What Makes A Forum Succeed?

[Mixed]

Feb 13, 2016 19:20:00 GMT -8 @momad said:

Feb 9, 2016 8:03:37 GMT -8 nariadreaming said:

I really think that this is key. Nothing turns me off from a forum faster than to see that it's nothing but the site owner shouting into an abyss.

"Oh look, this site has had 100 new threads this week"

"Oh. It's just the admin posting over and over again... moving on" 

lmbo, how true it is! Wondering if they reply to their own posts?! lol  No matter how young or mature a forum is, if you do not open it to public, your fear of rejection is blown wide opened to the Web! Sure some "young" forums may not make it, but one never knows until they try! If I see an Admin "talking to themselves" and enjoying it, why interrupt?! LMBO

But isn't there a difference between an admin "talking to themselves" and an admin keeping the site active? I mean every forum has a period where the admin is alone, unless they build it or come with friends. I know I won't join a forum where every board is empty. I like to read a bit to get a feel both for the admin and the community they are trying to create. So I think there should be some leniency for admins "talking to themselves".

Sure, asking how everyone is doing and then posting a day or so later in the same thread answering yourself and asking again is a bit nuts. But an admin that posts at least semi-regularly is better than an admin that posts nothing. Most of these semi-regular posts would likely be better used to inform visitors and potential members about changes and updates to the forum rather than in the General Chat of the forum.

That's what I'm thinking at least. These new forums need to be given a chance.

[Mandoli]

Feb 16, 2016 2:39:33 GMT -8 Mixed said:

That's what I'm thinking at least. These new forums need to be given a chance.

How long of a chance does one need to get before it's time to close up shop? That's my main concern.

[Mixed]

Feb 16, 2016 7:17:36 GMT -8 Mandoli said:

Feb 16, 2016 2:39:33 GMT -8 Mixed said:

That's what I'm thinking at least. These new forums need to be given a chance.

How long of a chance does one need to get before it's time to close up shop? That's my main concern.

Honestly, I'm thinking as long of a chance as the admin is willing to take. You never know when those who will be your loyal members will actually show.

Are you concerned about your own young forum (if your forum is new) or others in general from the prospective of a potential member?

[Mandoli]

Feb 16, 2016 7:50:14 GMT -8 Mixed said:

Are you concerned about your own young forum (if your forum is new) or others in general from the prospective of a potential member?

Depends on what the topic is. If it's something with an interesting theme (we'll go with a forum for airlines and flight discussion, for example)... I wouldn't be opposed to waiting a little longer than someone who made a board with a general discussion forum.

(Don't get me wrong, general forums are good, but I find that they're overdone.)

[Mixed]

Feb 16, 2016 8:57:19 GMT -8 Mandoli said:

Feb 16, 2016 7:50:14 GMT -8 Mixed said:

Are you concerned about your own young forum (if your forum is new) or others in general from the prospective of a potential member?

Depends on what the topic is. If it's something with an interesting theme (we'll go with a forum for airlines and flight discussion, for example)... I wouldn't be opposed to waiting a little longer than someone who made a board with a general discussion forum.

(Don't get me wrong, general forums are good, but I find that they're overdone.)

Not getting you wrong at all. But this statement is making me curious. You mention discussion forums for specific topics and general discussion boards. How do RP forums then compare in your mind, if I may?

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

Feb 16, 2016 2:39:33 GMT -8 Mixed said:

But isn't there a difference between an admin "talking to themselves" and an admin keeping the site active? I mean every forum has a period where the admin is alone, unless they build it or come with friends. I know I won't join a forum where every board is empty. I like to read a bit to get a feel both for the admin and the community they are trying to create. So I think there should be some leniency for admins "talking to themselves".

Sure, asking how everyone is doing and then posting a day or so later in the same thread answering yourself and asking again is a bit nuts. But an admin that posts at least semi-regularly is better than an admin that posts nothing. Most of these semi-regular posts would likely be better used to inform visitors and potential members about changes and updates to the forum rather than in the General Chat of the forum.

That's what I'm thinking at least. These new forums need to be given a chance.

Very well said, Mixed . There's a big difference between an admin posting interesting stories, tid bits, etc. trying to establish a board than one "talking to themselves". I'd prefer that over all zeros for posting totals.

Now, an admin with several accounts, or even an admin with one account, who is holding conversations with themselves, might be a bit odd to some. But if that's what they feel it takes to keep their board active and hopefully, appealing to potential members, then go for it.

An admin who believes if a forum is simply created and "if you build it, they will come", is generally disappointed. 

