What's next for my forum?

[Nikky Miyata]

Hello, I believe this is the best site to get some feedback on my forum. Last time I was involved with forums it was in Forumotion. That site died out an the owner moved onto IPB and I never heard from them since because I was graduating around that time and I had to time to be a staff member on his project. Now, I have decided to start a community of my own. Here's my checklist to get started so far:

1. Get a Host: Done (Liquidweb)
   
2. Get a Domain: Done. (I don't want to post it yet until I am ready to make it public)
3. Get a Forum Software: Got MyBB, Hated it, invested in IPS.
4. Get Social Media accounts: Got Twitter (my personal one which will be renamed after the site) and a Discord server which has 0 members
   
5. Use login handlers: Twitter and Discord. I haven't bought the Discord integration IPB is selling as of yet, I am only using the Github free version they gave.

So I've pretty much covered the basics. I haven't actually slept much as I started this 3 days ago. But I just wanted to get the basics down so I could get to making the usergroups, forum sections, features, addons etc.

The following are screenshots of all the sections I have created so far in my forum:

These are the sections I have made so far. As you guys can see I don't really have a niche yet, I've left that open for when I get members/posts I can decide what Niche is the most popular one. but it has a lot of areas of interest to post in I also have IP.Blog and IP.Gallery to offer even more to do. If users that like writing a lot/blogging can use the blogs and people who like to share pics/selfies/GFX artwork can showcase them in the gallery. So it's not just a forum it has those other apps too.

These are the usergroups I decided to use:

Administrator: Naturally myself and my right hand which I haven't met/chosen yet.

Super Moderator: Global Moderators that can also moderate the blogs/gallery

Moderator: Regular Moderators that can moderate all forum sections only

Premium Member: a VIP Member rank which users can buy anytime with 0 restrictions, and the ability to hide their own content, and moderate their own blogs/gallery as well as other options I'll add later on. Basically this rank is for sale to use profit from it for server fees and such or to purchase an addon users may really want.

Retired staff: Former staff members

Discord Member: a member that signed up via Discord

Twitter member: a member that signed up via Twitter

Verified Member: the normal member rank which is obtained after 10 posts.

New Member: A restricted rank that will not allow you to change your avatar, profile song or use Blogs/Gallery until you have 10 posts

These are price options for a premium rank:

Tier one is every 2 weeks
Tier Two is every month
Tier three is every 3 months
Ultimate is permanent with no renewals to pay.

Of course I'll even do coupon code giveaways to encourage users to buy these or award perma promotion as some kind of prize for X event.


I decided to get this done and then find a Forum Admins site to look at what I am planning and give me any advice/feedback.

Here's what I'd like to know from fellow forum owners: Should anything be modified? Should something be added or deleted? Did I do a good job getting the essentials down?


and thanks in advance.



Edit: The pictures show up as corrupted for some reason, here's the Imgur link it's read from bottom to top:

http://imgur.com/a/tq9tQ

 

[Page]

firstly Your images aren't showing up. So it's not helping as that much.

I see you have done allot and good to see you have an base that needs putting together and linked up so that members from the outside sign in fast and get into the content. What is your website about? I see that you tended to not share the domain.

What is the website Niche? important matter is the niche, Once there is an niche then it tends to go up like an dream.

Discord member! there is no need for that. Anyone from the members list can join with the Discord Integration plugin then same again with twitter member, I leave that out. I would make an rules up (needs paid plugin) that gives awards for your members like an twitter badge for joining the forum from twitter.

I'm here for you 🙂 I'm running two websites myself that are also IPB 🙂

 

[Nikky Miyata]

What is your website about? I see that you tended to not share the domain.

I haven't decided yet. Since I have no members or posts yet I only made sections of general interest: Programming, Entertainment, GFX etc. Some Niche's I personally like my site to be is either Roleplaying or GFX if I could find many users interested in that. Gaming, no, I see it's very used by a lot of communities.

Discord member! there is no need for that. Anyone from the members list can join with the Discord Integration plugin then same again with twitter member, I leave that out.

Yeah Basically the ranks Twitter Member and Discord Member are to list which login handler they used to join and then with this plugin I would buy to automatically place the members there. But I am thinking now after you posted Maybe I do have too many member level ranks and should eliminate them.

firstly Your images aren't showing up. So it's not helping as that much.

I left the imgur album link in the bottom. I also noticed other people posting images get the same result. Dunno why.

 

[Page]

I left the imgur album link in the bottom. I also noticed other people posting images get the same result. Dunno why.

Hasn't been the same since SSL was installed 🙂

Yeah Basically the ranks Twitter Member and Discord Member are to list which login handler they used to join and then with this plugin I would buy to automatically place the members there. But I am thinking now after you posted Maybe I do have too many member level ranks and should eliminate them.

Tend to get the main groups, From members to staff groups then VIP 🙂 then you also have posting ranks, from 0-5 semi new ranks then higher the there content the name changes. Semi new members have limited on what they can do, once members they see more.



Image for an example 🙂

I haven't decided yet. Since I have no members or posts yet I only made sections of general interest: Programming, Entertainment, GFX etc. Some Niche's I personally like my site to be is either Roleplaying or GFX if I could find many users interested in that. Gaming, no, I see it's very used by a lot of communities.

Looks to me you made an General forum. Maybe look around at other websites to see what they have to offer and add something that they don't have that won't to make people to join

 

[Nikky Miyata]

Tend to get the main groups, From members to staff groups then VIP 🙂 then you also have posting ranks, from 0-5 semi new ranks then higher the there content the name changes. Semi new members have limited on what they can do, once members they see more.

I'll be sure to try this. Lol I had set people to be able to change their member title at 0 posts.

 

[Lord Saru]

I dont think you should be jumping into offering a premium service this fast. Just my two cents 😀

 

[Page]

I dont think you should be jumping into offering a premium service this fast. Just my two cents 😀

agree, get all the boards and the main members groups and as your members and content grows your website updates with new things and grows also 🙂 Content is the key

I'll be sure to try this. Lol I had set people to be able to change their member title at 0 posts.

Also an plugin that allows only certain members group.

 

[Cryptonic]

I dont think you should be jumping into offering a premium service this fast. Just my two cents 😀

I agree with @Lord Saru. Typically, you must have a baseline audience before offering premium services. Another thing, do not put too many futures so soon. Why you ask? Because you wont have anything to update or add so soon. People habitually like new features and content. Add small stuff here and there to keep interest.