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dragonfli
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November 2019
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Post by dragonfli on Mar 7, 2020 6:38:25 GMT -8
If you could pick ONE thing you've seen people do that you think is the biggest mistake for a forum owner to do, what is it?
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Member is Online
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bigballofyarn
"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." -Carl Sagan
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January 2003
bigballofyarn
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Post by bigballofyarn on Mar 7, 2020 6:42:25 GMT -8
My personal belief is that the biggest mistake a forum owner can make is deleting their forum too quickly. Some people get discouraged if their forum doesn't get active overnight. I click on links in the advertisement section, and the forums are gone already. I genuinely am interested in seeing everyone's forum. I may not join, but I enjoy offering support to my forum friends. Too often, I see threads that are still fairly new, I click on their forum links, and then I'm greeted with, "It looks like this forum doesn't exist any more. The forum admin has opted to remove it from the ProBoards service." Never give up on a website that means something to you.
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Apr 4, 2024 21:43:14 GMT -8
Retread
Tribbial Pursuit.
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January 2018
retread
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Post by Retread on Mar 7, 2020 9:45:57 GMT -8
This could turn out to be an interesting thread. I don't see any one mistake as clearly being 'the biggest' but certainly there are could be a list of bad mistakes as long as your arm.
I'll present one that I often find alarming: Way too many Categories and Boards before there is any content on the forum.
This results in what I like to refer to as the pidgeon-hole syndrome. A user is easily confused on where a thread they would like to create, belongs. And they have no other threads to use as a guide. Also, many people hate to be the first one on the dance floor. Being the first one to create a thread on a currently empty board can feel very uncomfortable.
Yes, grouping content by type is important. But the structure can grow after user content is created and the threads moved into the appropriate boards at a later date.
Starting with a few or even several boards is preferable to starting with dozens. JMO.
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Jul 1, 2018 21:15:48 GMT -8
Beckea
Relax with a good book!
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April 2006
purplescraps
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Post by Beckea on Mar 7, 2020 11:00:02 GMT -8
The one mistake I have found that sets others apart is the activity of the admin/or owner. (1) Admin/Owner Activity on their own forum:Too many times I see forums where the admin is either not there or just does not participate (and present behind the scenes) and their stats are way low. An admin needs to take on an active role on their own forum. A forum is successful because of its owner -- if they don't take part in it, it will likely fail. I have seen where the admin/owner creates themes, rules, and allows everything else to lay at the feet of their members - therefore, a failed forum. An admin/owner needs to start up conversations, get things going -- maybe lead or even open it up to others to post something but I think admin/owner activity = successful forum. I agree with bigballofyarn - do not delete if you need a break -- put it in maintenance mode instead with a note stating reason and maybe specific time it will be off. I also agree with what Retread mentioned as well -- too many categories and boards -- that would drive me away. All what was mentioned I agree. (2) Too many rules (big no-no) -- I think choose your few and be done with it. You can always edit/add later if necessary -- "...don't write a book." What is important for you to tell your potential members - what do you expect of them? Great discussion by the way.
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Apr 4, 2024 21:43:14 GMT -8
Retread
Tribbial Pursuit.
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January 2018
retread
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Post by Retread on Mar 10, 2020 11:08:44 GMT -8
The one mistake I have found that sets others apart is the activity of the admin/or owner. (1) Admin/Owner Activity on their own forum:Too many times I see forums where the admin is either not there or just does not participate (and present behind the scenes) and their stats are way low. An admin needs to take on an active role on their own forum. A forum is successful because of its owner -- if they don't take part in it, it will likely fail. I have seen where the admin/owner creates themes, rules, and allows everything else to lay at the feet of their members - therefore, a failed forum. An admin/owner needs to start up conversations, get things going -- maybe lead or even open it up to others to post something but I think admin/owner activity = successful forum. I strongly agree with this, but only up to a certain point. Every forum take on its own unique quality. Some of that is due to the owner, some of it depends on the participants. To be sure, the owner sets the tone. Since the basic premise of a typical forum is community interaction, establishing an environment which promotes conversation is the cornerstone of building a community. But community leaders will often emerge. They aren't necessarily staff members, but they start good conversations and actively participate in a positive way, in conversations started by others. An absent Admin during the early stages can be a detriment in building a community. Likewise, an overactive Admin can stifle the creativity and leadership of the membership. As with most things in life, balance is the key.
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Kami
Forum Cat
Posts: 40,029
Mini-Profile Theme: Kami's Mini-Profile
#f35f71
156500
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Jul 24, 2021 11:48:29 GMT -8
Kami
40,029
July 2010
kamiyakaoru
Kami's Mini-Profile
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Post by Kami on Mar 10, 2020 12:39:38 GMT -8
I think the biggest mistake I've seen in the last 15 years is when admins emphasise "how to get members" over "how to keep members".
Getting and keeping members should be considered a packaged deal, and conversion (getting people to become members) is not synonymous with keeping them. Keeping members is about providing good content: if your content is missing, or very niche, or complex to understand, you may get a lot of members due to advertising but it'll be harder to get them to participate.
Retread mentioned a balance of admin/owner activity, and that's super spot on.
Another big mistake, but not the biggest, that I've seen is lack of accessibility, particularly from RP forums. Dark theme backgrounds + really low contrast text colours + frequently small font size for the #aesthetic = a bad user experience. As a designer I love a well designed forum as much as the next person, but design should always always always be secondary to functionality and accessibility. If you can make something functional, accessible, AND pretty, then great! But if you have to sacrifice either functionality or accessibility for the aesthetic, ya doin' it wrong.
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May 24, 2020 10:01:38 GMT -8
Reader
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March 2020
neslives
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Post by Reader on Mar 29, 2020 7:27:42 GMT -8
These are good tips! Thanks for sharing!
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Jul 12, 2020 1:40:44 GMT -8
onesmus
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February 2020
onesmus
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Post by onesmus on Apr 1, 2020 20:11:33 GMT -8
Most excellent,I appreciate your idear, the first mistake people make is deleting discussion,then it's good to participate in the discussion because in another way it is mentaince to the forum
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