[JJ]

Starting a new site is a challenge, no doubt about it. But as has been mentioned, boards with zero posts is a real turn off. Instead, it would be a good thing for the new admin to open only a few new boards that she or he will be able to fill with interesting tidbits on a daily basis. Definitely not responding to oneself, that is rather odd, and I think most of us agree.

Of course, a lot depends on the type of site being created. For role-playing, there is a whole lot of background and so forth to get the story started. But, again, it's no good inviting members if the game is not ready to be played. If the site is going to be a general chat forum, that's a lot easier to set up, there are so many things that can be added that will entice members, interesting videos, current news topics, arts and craft articles, etc.

If the site is fact specific, like how to rebuild a jeep, once again, the owner needs enough interesting topics to draw the members in and get them interested, but it CAN be done.

A lot of good suggestions have been mentioned here. The site must be pleasing to the eye, no garish clashing colors is important. Plus, I'd like to add that the font used must not be so small that viewers have to use the zoom feature to an extreme degree. This goes along with having sites that are not too wide. This means that the viewer has to move his or her head left and right constantly, particularly on a wide screened monitor. Instead, find a happy medium.

When adding codes or plugins, be sure they are browser friendly. This is getting more complicated because many people are using their cellphones or tablets to view the site.

We cannot please everyone in how our site is arranged, so there is no need to even try, but there are some fundamentals that can make a website a joy to visit.

I highly recommend that anyone wanting to open a website visit dozens of them before even beginning. I also recommend that a site owner choose something unique to set her or his website apart from hundreds of others. It can be a unique banner style, font, board layout, graphics, etc. Make your mark, be special.

I also recommend that anyone opening a website get familiar with the color wheel and learn how to mix and match colors. Learn what graphics are and how to use them to pleasing effect. Research backgrounds and background seamless tiles on Google. Gather a good stash of goodies to create something that will stand out above the others.

Now, having said all I did, I'd also like to point out that Proboards had provided a handy tool to set up a website using the theme creator. You'd be amazed what you can create with a few tweaks of the defaults. Adding just a few things of your own you can have a spiffy looking website in no time.

Above all, do not hurry, because what you make will look like you are serving nuked hot dogs for dinner instead of a home cooked meal.

[Mandoli]

Feb 16, 2016 9:20:32 GMT -8 Mixed said:

Not getting you wrong at all. But this statement is making me curious. You mention discussion forums for specific topics and general discussion boards. How do RP forums then compare in your mind, if I may?

Don't really have any bad opinions about them. I just can't speak from experience when it comes to them.

[Former Member]

I know you are trying to offer good advice to others and that is commendable, so thank you for that.

Your advice however is void of actual things that make your forum successful.
The truth is, if you want a successful forum you must work like a dog at it.

That includes:

Driving "Targeted Traffic" via social media to your site/forum.
Using keywords(especially long tail keywords) on your posts, suggested keywords also drive similar traffic.
Using tools such as Google Analytics, to see where your users are visiting on your site/forum and then acting on it.
Using Social Media to get signals, to drive traffic and make noise about your page/post.
Settings monthly goals for yourself and your staff.
Having Great content for your community to comment on and engage with and essentially making them stay.
Word of mouth. If you build a community of loyal followers, get them to be your word of mouth.
A good forum should advertise itself by people who love your content.

Regards,

[JJ]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments, @synthtec. But personally, it sounds like you are making points on how to run a Fortune 500 corporation rather than a website.

I think your most profound comment was the last one,

A good forum should advertise itself by people who love your content.

That's what it's all about.

Running roughshod over your volunteer staff is not the answer.

I do agree with you that the content of your board is critical, it needs to not only be interesting, but engaging. That will bring the members back, they will want to see the new neat tidbits to peruse.

Oddly enough, it seems that people that find a website that they can settle into, feel comfortable with and not experience a lot of stress becomes something of a secret to the members of some sites. They don't often share, they like their own little hideaway, and become possessive about the site. That does absolutely nothing to increase traffic to your website, but I do understand the mentality. They do not want their friends and family horning in on their oasis.

I'll go back to a point I made earlier, and that is to be active on a select number of websites where you have met like minded individuals and post. The tenor of your posts/responses will gather members. It might not be by the dozens, but chances are, those that come will be staying, because they chose your site based on how you have represented yourself, your ideas, beliefs and general tone of voice.

Above all, folks, be yourself when you visit websites. It would be awful for someone to join your site only to find out that your are a phony.

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

I agree, JJ . One can do all of the things suggested and still have a form that lacks members and posts.

The majority of forums start out with very high aspirations, they do the right things, yet it doesn't mean they will bring in, and keep, members.

And it also depends on the meaning of success. Some feel they are a success with a small core of members who post consistently; while others feel it's more important having many members who post infrequently.

