What Good Advice Do You Have For A New Forum Owner?

Discussion in 'General Business' started by ScottHughes, Aug 25, 2006.

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  1. #1
    I'm not looking for a review for my forum at the moment. (If I want one, I'll post in the reviews section of this site.) What I'm looking for is a list of tips, advice, warnings, etcetera for a forum owner, namely a new forum owner.

    What would those of you with experience in administrating and owning discussions forums give as advice to other forum owners?

    What's the best and most effective ways to stir discussion? What's the best and most effective market and promote a forum, namely a new forum? What's the best and most effective way to select and/or hire moderators?

    What unconvential forum administration methods have you used that you consider effective and valuable?
     
    ScottHughes, Aug 25, 2006 IP
  2. forumrating

    forumrating Notable Member

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    #2
    forumrating, Aug 25, 2006 IP
  3. Vewgle

    Vewgle Active Member

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    #3
    My forum is about 6 months old and i hardly do any work and get about 1400 users per day. What I did at first was go to google groups and find the specific place to advertise yourself and do so. I would immediatly get about 20 people online. then to get links i would do the regular stuff articles, advertise in your sig ect. I wouldnt spend any money at first until you have a few more people.
     
    Vewgle, Aug 25, 2006 IP
  4. HideIp

    HideIp Active Member

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    #4
    stay with it no matter how dead a forum may be. when i started mine it seemed like it was dead on it with sometimes no posts in a single day. so i created multiple accounts and basically talked to myself lol but the more posts you have the better. good luck
     
    HideIp, Aug 26, 2006 IP
  5. geegel

    geegel Well-Known Member

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    #5
    Stir controversy. If there aren't any controversial topics, create them. Don't be afraid to be political incorrect or even plain wrong. Then focus on these controversies and post them in relevant Google groups. The traffic should skyrocket at least in those threads and hopefully it will extend to the forum as a whole.

    One very succesful scheme of this kind could be a viral marketing campaign running on IM encouraging people to vote on a poll or fight back on a highly controversial topic. Creativity would really help here.

    Hope this helps.

    Regards, George
     
    geegel, Aug 26, 2006 IP
  6. Mike S.

    Mike S. Well-Known Member

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    #6
    As for hiring moderators, you won't need any right away, just wait and see what members seem to be the most devoted. Don't give them any power right away, and expand their powers gradually.
     
    Mike S., Aug 26, 2006 IP