How To Know if Your Fourm is Going to Fail

I'm yet to make that super forum I dream off but I have been plugging away and have noticed a few key things that will make a forum die before you even have members, I'm posting them here if a more experienced member would like to come along and give some more advice I would be forever grateful.


More forums then posts

If you are making I would stay start with a Maximum of 3 areas. Do not start a space for rules, god rules you don't need and entire forum for rules. You also will not need one for chatting about your website, just make two threads as global announcements or something. Called Suggestions and Rules.

This is the number one mistake made too many forums. You only need ONE forum start with. Move out from there.


Don't just make a forum don't think that it would be cool

My blog is more fun requires less work and all round gives me more joy. I don't webmaster for work I do it for fun hell I would kill myself If I had to work in the IT field for the rest of my life. If you want to make a website make a blog or anything but a forum.

Have a forum for a reason

Related to the top post. Don't just think that it would be cool to have a forum to chat in, nobody is going to chat. I only join forums when I need help I don't know of anybody that joins a forum purely to chat unless there is an underling game or something. You need to have a reason to exist.

There is no content

If I see a forum with no posts I will leave right away as you do not have what I want. A forum with no posts drives people away faster then look you will have a shit bounce rate, and you don't want that as ALL OF YOUR MARKETING WILL HAVE GONE TO WAIST. I don't care how many ad campaigns you have going what ever if you don't have anything there then why would I join?

More mods then members

Please for the love of god do not make all your friends mods. I would think that one mod/admin per 100 users is fine and if you encourage your users to report posts ect then admining should be quick and easy. Also doing this might help you find a member that often reports posts and makes good ones themselves this guy might make a good mod when you need more people.

Rudeness/general feel

This is important especially on smaller forums try to keep them as warm and as welcoming as possible, even one bad mod or member will drive people away; and will cause a bad feel on your forums.

 

You have done a good job at posting why a forum might fail. I agree with all your reasons.

I'd also add a few things like a bad layout, crappy addons, or too many ads.

 

I also agree with these reasons.

Haha! This one is my favourite quote.

I totally agree with you here. I viewed some forums, and it appears that the founder made almost all of their friends a moderator or administrator. ( Even if the friend is new to the forum with zero posts )

And, some members that actually created decent post and know every rule + obeying them, stays as a member, lol.

 

I totally agree and you have to make sure to be friendly with leechers as they could turn out to be posters in future

 

i like all those i have a new forum only been up two months hope i grow.

 

Very good one.

This should be the bible for new forum owners

 

some great suggestion. thanks.

"WILL HAVE GONE TO WAIST" i think it will be waste.

 

yeah, I don't read over my work... but I hope you found it useful in some way.

Also people don't spam

Remember to go look at australi........ just joking


What you cannot edit posts that sucks

 

You need active and dedicated staff members that post new content regularly as well as help recruit new members. You need to be able to promote your forum and utilize SEO.

I think establishing a community-friendly atmosphere is very important too.

 

Don't forget about forums with a lot of automated topics from RSS feeds. That's the best way to kill any original content left inside a good site.

 

Yeah while the posted RSS feeds can be useful if used correctly like updating scores etc. they aren't a problem but when you have several sections with feeds from external sites, it makes the site even look more dead especially when none of them have replies.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys I hope that this helps a few people that want to build a forum.

 

how many auto posts per day would you recommend for a start ?

 

I would recommend none.

They're good to fill the forum stats instead of looking empty but they'll also drive away any possible life on your site.

If you don't believe me, just look what happened to one my sites at http://dnx.me

 

This one is VERY important. We try to keep our forum very "nice", yet we've lost more members from drama and crap stirred-up by a few long time members and a few moderators. It's hard to ban a valuable/long-time member for stirring up crap, but in the long run, it's usually worth it. This is a tough one, unless your forum is known for being "mean" (which can be ok too)..

 

Well i need to start, if I do nothing, forum will remain EMPTY and attract noone

 

But filling your forum with spam-alike posts won't also attract people, believe me.

Try writing quality posts, invite friends to join your forum, think and propose something that is truly unique.

Otherwise, your forum will fail even before it starts.

 

I offer forum posting. You can PM me if your interested. I recommend you order some paid posting and invite as many friends who share an interest in the topic. Don't forget to be active in your own forums as well.