[nariadreaming]

Feb 27, 2016 19:31:24 GMT -8 @synthtec said:

I know you are trying to offer good advice to others and that is commendable, so thank you for that.

Your advice however is void of actual things that make your forum successful.
The truth is, if you want a successful forum you must work like a dog at it.

That includes:

Driving "Targeted Traffic" via social media to your site/forum.
Using keywords(especially long tail keywords) on your posts, suggested keywords also drive similar traffic.
Using tools such as Google Analytics, to see where your users are visiting on your site/forum and then acting on it.
Using Social Media to get signals, to drive traffic and make noise about your page/post.
Settings monthly goals for yourself and your staff.
Having Great content for your community to comment on and engage with and essentially making them stay.
Word of mouth. If you build a community of loyal followers, get them to be your word of mouth.
A good forum should advertise itself by people who love your content.

Regards,

This advice is spot on. My forum just turned a year old. We have 9,600 members and 4.8 million total posts in that year.

And we do have to work like dogs to keep up that growth. Seeing what sites are backlinking to us. Creating an engaging social media strategy (FB, Twitter, IG, Pinterest, and periscope are currently in use) and having volunteers updating those channels multiple times a day.

We pay for advertising monthly, and have been working on strategic partnerships with other websites in order to promote our forums.

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

nariadreaming , Congrats on your success.

But didn't you post that you were a part of another forum first and then broke away because of admin actions there?


I think that's always a big help when deciding to open a forum. If you're a part of a discontented group and that group is looking for an option that has the same content they're interested in, you're starting from a very good position. 

Recognizing an opportunity and then seizing it is commendable. So many see opportunity and let it slide by. 

[Autumn]

Jan 18, 2016 14:01:08 GMT -8 JJ said:

What makes a Proboards forum succeed?

Actually, many things can help a forum be successful, but some things will always be true.

 
Do your experimenting at a practice/test site. That way, if you really mess up, you aren’t affecting your active site.

Really get to know and understand the tools of a Proboards forum to make your site work smoothly.

Get to know the plugin system and follow instructions to the letter!

 
Don’t be shy about asking for help on Proboards Support. Trust me, the staff have heard it all, and are incredibly patient with us.

Oh, and before you open your site up for members, be sure you are ready. The other day I read a post in the Support area where someone had misspelled the name of his site when he created it and it was stuck like that. Yes, he was stuck. Now, he could pay ten dollars to get it changed, but that’s not the point, we really need to pay attention to our own actions.

There are so many more things that go into making a successful site, but I’d really like to hear your suggestions.

Please try to keep the responses as positive as possible.

I agree with some of the above replies. In my opinion, for a forum to succeed, you need to take your time on what you're creating. For Example, you want to make a design or a theme for your proboards forum / regular forum. (free or paid) Take your time on it, and don't rush it. And if you really have to, try not to make it all in one day. And, another way to have a forum to succeed is an interesting topic of what the forum will be about. And mostly, the people on your forum has their freedom of speech. Not the disrespectful kind of speech, though. Don't make too much rules on your forum that it'll probably be enforcing almost everything you can do on your forums.

One more thing for a forum to succeed is kindness, and having an forum owner not too strict on people. Try to avoid being so strict that everybody would leave your forums. And if you or anybody on your forum is being disrespectful, it'll hurt somebody's feelings and make them leave the server for protection from bullying. Ensure your players are having a good time, and keep up with the updates.

If somebody on your forums need help, try to answer their questions or try to solve their problems as quickly as possible. Yes, it is really hard for a forum to succeed, but you need to try. From what I had just said, trying your best also leads to forum success. Try your best for the people on your forum to enjoy what they'd like to enjoy. If there is a spammer insulting an innocent on your forum, either delete the post or delete the post & warn the player to not repeat the action. 

As for an idea for your forum, try to make it so you can have a support section in your forum. If anybody needs help, you can create a thread on the board for help and allow other players / people to answer their questions.

Hopefully this helped you,
Autumn

[nariadreaming]

Feb 28, 2016 13:03:46 GMT -8 ♥ ℒʊ√ ♥ said:

nariadreaming , Congrats on your success.

But didn't you post that you were a part of another forum first and then broke away because of admin actions there?


I think that's always a big help when deciding to open a forum. If you're a part of a discontented group and that group is looking for an option that has the same content they're interested in, you're starting from a very good position. 

Recognizing an opportunity and then seizing it is commendable. So many see opportunity and let it slide by. 

Yes, but close to 4,000 of our members have come from other sources- largely through our social media marketing, and strategic use of targeted keywords/google results.