carfac - 4:02 am on Feb 6, 2003 (gmt 0)

Hi:

Just thought I'd chime in. Not a forum expert, but had one for a couple years. The first was kind of stand a lone, and had a hard time attracting users. I had links to it from my other, similarly themed sites, but it just did not go over. Maybe 300 posts over two years. And, yes, it is in DMOZ and Google and all that, and has a 7 rating...

I wondered if my topic just did not generate that much to discuss...

Then a user at one of my other sites that has just been growing phenominally (glasses at DMOZ and Yahoo, Kim Kommando Pick of the week, etc) suggested I add a forum to that site. So I took the old forum down (actually just used a re-write to the new forum- did not want to loose the DMOZ and Google goodwill!), bought a new forum software program, and tied the main site (www.widget.com) to the forum (forum.widget.com).

It went live Dec 31, and now has 350 topics and 1000 posts or so. Not too shabby! Some of the web friends that contributed to the main site (and thus I know) have been signed on as Mods, so I have some known quantity there.

When I designed the new forum, I took a hard look at my two favorite forums (this being one) as I decided the direction to take. Just as, on this forum, there is good reason NOT to link to one's site, there are certian things in my venue that I think would detract- items for sale by posters, for instance. So I tried to nip all those potential problems in the bud, and made a very explicit terms of use. I actually spent a couple days at that... adding, subtracting, and going over in my mind where the potential problems could be. I am sure I did not catch them all, but I got a lot of them... and I have a better idea and direction in my head for what I want it all to do!

Anyway, I would really try and think out where you are going with the forum, and take the good ideas from other forums that you frequent. (I hope that is OK, Brett! I PROMISE mine has NOTHING to do with anything technical at all!) I even posted a link in my moderators forum to this very thread to help them!

I would also suggest that you have something else to drive people to the forum. My first forum died of lack of input. I am finding incredible opertunities to cross-promote my main and forum site, and I think both sites benefit!

Also, I think when people post about all the time that goes into forums, you should keep in mind that those are ESTABLISHED forums. As your forum grows, you will hopefully be able to add mods and such to take some of the work out of your hands. So don't let the workload scare you.... you will give it as much as you can, though!

Good Luck!

dave