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Mistakes You Should Avoid On Starting A Forum

Discussion in 'Forum Management' started by skypeace, Jun 15, 2009.

  1. #1
    Everyone knows that forums are the toughest type of sites to start. It is very common to see so many forums start and close down in no time. Here are the mistakes you just have to avoid if you wish your forum to succeed :

    Forums require time to kick off - Forums require time for everything. Right from setting it up and getting members to monetizing it.

    As an admin you have to stay active - In the beginning admins are always active but then after a point they give up. That’s not a good sign at all.

    Creating too many Sub-Forums - Start small and then increase the sections as required. This will make your forum look really empty.

    Stuffing your forum with ads - Let's face it, in the beginning you are not going to get many visits. It is best you don't sell ads till you don't get 150 daily visits.

    I recently started a new webmaster forum on my own and from my previous experience I have written this post. Hope you liked these pointers. If you have any more please feel free to add them below.

    Cheers!

     
    skypeace, Jun 15, 2009 IP
    Kosmix5 likes this.
  2. webcosmo

    webcosmo Notable Member

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    #2
    Webmaster forums are hard to make a success, but its really fun to work with specially for us webmasters:)

    I have a one year old webmaster forum as well with this stats: threads: 8,711, Posts: 71,329, Members: 2,457
    It was damn hard to get to this point.
     
    webcosmo, Jun 15, 2009 IP
  3. sachin410

    sachin410 Illustrious Member

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    #3
    biggest mistake could be making a forum about a subject that you hardly know anything about.

    there should be at least one real expert on a forum.

    ordinary posts don't attract members.....only good posts do.
     
    sachin410, Jun 27, 2009 IP
  4. miskecf

    miskecf Peon

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    #4
    My tip:

    Dont start a webmaster forum, there is enough of them.
     
    miskecf, Jun 27, 2009 IP
  5. ~kev~

    ~kev~ Well-Known Member

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    #5
    Creating too many subforums is one of the biggest mistakes that new admins make. It just creates confusion to your members - because they do not know what section to post in.

    And then there is dividing up your topics too much. There is no need to have a forum section on "every" topic. Combine a lot of them so your sections stay busier.
     
    ~kev~, Jun 27, 2009 IP
  6. SeoHawk

    SeoHawk Banned

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    #6
    It`s not hard to manage and get successful. Problem is because there is so much these niche forums and people don`t wanna new forums. But I have few theory how to start webmaster forum and make it big. I will start webmaster forum and try my tutorial.
    Thanks!

    - SeoHawk :)
     
    SeoHawk, Jun 27, 2009 IP
  7. renlok

    renlok Well-Known Member

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    #7
    yes so do i, spend millions of advertising. ;)
     
    renlok, Jun 27, 2009 IP
  8. rickvb

    rickvb Active Member

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    #8
    Creating a forum that is hidden for visitors ;)
     
    rickvb, Jun 27, 2009 IP
  9. Qryztufre

    Qryztufre Prominent Member

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    #9
    You are better off leaving your forum to fend for itself then to be an asshole.

    Not calling you one mind you, I'm just saying ;)
     
    Qryztufre, Jun 27, 2009 IP
  10. Kosmix5

    Kosmix5 Peon

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    #10
    It's kind of like what you tell kids when they ask for a puppy: "It's a big responsibility and you'll have to take care of it." Forums are a great way to promote but as Farrhad pointed out, many admins get lazy or give up over time. I've seen it happen time and time again-a forum starts out with great content and enthusiastic moderators and then it turns into a spam graveyard. Vuju's forum just tanked and Click's looks like it's well on its way.

    If you have the time and energy to create a forum, by all means do it, but you'll have to keep up with it.
     
    Kosmix5, Jul 3, 2009 IP
    farrhad likes this.
  11. skypeace

    skypeace Well-Known Member

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    #11
    Very well said :)

    Rep added.
     
    skypeace, Jul 3, 2009 IP
  12. edytwinky

    edytwinky Guest

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    #12
    I think the biggest single factor in having a successful forum is having an overly active administrator. Someone who treats it almost like a job but enjoys doing it.
     
    edytwinky, Jul 3, 2009 IP
  13. Professional Dude

    Professional Dude Prominent Member

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    #13
    These are great tips, and I have seen many people do these mistakes.
    ;)
     
    Professional Dude, Jul 3, 2009 IP
  14. Jason101

    Jason101 Peon

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    #14
    One of the biggest things to do once you have a community is to make sure you reward your better members, either by making them 'community staff' and giving them the job of spreading the word about your community, or simply by recognising them in some way. Your members are your lifeblood. Look after them.
     
    Jason101, Jul 3, 2009 IP
  15. jonathanfigaro

    jonathanfigaro Peon

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    #15
    Thanks for all the tips!
     
    jonathanfigaro, Jul 3, 2009 IP