Managing My Forum

[davekyn]

Hi, I just need a space to think out loud - OUTSIDE THE BOX - so to speak.  It's hard not to get bogged with my head stuck in graphical mode whilst making online edits to the forum itself.  Hopefully I can find a bit of perspective in this thread. Correct me if I am wrong but this board seems to be a logical place to do just that.  I beleive I started off on the wrong foot by posting way ahead of time in the "Get Opinions About Your Forum" board.  

So it is that I now embark to create this space your's truly:  

MANAGING MY FORUM: Please feel free to chime on in with whatever advice and or encouragement as this project unfolds.
On Day Two ... this is where I am currently @:
meditation4all.freeforums.net/

Thus far I have opened up several successful forums I've had the privilege of being a member of for a number of years.  I thought long and hard about the types of categories and boards that they us and how they may or may not be well placed in my forum.  

I'm looking to fit Mindfulness into a cartography for itself and reshuffle some of the boards listed in the Guided and Self Guided Meditation categories. 
In fact some of the boards do not fit and would make for great stickies instead.

Running out of time ... will ponder on all this later and make a more efficient summery as I update this Managing My Forum Thread.

[davekyn]

Please advice if no pictures are allowed to be posted in here and also if there is a set character limit to my posts?  If no pics and character limitation ... No problem.  I will seek assistance in another support forum that may be better able to accept my ability to process information.

Regrettably
Mr David Kynaston. 

Actually No Regrets ... I learned quite a bit during my short stay and thankful for that.  Nothing is wasted on me. We all learn from each other! 

Adios ... until next post.

[Kami]

I'm not 100% sure what you're after here, honestly. What sort of help are you looking for?

[davekyn]

That's perfectly fine KAMI. I often don't know what it is that I'm after myself.

Mostly just space to think out loud. Many of us think differently. My autistic nature leads me to requiring copious amounts of space where diary like entries help me to clear my mind. Whilst in that mode it's not uncommon for me to be found talking to myself. It was brought to my attention recently that I exceeded the allowed amount of characters in another thread. I also used a picture where I should instead of just used a link instead. My last musing was in relation to that.  I've processed that now.
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Moving On:
I worked out how to install a favicon last night before hitting the sack. It took my quite a while to work out why my upload was continually being rejected. That was until I google finally landed me on this page:
support.proboards.com/thread/442900/adding-favicon-board

Doh! After meeting all the file and format requirements, all I had to do was rename the icon to "favicon.ico"



Today's to do list:
Follow up on another query elsewhere in the support forum - How to remove the reward system. I worked out how to remove the likes. Now all I have to do is remove the star system. I'll leave the conundrum for that thread. The reason I wish for no reward system is due to the nature of my forum and the type of users I wish to attract.

I am a ways off before I dive into posting mode where my focus will first be on accumulating various resources. On that train of thought I ponder to think about my delivery when when linking various resources and how too much or too little info attract of detract. I'm tending to think my tone will be open and engaging in a blog like manner, however will have to practice the art of concise and straight to the point. The latter being more a concern in relation to too much info with new members perhaps being overwhelmed and the other side of the coin having not enough information leaving a rather hollow feel. Finding balance is key no doubt. In that context I can see why starting small in the setting up phase is preferred to going all out.

I shall keep the above in mind whilst continuing to sort our my Categories & Boards. Additionally to that I will have to do up a new document and move those titles that do not fit a category or board and lists them as possible topics that could be made into stickys and or trigger threads to engage new members.

Time to back off the graphical side of things. It's very easy for me to procrastinate on that side of things:
Whilst on that subject. My main aim with theme is too keep the background simple for compatible reasons (cross platform kind of thing) as well as give thought to readability. I am dyslexic and with more people today adopting spasmodic trains of thought that require constant flashing triggers, promoting and so on ... I figure something that's easy on the eyes/brain and settles the mind is a must for my theme.

Now the blue color scheme I find rather iconic of many successful forums I have frequented. Of course there is a lot more to it than that - BUT - my preference is to stick with the overall format of a bare bones system and just apply tonal changes rather than rebuild. I'd much rather move on quickly to the other facets of what makes a forum successful.
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These be enough notes for now.
I get on with my little to do list ... although not list like. None the less I understand what I mean. Especially after laying it out like so.

