Maybe you just misread my posts. I'm not saying it's too late. Not at all. If someone wants to put in the effort and time, they can make it happen. A huge new FREE (webmaster) forum that makes people a lot of money opened up fairly recently. Many niche forums have been opening that cater to small targeted audiences--these supposedly (according to the owners at least) make money. It can be done and is being done. All it takes is COMMITMENT. That's all I was saying. Not impossible at all.
I think it is becomming more difficult but there is still room for new things. Take the launch of the Zune for example. I came across a zune forum the other day that is doing well. iPhone is another example, there are a few iPhone sites out there. As new products get released there is always a forum that follows it.
Great points. A forum virtually maintains itself once there are alot of members. You just sit back and wait for the money to roll in like Shaw Hogan.
Forums are really good to create then sell. People will pay a lot more multiples of earnings for a forum than a regular site.
In my opinion, forums are only worth it when they get large. A forum with only could hundred members would not earn much money and suck up a lot of time.
I think forums are worth it with the right tools, if you are doing it by yourself, then yes it can be tough but if you are doing it because you have really gotten out there and you have the tools to help you, then yeah it can be a great accomplishment
Few questions just bit confused How do you earn the money??? Is it all advertisement because of your traffic??? Is there a free forum you are able to get that you dont have to pay the 160$ or something like that.???
Affiliates is a great way to make money on forums. Slap up some ads for products related to your forum that you're an affiliate with so you make cash when your users buy. Some forums charge subscriptions to their members for perks (access to special sections). The easiest way is just to slap up AdSense on it and hope they don't go adblind or someone targets your for CPM ads. There's a few free forum scripts, like phpBB, SMF, and punBB. So you don't have to pay $160, but I can say it's definitely worth it if you see the forum growing.
initial stage is very hard for forums, though once you break through certain levels and number of members all fun then.
Forums are worth it but as forumrating said it is really hard at first. After that you get unlimited user generated content
I think forums are worth it. and one can earn good amont of $$$, if you are having good stuff as well as good people to run
Well..besides the money that can be made, it's pretty neat to have a thriving community that returns to your site to visit on a regular basis. Promoting any site is tough, but once a forum gets rolling, it's own inertia helps it grow. But to get to that point obviously takes a lot of work.