Keys To Having A Successful Forum

[furca]

I was thinking about this, and because I resale forum's alot, it would be nice to have a few guidelines.


I was thinking at church one day (I know you suppose to have your mind on god and all) but, WHY would I visit a forum that I own? It would need somethign that drew me back to it.


DNF, this business is continuous, never stopping. DNF draws me back because there is always something new. It is also pretty neat, because of the F$ and the things you can buy with it.

I also like DNF because of all of the members that are active.



But how would I get one of MY forum's like DNF. Well it's pretty hard now-a-days, I developed a general forum, but the only traffic I got was friends, and a few interested folks. With offtopic.com and such out there, there is way too much competition to even have a general forum at all.


I use vBulletin, develop, sale, develop sale, i've done 3 forum's so far. But these forum's take a ton of time to make, is it worth it? Then I thought about it, its only worth it if you have the time to make it "WORTH IT"


Then I came up with a plan, to have a successful forum you need to have something that DRAWS people BACK to it! SOMETHING UNIQUE!


Currently im going to start working on a major forum, but I don't even know what the topic should be, I don't even have a domain, but im up for the fight! I have all summer to create what I want to create, but I just need to stick with it.


I love adminsitering communities and I think im pretty good at it.


Here are the keys to having a succesful forum, I think


1) Unique Domain.
2) Active Members Who are Truely Interested.
3) Forum Currency.
4) Motivation To Post.
5) Fair Team Of Administrators and Moderators.
6) Forum topic revolves around something that is always changing.
7) Incentive To Post.
8) Daily Activity
9) High Listings In Search Engines
10) Continously Growing Features and Updates to the forum.



Thanks for reading this post, I know its kinda long, but I wanted to share my insight. :wink:


-- 14 year old kid who realizes the potential in forum communities.

 

[insomnia]

I'd move forum features lower on the priority, things like DNF$ and features, they really are just extras. What makes forums so interesting is the content, theres always something good to read. This comes from core members. I think members and content are the most important aspect that makes a forum strong, everything else should be second.

 

[furca]

Thanks for your input!



Anyone else! ty

 

[domaintalk]

Heres my input.
You couldnt get much users because you were pretty new and there are some established forums where sales go through and a bunch of 14 year old kids which are your friends would have been on the forums who couldnt make big investment so there was no use for it. Please its just my point no offence .

For forums you require first a market base , like how many users are expected to join and everything and then you have to make the forums with the topic of that and get them running.

 

[foruma-z]

Here are the keys to having a succesful forum, I think


1) Unique Domain.
2) Active Members Who are Truely Interested.
3) Forum Currency.
4) Motivation To Post.
5) Fair Team Of Administrators and Moderators.
6) Forum topic revolves around something that is always changing.
7) Incentive To Post.
8) Daily Activity
9) High Listings In Search Engines
10) Continously Growing Features and Updates to the forum.



Thanks for reading this post, I know its kinda long, but I wanted to share my insight. :wink:


-- 14 year old kid who realizes the potential in forum communities.

well said - good points for growing a successful forum.. :-D

 

[Biggie]

Hi

dnf did not start off having F$

the big draw is "making money"!

that's what keeps a majority of the members coming back day after day after day after day!

these members contribute to the content!
they make suggestions
they help to evolve the forum, into an institution!


you gotta have a niche'
but have something, that you know something about!

let your saviour be your guide

 

[Zion]

Side note:

Offtopic.com is insaine.

You have 1,100 people looking just at ONE forum, you refresh, there is an entire page of new topics.

Where is the fun in that?

 

[rajen]

I'd move forum features lower on the priority, things like DNF$ and features, they really are just extras. What makes forums so interesting is the content, theres always something good to read. This comes from core members. I think members and content are the most important aspect that makes a forum strong, everything else should be second.

I strongly agree with Insomnia, content & core members are the key to a successful forum. Other extras can be added as incentives but not completely necessary.

 

[croupier]

I'd say the #1 key is to make a forum about a subject you love - in this way you'll always be motivate to improve the place.

 

[seeker]

another tip (and so far I think croupier said it best, as if you do a forum about something you love, the other excellent points mentioned naturally fall into place).
if you want a forum to succeed, you cant be spending hours and hours here
I spend so many hours a day on DNF (average 18/24 hours, sometimes more), that I barely have time to visit forums I make!

 

[furca]

Thank's for your views, because im learning as I go.



More input appriciated!

 

[romow]

i agree. i should spend more time on my forum.

if you want a forum to succeed, you cant be spending hours and hours here
I spend so many hours a day on DNF (average 18/24 hours, sometimes more), that I barely have time to visit forums I make!

 

[AhmedF]

The real draw to a forum is either a sense of community, of the ability/promise of making money.

Everything else is secondary.

 

[NameTower]

members also seem to like the arcade :-D

 

[furca]

Fully agree w/ name tower, "Hacks" are a definate "bring on"

 

[Rico]

get people addicted to the subject of the forum.

be nice to new members

 

[ceo]

1) Unique Domain.
2) Active Members Who are Truely Interested.
3) Forum Currency.
4) Motivation To Post.
5) Fair Team Of Administrators and Moderators.
6) Forum topic revolves around something that is always changing.
7) Incentive To Post.
8) Daily Activity
9) High Listings In Search Engines
10) Continously Growing Features and Updates to the forum.

IMHO
2. is spot on. 1. is not that important.
3. if of greater interest to you because of your age...
4. & 5. good. 6. & 7. not that important.
8. of course. 9. not at all imp. 10. yes somewhat.

So my top 3 would be:
1. Topic of immenese interest and personal daily attention to forum by admin and moderators
2. Reaching out to the right audience to increase memberships.
3. Some sort of motivation To Post.

Thanks n best wishes !

 

[Theo]

And then we have those like DNP who come here to scam people. That latest bank drama is a sign that the forum microcosm is a replica of the real world.

 

[ceo]

Think that was NDP or something ; )

 

[furca]

Think that was NDP or something ; )

What? I'm not NDP..