How do you Make your Forum Run Well?

[Eduardo]

I have seen many forums that have been run well. Does anyone have any tips on running a good forum?

[Joel]

hmmm....dont make it too messy,dont add too much forum widgets.Make sure the color suits the whole forum.Have a friendly community.

[Eduardo]

Thanks for the good tips!

[Mystic_gohan]

I think promting makes people come in forum .

[Joel]

indeed.Promoting plays a key role.

[Mystic_gohan]

yeah i also think that .

[Eduardo]

Same here!

[Joel]

of course.Unless you wanna leave your forum there and wait for members to come.

[Eduardo]

of course.Unless you wanna leave your forum there and wait for members to come.

Which probably won't work.

[frosty]

hmmm....dont make it too messy,dont add too much forum widgets.Make sure the color suits the whole forum.Have a friendly community.

that is excatly what i have xD

[Eduardo]

I am working on that.

[Dimon]

in addition to joels comments,
i think a forum should also be well moderated....there should be no flooding in the forum...!really sorry if i hurt you guys....but..thought this is just flooding....i just made a suggestion guys...please see them...!

[Mystex]

thought this is just flooding....i just made a suggestion guys...please see them...!

I would have to agree with you there xD.

[Eduardo]

You can get a warning for flooding.

[TayneC8]

Two main points:

Have a good software
Nice skin.

[Joel]

indeed.

Some more tips

1. Be Unique - The internet is crowded with forums
   and communities on all sorts of topics. You’ve got to do something to
   distance yourself from the pack. Whether that’s accomplished through
   your design, your rules, or offering a certain feature that other
   forums don’t, you need to be memorable. Think about it, how many forums
   have you signed up for over the years? If you can’t remember, you’ve
   just perfectly illustrated my point.
   
2. Discuss Hot Topics - No matter what your forum is
   about, there will always be hot topics to talk about - hot button
   issues that automatically generate conversation and debate. Industry
   news, technological developments, and current events are all great
   topics. Starting new threads or discussions about these “hot topics”
   can create instant conversation and can often be a shot in the arm for
   your somewhat stale forum.
   
3. Create a Blog - That’s right, I said blog. Sure
   blogs and forums are two separate things, but how many of you have
   clicked over to check out our forums? A great blog post will often
   attract attention to content that your forum might have otherwise
   concealed. Blogs are more accessible, less threatening, and require a
   much lower level of commitment from the average reader. Done right, a
   blog can be a more gentle way to ease new people into a community.
   Also, blogs are more “linkable” which allows you to gain even more
   exposure within your target industry or niche, as well as helping your
   site rank better in the search engines. This of course will in turn
   lead to more visitors and hopefully more members. You can also use a
   blog to reward particularly great posts in your forum. If, for example,
   you have a member that regularly contributes great threads or topics to
   your forum, invite them to write an article for your blog. That
   provides you with more blog content and is just one more way to show
   your members that you value them. Which reminds me…
   
4. Show your appreciation - This one is really quite
   simple. Your members need to know you care. About them, about their
   needs and desires, and most of all, about the forum. As pops mentioned,
   if your members know that you are invested in making the forum a
   success, they’re a lot more likely to contribute their time and
   content. So how do you show your appreciation? Tell them. Send your
   members emails or private messages thanking them for their
   contributions, offer some type of reward for your most active members,
   listen to their requests or concerns about the site, anything that can
   help you form a bond with your members.
   
5. Be active - No one likes absentee landlords,
   fathers, or forum administrators. A forum is going to take up a lot of
   your time. If you don’t have time to run it, make sure you find someone
   that does. The forum administrator needs to be active and visible in
   the community. People need to feel they have a way to address any
   problems they might have or any disagreements that spring up between
   members. When activity slows down, and there will be slow periods, it’s
   the administrator’s job to stir up discussion and activity (this would
   be a good time for some of those hot topics from point #2).
   
6. Invite Experts - In any field there are well known
   experts. If you’ve started a forum on the subject, chances are you know
   who the top dog(s) is/are. Chances are there is already a discussion
   about one of their products or theories going on in your forum. If not,
   start one. Then contact the expert and invite them to join in the
   discussion. Chances are they’ll jump at the chance. They’ll get some
   free advertising and perhaps a chance to promote their product, and
   you’ll have the benefit of bringing more experts into your community.
   The more experts you have stopping in from time to time, the more well
   known your forum will become. And really, isn’t that why you’re reading
   this post?
   
