I am thinking of offering a free forum hosting website, but first I would like your thoughts on: 1. Is the market too saturated? 2. I know of some scripts that offer PhBB - is there any that offer any other forum software like SMF or MyBB? 3. Has anyone had any experience in this area? 4. Please reccomend the best scripts to use. Thanks in advance for your replies
Hello Brian123, 1. A lot of companies who have hosting software, also supply hosting, and a lot of companies hold hosting just for forums already, (free hosting for forums) 2. PHPBB - Would work There is other forum software such as Invision Power, and Vbulletin, but you have to pay for those licenses. 3. Not hosting free forums 4. Not sure I would look into a different idea because there a lot of ideas like this, just my opinion though. Good luck!
Thanks for the advice jkrish41. It would be a free service that I would offer, and hope to gain money back from AdSense. The idea I have in mind is quite a unique one (I think!) and is not your normal run of the mill free forum site! I am just curious to try and learn how this all works. Does anyone know what forum script ProBoards use, or is it one of their own?
ProBoards uses their own script. And to answer your question, YES the market is FAR too saturated. Especially when it comes to phpBB, because of all the forum hosting scripts out there for it. My advice is unless you can do something extremely unique, or have a large advertising budget, it's not worth your time.
I think I will give it a go, because I think I can turn the original format of forum hosting, into another unique idea. Can anyone recommend the best script to use, and a guide of the cost?