Forum Moderators: rogerd
One thing you might do is ensure your topics are non-teen oriented. That doesn't mean they won't post, but it may cut down on the appeal.
You could even try separate topics for teen & older members.
Be sure you enforce any TOS terms about proper language use and staying on topic. If one of your target audience shows up at the forum and finds a bunch of teens chatting about Britney Spears in IM-talk ("u r gr8"), he/she'll head for the back button in a hurry.
If YOU decide that first and set the intention for it,
those people WILL show up.
I own a social internet community in which we have done this, and every single day we have new people arrive
who actually post that our community was just what they were
looking for.
It really does work.
This forum itself is a pretty good example of a
focused community.
It is a large community, friendly, focused, no spam
or advertising except where allowed
and I would certainly bet the farm
that's how the person who created it, intended it
to be.
And while I am sure many people do set intentions for their
community and wind up not having it they way they intended
9 times out of 10 it is because they start focusing
on what they do NOT want and put their energy there
rather on what they originaly or currently want.
BTW I was excited to find this place and told
on of my partners who is our webmaster about it,
and he is going to join with a donation as thinks place
looks very valuable to me for networking!
I personally am not very techie myself and I do not do the programming, but I understand how to create,
use and interact in social networks very well,
it's a passion for me.
Again, nice to meet you!
Aloha
Marcy From Maui