Adios ... until next post.

[Kami]

For some clarification: the reason you "exceeded the allowed characters" was due to a board-specific rule, rather than a rule everywhere. Because the GOAYF section is for getting constructive critique about a forum's appearance and setup, the long description you had originally used detailing the forum's purpose and features was unnecessary and read more like an advertisement. The rule in GOAYF about the length of an opening post is so that critiquers can see immediately what the poster is looking for in their feedback, instead of having to sift through a detailed description that may not tell them.

However, if you're not really looking for replies here and would rather keep a running diary, then I'm not entirely sure that PB Support is the right place to be posting it. This section is for discussion, and since it doesn't seem you are looking to actually to engage in discussion, then there isn't a section here that fits your needs.

[davekyn]

My Automated Registration Email this far:

Subject:

A Special Welcome & TY!

Body:

Your presence here not only adds to the well of insights and healing our community has to offer; but more importantly ... has also not gone unnoticed! We very much look forward to your ongoing contributions and wish you all the wellness and happiness that life has to offer.



Thank you for choosing our forum!

~ Admin.

_____________________________________________



Feed back welcomed. This was something I was putting off, but feel is a must and pleased I have something in place for now. It shows gratitude, is engaging, encourages and gives a sense of being valued straight of the mark. I know I would be quite pleased to receive such a message after my registration.


Page Link after User Registers: 
NOW I notice that on that same Admin settings page there is the option to link a page where the user will then be directed after registering to my forum. Currently the default is set to the forum Home Page.  I am personally thinking of changing it to my "Rules, FAQs and Help" board which I am yet to outlay.

I'm thinking I will continue the welcoming tone giving assurances as to the safe haven "our" Meditation Forum be then lead into more the expectations of forum etiquette and so on.  TRANSITION is everything!  Indeed I can see this is going to take some time.  

[davekyn]

I'm looking to engage in discussion. I have prompted several times now. You and anyone else are most welcome to join in.

I have moved on & will continue to post in here until such a time I am specifically requested not to do so. [PM TY]

So how about it. I have already outlined my approach to "managing my forum" and invited anyone to chime on in.

Have you any comments that relate to my forum approach us such. If not ... no drama.

Please PM any further objection/discussions not related to the intention of this thread. I'm happy to follow admonishments given through the proper channels Let's keep it clean.

Once again ... I have prompted for discussion. Let's keep it on topic:

1. The Use of Automated Registration PM
2. Link To Page after Registration
3. Use of Themes
4. Amount of Set Up Content
5. Removal of Reward system
 ..... & Much more

This is how I am managing my thread in this here board [Managing My Forum]

I again welcome discussion.

TY.

[Kami]

Sorry, I think I'm going to bow out. This is not really a conversation / discussion format I can follow, best of luck.

[davekyn]

That's fine, I understand.  I'll endeavor to be more concise and format in a more coherent manner.
Now that I've logged in another post - Up for discussion of course:


Custom Made Avatars for Forum Members:
Under ...  Admin Home / Members / Forum Avatars you can follow the instructions to upload your own avatars for forum members.  I think that's awesome!  I've found many other forums quite lacking in this respect.  The ability to provide high quality and relevant avatars will off set my lack of reward system quite well.  That is to say that whilst my forums seeks not to encourage random postings often associated with the pursuit of high posting counts and the associated hierarchical labeling systems; that it not mean my forum be without spice.  

I'm going to use Photoshop as is within my skill set and design some really cool looking avatars relevant to my forums theme.  Once I have enough appealing avatars I will promote this feature and let the rest sell itself!  As a visual guy I really like the fact the Probaords allows for an appropriate resolution of 150X150.  I personal think that size is the sweet spot and will be designing all my forum avatars to that standard.  Anything more I find rather distracting.  A bit like my wall of text.

So it is that I now go use google, change the layout enough like words sourced and then used without the plagiarism. You get the drift.  

Nothing to show right now ... but since I can see an embedding image icon up above ... I'll a post a strip of my forum avatar examples (by way of image) later on.