7. Send out Reminders - As we discussed earlier,
   people often join a forum, participate for a few hours or days, get
   busy and then forget about their new-found forum. Even if your site is
   unique and memorable, some people will manage to forget it. Luckily for
   you, most forums require an email address to sign up. Using this list
   to send out weekly newsletters with site news, interesting threads, or
   your newest promotions will serve as a subtle reminder to anyone who
   hasn’t visited your site for a while.
   
8. Welcome new members - Have you ever asked why
   Walmart employs a person whose sole job is to greet customers? Ever
   wondered why churches have those overly friendly people posted at the
   front door? It’s because people like to be welcomed. And, if it’s good
   enough for Walmart, it’s good enough for your forum. Be sure to welcome
   your new members and, if possible, give them a place to introduce
   themselves to your regular members. A welcome also serves as a great
   time to make sure your new members read your forum rules; further
   easing their transition into your community.
   
9. Participate in the Industry - I can hear you
   already. Didn’t you already tell us to be active? Well, yes I did. This
   time though, I’m talking about the industry as a whole. People often
   say “It’s not what you know, it’s WHO you know.” In most industries
   there are conferences or trade shows where hundreds or thousands of
   people gather and the best part is, they’re almost all your target
   audience. Of course these events will vary depending on your niche or
   industry but I’m willing to bet there’s a gathering of some sort. If
   your forum is about model trains, go to the train exhibits. If your
   community is art based, attend art shows and exhibit openings.
   Basically, attend as many of these events as possible, rub elbows with
   as many people as possible and, of course, during the conversation let
   them know about your forum.
   
10. Allow Off Topic Discussion - Even workaholics
    don’t talk shop 24/7. Your forum members are no different. Creating a
    space for your members to blow off steam, tell jokes, and talk about
    their other interests will allow them to create friendships and unwind.
    Think of this as a team building exercise. The more your members
    interact with each other, the more likely they’ll be to visit on a
    regular basis. They’ll also be more willing to help spread the word
    about your forum or help improve the community. If nothing else, you’ll
    gain a few friends in the process. Now who doesn’t want more friends?
    

Taken from http://www.seorefugee.com/seoblog/2007/02/08/10-tips-for-promoting-your-forum/

[zimzy]

Firstly advertise your forum wherever you can , be it friends or sites . Keep innovating things and adding a few interesting things to your forum ; that will surely attract more members . Always communicate with your moderators and make them aware of the latest happenings . Also try not to add bulky images like the banner and other widgets that could slow your forum down . I hope these tips will be helpful !

[lorcan]

I always get a review done before my forum is open and then when the outside person tells me what is bad about it i change the things what are bad, then i advertise like crazy, i get loads of topics and a good team of mods and thats about it.

[Joel]

well, services are @ 10% discount for this week. Better get some stuffs!

[Briggers810]

I would say that having nice graphical images and a nice theme is a must.
But also having a large amount of content provided by your staff is also a good thing.

[Behaviour???]

Calling out dufferent members and jut they register and go, for this to be avoided, It is always recommended that you give your members something unique and refreshing, celebrate by organising tournaments and all....Then your forums gets the real Beat

[old.]

To run a good forum, you take the right steps and make a great idea.

[Fenrir]

Be patient, Act like all members are equal, Engage in the community, Work hard.

[Joel]

the Owner/Admins must be fair.

[Deathlypoety888]

Always be friendly and make friends with your members, it will build you a member base, make you some new friends, and create a community where people will want to go because it will be friendly, and open.

[Joel]

Always be friendly and make friends with your members, it will build you a member base, make you some new friends, and create a community where people will want to go because it will be friendly, and open.

YES! Exactly.

[Martin]

well you need to keep active if you are always on and posting then your members have a reason to post

[Kyle]

I'd figure I'd start this up again with a point I don't think anyone has mentioned...

All websites need rules, whether the rules regulate the community in every aspect, or hardly any. Up to you.

But, with an exception to your most serious of rules, such as, on this site, illegal activities, or porn, you shouldn't infract or act upon every little inadvertent rule violation you come across. Now, if you don't allow illegal activities/porn, and you specify that you won't *play* around with that rule, chances are members will respect that and not post those, so actually having to ban a member should be a rarity.

Unless it's a repeated offender(4-5) you should just chill, and let your forum blossom. Be relaxed, yet respected. Not feared, and confrontational.

[Cafetin]

Senora Goat has been banned for spanning the board with inappropriate pictures.

Sorry for the inconvenience it caused.

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