Hey directory owners, I have a question for you. What is your policy with regards to submissions of forum websites? Most directories that I run across do not state explicitly any requirements or minimum standards for acceptance of forum sites into their directory. What do you do when someone submits a brand new forum website that, while polished and functional, has little content and few members yet? What is your threshold?
I treat them like any other site - it is better you get paid listings initially and once your forum get some content and look full you may then submit to free directories.
I look for an active and up to date community on the forum and some degree of originality in the forums design and function.
There are a few ways to treat forums, like Bernard before me just said, you treat forum just like any other website when it comes to submission guidelines or develop a different guidelines for forums if you are getting several forum submission. The only thing I think you want want to treat differently with regards to forum is contents, is it just a forum with no discussion and loads of sub forum or a quality forum where discussions are taking place?
I struggle with this issue as well. If the forum is going to really get going, they need to advertise. At the same token, a new forum may never amount to anything. Generally, if the forum is new, I look around to see how active the owner/moderator is. Are they the only one posting and are they interacting with other people who do? Are the conversations generally on topic or are they all over the place? If most of the latest posts are spam or the directory looks otherwise dead, I delete the submission. If it just looks too young, I leave it in the queue with an updated title that reminds me to revisit in a month.
For very new sites you can reject the submissions and also let their webmasters know that they can resubmit their site once they gain some popularity.
just approve life forum... and make sure not sharing warez forum.. p/s: before this i have own forum directory... and sell it.. right now.. i see the directory not online anymore...