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Give me ideas for a Forum

Discussion in 'General Business' started by FIVE539, Aug 29, 2008.

  1. #1
    I'm in college and am wanting to start a forum/community as a project, but I'm seriously out of ideas.

    Throw me some random ideas for a forum niche and I'd like to discuss it! :D
     
    FIVE539, Aug 29, 2008 IP
  2. simonspurr

    simonspurr Peon

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    #2
    How about the college niche?
    U would have good knowledge of it :)
     
    simonspurr, Aug 29, 2008 IP
  3. FIVE539

    FIVE539 Peon

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    #3
    oh dang man, I just started my first week of college
     
    FIVE539, Aug 29, 2008 IP
  4. nitinleew

    nitinleew Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Why not? I think college niche is very nice..
    Students can bring more traffic to ur forum...:)
     
    nitinleew, Aug 29, 2008 IP
  5. Nigel Lew

    Nigel Lew Notable Member

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    #5
    You definitely want to go with something you are interested in.

    Nigel
     
    Nigel Lew, Aug 29, 2008 IP
  6. mentos

    mentos Prominent Member

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    #6
    About how to make money while in collage
     
    mentos, Aug 29, 2008 IP
  7. embarq

    embarq Peon

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    #7
    The answer is as easy as you think it is. Just pick something that you like and start a forum about it. Then just don't get discouraged... new forums take a while to get started and moving along.
     
    embarq, Aug 30, 2008 IP
  8. stmiki

    stmiki Peon

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    #8
    Computer related forums are always popular, a good way to start off is by posting multiple questions and answers because 90% of the time that is how people find your forum when googling for their problems.
     
    stmiki, Aug 30, 2008 IP
  9. webcosmo

    webcosmo Notable Member

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    #9
    A college forum where students can get help on different courses from each other. Think thats a great idea.
     
    webcosmo, Aug 30, 2008 IP
  10. megadeth199

    megadeth199 Active Member

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    #10
    This is a good idea
     
    megadeth199, Aug 30, 2008 IP
  11. Kinng

    Kinng Peon

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    #11
    that's a cool idea :D
     
    Kinng, Aug 31, 2008 IP
  12. Sensei.Design

    Sensei.Design Prominent Member

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    #12
    you could also provide some essays for some bucks
     
    Sensei.Design, Aug 31, 2008 IP
  13. ThoughtPunk

    ThoughtPunk Active Member

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    #13
    a forum category for each major university, sororities, and or frats.

    what about college music, thats big.
     
    ThoughtPunk, Aug 31, 2008 IP
  14. ThoughtPunk

    ThoughtPunk Active Member

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    #14
    Originally Posted by webcosmo View Post
    A college forum where students can get help on different courses from each other. Think thats a great idea.

    this is a good one
     
    ThoughtPunk, Aug 31, 2008 IP
  15. FIVE539

    FIVE539 Peon

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    #15
    wow guys I am really thinking about doing this now, I'm considering all the aspects of doing this and its definitely an option now
     
    FIVE539, Aug 31, 2008 IP
  16. ThoughtPunk

    ThoughtPunk Active Member

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    #16
    Head over to you local community college or university if there is one nearby and ask the students what they would like to see in a forum

    Ask them what would be most beneficial to them in a forum.

    Gather your results,work from there, and get rockin
     
    ThoughtPunk, Aug 31, 2008 IP
  17. FIVE539

    FIVE539 Peon

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    #17
    ThoughtPunk,

    man you've got me inspired, I'm already in college in fact I took a walk around campus to think about this a bit. I came up with a domain and checked and it was available!

    I won't reveal it yet, but I will post it once I get the site up and running :) I'm excited I really am, and yeah I'm going to work this one by doing whatever I need to! I have ideas about printing flyers up all kinds of stuff
     
    FIVE539, Aug 31, 2008 IP
  18. ThoughtPunk

    ThoughtPunk Active Member

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    #18
    Good deal

    when I'm chillen around the house or anywhere for that matter and I have a great idea I immediately write it down for future reference and look for ways to implement it.

    Ideas are everywhere. Look around. Just about everything you use was first an idea. =)
     
    ThoughtPunk, Aug 31, 2008 IP
  19. Regrouping-webmaster

    Regrouping-webmaster Active Member

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    #19
    BEFORE YOU START:

    There are many things you need to do. Judging by your comments I'm guessing you skipped several steps like a lot of us have.

    1) write a thorough business plan, even if your the only one you think will read it. Forums are notorious for taking a huge amount of traffic to start. Until you have enough traffic, how are you going to maintain the impression that people are already active in your forum? Paid posters, spending hours of your time each day, etc.

    2) Do a financial feasibility analysis (aka do the math). How many people do you need to get into regular posters and how many people do you need to get to your forum to possibly signup AND participate in your forum? How are you going to get that much traffic? I'm guessing you'll find yourself trying to get 100,000+ people over the course of several mouths and 10+ hours a week maintaining the impression of an already successful forum. The minimum for an ad on yahoo is $0.05 per click if you don't have anybody biding against you.

    3) Have several people review your business plan, forums not started from a popular website are a large undertaking. I bet you'd be able to find many college teachers, business as well as computer, willing to help you.

    4) review your business plan again & decide if you can take on a project of the size & expertise your proposing. If you fail, can you afford the financial loss & lack of income you could have had at a part time job?

    I failed at the first 3 ventures I started. I'm plus about $400 for 1,500 hours or < $0.30 per hour. I'm not trying to discourage you. I just want you to do your homework, I think you'll find the homework exciting even if it is intimidating.
     
    Regrouping-webmaster, Aug 31, 2008 IP
  20. ThoughtPunk

    ThoughtPunk Active Member

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    #20
    excellent advice.
     
    ThoughtPunk, Aug 31, 2008 IP