Best way to start a forum

i see people wondering how to get a forum going. In your opinion what is the best way to get one going? Do you have a website their first then when you get a steady amount of visitors ad a forum? Or do you just make the forum and just try to get people to sign up? I know Digital point was just a site first then added a forum. who knows?

 

Best way is to build userbase and then add forums.

 

what if you are starting a general chat forum

 

Even then you must have userbase to chat.

 

My experience is that you will need at least 200 unique and targeted visitors per day to get the forum going. But there is no a certain number, it can vary. Also, make sure you advertise it on your front page and have a visible link to it.
People hate joining empty forums. By advertising your forum as new, just added, etc. people will be more willing to join even though the forum is empty. Also, get a few friends and start posting. You can even register a few members by your self, and even talk to your self
And don't forget to make some kind of competition. For example, on July 30th all visitors with 30 posts or more will be eligible to win a prize...
I am not sure about this, but you might get a few more registered members if you don't allow visitors to read the posts before registering.
good luck!

 

Start small.. don't open a fresh forum with 20+ categories!

 

Yes, another very important thing I forgot to mention. gj

 

yes, also a good contest i found was a refferrer contest... the first person to get XX refferers will win something, that can get a lot of people in your forum.