just drain you of energy and enthusiasm and will kill your drive required to make a successful forum.

What is it that I'm not doing right.

Unfortunately I cannot answer that for you. I haven't been there with you every step of the way to see what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong. You have to take a good look and see what worked and what didn't work. Do what works, stop doing what doesn't. And then try new things until you come across what works.

Paid hosting is out of the question, as I can't afford it.

You're going to end up paying for your forum in one of two currencies: Money or time. The question is: Are you willing to pay the price and make the effort?

 

[Ascent]

Stop doing what you were previously doing. Where you were previously doing was making terrible-looking forums (no offense, just being honest) on free forum hosts on a free subdomain.

It's time to move onto paid hosting, a proper domain, and maybe even better software if you have that extra money.

There should be no reason why you shouldn't be able afford paid hosting or a domain name. A domain is $9/year, and paid hosting is usually $3-$5 a month.

You don't have a PayPal account? Oh my. Then go create one? You don't need to be verified to accept payments.

 

[Marc]

Go get paid hosting, .com domain, vBulletin or IPB, and a custom style. If you do all that I don't think you are going to give up that easy, after all you spent $500 or more on the forum.

Yes, sell the forum and give up. Simple and easily done, 😉

From what I see Ashley give up before the forum even reach lot of posts. With no active members and low amount of posts she would not get any where the amount spent if she sold the forum.

lol. I was saying that if you purchased vB, a top level domain name and paid hosting, then if you gave up, you can sell the forum and make back some cash, hahaha!!!

Did you even take 5 minutes to think why I quoted your message?

 

[MitchellM]

Stop doing what you were previously doing. Where you were previously doing was making terrible-looking forums (no offense, just being honest) on free forum hosts on a free subdomain.

It's time to move onto paid hosting, a proper domain, and maybe even better software if you have that extra money.

There should be no reason why you shouldn't be able afford paid hosting or a domain name. A domain is $9/year, and paid hosting is usually $3-$5 a month.

You don't have a PayPal account? Oh my. Then go create one? You don't need to be verified to accept payments.

Yes but to be able to buy that stuff she needs to be verified. She may not be able to use a credit card or her bank account to verify it. what does she do then hmm?

 

[AnAccount]

Let me just begin by breaking down your own statement.

Hey everyone, I've been wanting to run a forum for some time, but at the same time, it seems like whenever I want to run a forum, I can never make it last.

First off, you CAN make a forum last. In fact it would be as simple as you still having an old forum online and still be posting on it. The only problem is, you're giving up too easy.

What do you consider failure? I think you're being too hard on yourself. You shouldn't view yourself as having failed simply because your forum didn't get any new members or posts. Learn from your mistakes. There is a reason why your forums didn't reach 100 members, 100 posts, or whatever goal you gave up on. And I'd say the main reason is 'cuz you didn't keep 'em open long enough. Don't give up that easy!

There is no such thing as failure. Just an opportunity to learn from our mistakes.

Maybe it's the fact that I'm relying on too much help perhaps?

Always seek help from those more experienced than you. In fact, if you have the right team helping you with your forum you'll quadruple your chances of success. If you try doing everything yourself failure is almost guaranteed. I'm speaking from experience here... I've had plenty of forums fail because of this. When I didn't have the right team or I just tried doing everything myself it went down the tubes.

However there is a catch: You (as the Admin) must be able to take full responsibility and put forth the most effort for your forum. You can't rely on others to bail you out just because your forum isn't growing at the rat you want it to.

Should I do advanced hosting and try to do some of these things on my own?

Only if you plan on following through. Advanced hosting is not some magic pill that makes forum successful. If you buy hosting and approach running a forum in the same way you have then you'll just end up wasting your money. And no, you should NOT try to do it all on your own. That'll just drain you of energy and enthusiasm and will kill your drive required to make a successful forum.

What is it that I'm not doing right.

Unfortunately I cannot answer that for you. I haven't been there with you every step of the way to see what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong. You have to take a good look and see what worked and what didn't work. Do what works, stop doing what doesn't. And then try new things until you come across what works.

Paid hosting is out of the question, as I can't afford it.

You're going to end up paying for your forum in one of two currencies: Money or time. The question is: Are you willing to pay the price and make the effort?

Probably one of the most helpful posts I've seen yet! I know the one thing I got to do is MAKE the time. Sure, I may not be home much, but that doesn't mean I can't squeeze in an hour or two (or more on weekends!) striving to make the forum what it should be. I know you're all going to complain and moan at me but I have chosen to work with MyBB as I have found someone more experienced than I who works with MyBB. I have signed up with hosting too and I'm just waiting for email approval.

 

[Ascent]

Stop doing what you were previously doing. Where you were previously doing was making terrible-looking forums (no offense, just being honest) on free forum hosts on a free subdomain.

It's time to move onto paid hosting, a proper domain, and maybe even better software if you have that extra money.

There should be no reason why you shouldn't be able afford paid hosting or a domain name. A domain is $9/year, and paid hosting is usually $3-$5 a month.

You don't have a PayPal account? Oh my. Then go create one? You don't need to be verified to accept payments.

Yes but to be able to buy that stuff she needs to be verified. She may not be able to use a credit card or her bank account to verify it. what does she do then hmm?

That's odd. When I was unverified, I was accepting and sending payments all the time.

If that's the case, then she needs to look for ways on how to verify it. It's not like it's absolutely impossible.

 

[Null-11]

Probably one of the most helpful posts I've seen yet! I know the one thing I got to do is MAKE the time. Sure, I may not be home much, but that doesn't mean I can't squeeze in an hour or two (or more on weekends!) striving to make the forum what it should be. I know you're all going to complain and moan at me but I have chosen to work with MyBB as I have found someone more experienced than I who works with MyBB. I have signed up with hosting too and I'm just waiting for email approval.

I ain't gonna complain. Congratz Ashley! :cheer:

And I'm glad to hear your working with someone on this project. Remember to keep him/her motivated and they'll return the favor. And remember to stick at it, no matter how difficult it might seem. As Napoleon Hill stated: "Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure."

P.S. - If you found my post helpful I'd be grateful if you clicked the rep button (

) by my avatar. But only if you think my post was that awesome. 😉

 

[AnAccount]

Okay, this post has been resolved. I will PM an administrator to have it locked. Thanks for the help guys.