I wasn't sure where to post this but... I'm currently running a website and forum with a measly 24 members. I'm using a co.cc domain (free) and a free forum host. I really want it to become much bigger and grow. I'm hoping to purchase a domain name and vBulletin. Will it really help it grow? I mean will a domain and vBulletin help the forum get bigger and get more members etc.? If I purchase a domain how would I try and get that onto the top google listings etc. at the lowest cost, no cost if possible? Sorry for the noob questions but I've only ever run small forums. Thanks
Of course, it will help much bigger and grow. vBulletin is a forum script like phpBB, SMF etc., but it is a paid script. Traffic on your domain depend on so many things like optimization, appropriate content to user, appropriate topics, useful information for user etc.
Since you want to enter top list in google,I think it's not very possible for you to spend no money on it unless there are just few competitors.Many free ways for you to gain more traffic and higher rank such as posting in the forumsã€article submittingã€social bookmarkingã€SEO and etc...You can also using ads way such Google Adsence or adwords.