Getting a forum off the ground

[Madman]

So, I've sat on a domain name and hosting for a couple years thinking I might have some genius idea of what to do with it.

Turns out all I really want to do with it is have a forum of people with similar interests hag out and shoot the sheit.

Where would be the best place to "promote it", if you will, to generate some interest?

[Khel]

forum.calgarypuck.com

[photon]

Yeah you can advertise your forum for the low low fee of.. i have no idea actually.

Forums are tough, no one wants to be involved in one unless there's activity, and there's no activity unless someone wants to be involved in one.

Most grow organically.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by photon

Yeah you can advertise your forum for the low low fee of.. i have no idea actually.

Forums are tough, no one wants to be involved in one unless there's activity, and there's no activity unless someone wants to be involved in one.

Most grow organically.

Yeah, I've been involved in setting up and running a couple large sites - but have never really been in a position where I have almost no user base to start with.

Anyone interested in trucks?

[FanIn80]

You almost had me when I thought it was going to be a forum about skateboard trucks.

[Madman]

Haha, sorry.

[Shazam]

Just allow nudity and swearing and the masses will come!

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Just allow nudity and swearing and the masses will come!

Hell, even random swearing alone will work...

[Madman]

Full on swearing is not only allowed, but encouraged.

[photon]

Yeah swearing and nudity are great until you find out that almost any ad provider does not allow them on sites that have their ads, so then your choices become very limited to porn ads.

What was the downside again?

[gottabekd]

Originally Posted by photon

Yeah swearing and nudity are great until you find out that almost any ad provider does not allow them on sites that have their ads, so then your choices become very limited to porn ads.

What was the downside again?

In my experience, forums generate absolutely dismal ad revenue, so having ads is not worth it. Of course, your members will complain if you go from no ads to ads. On the other hand, if you remove the ads, no one seems to care or appreciate it, and now you are no longer getting the tiny bit of revenue from before.

General thoughts about forums, from someone who had done this all before, and then ultimately having it die:

• It's real tricky to be an Admin AND a member. I mean, if you want to contribute to the discussion wearing the Admin banner, that's fine, but say one thing out of line and people jump all over you. But, having two accounts is also deceptive, so I don't have answers, just warnings.
• Don't be afraid to hit the Ban button. If something is way over the line, no need for warnings or second chances.
• Don't create too many subforums before they are needed. Taking a look at your current set up, it looks good. Don't expand the sections too rapidly, or it makes everything look dead.
• General traffic building: get your link out there. For forums, join a competing forum and put the link in your signature (if allowed). People (and Google) will find their way there.
• Coming up with any original content always helps. E.g. polls, lists, articles, something to entice others from around the net to link to your forum.
• Other than that...just know that with so many other forums out there for every topic/niche, getting it really off the ground and flying is really hard. It takes luck and hard work.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Madman

Full on swearing is not only allowed, but encouraged.

Excellent.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by gottabekd

In my experience, forums generate absolutely dismal ad revenue, so having ads is not worth it. Of course, your members will complain if you go from no ads to ads. On the other hand, if you remove the ads, no one seems to care or appreciate it, and now you are no longer getting the tiny bit of revenue from before.

General thoughts about forums, from someone who had done this all before, and then ultimately having it die:

• It's real tricky to be an Admin AND a member. I mean, if you want to contribute to the discussion wearing the Admin banner, that's fine, but say one thing out of line and people jump all over you. But, having two accounts is also deceptive, so I don't have answers, just warnings.
  

I'd just create two accounts. One as the Admin and another as the member. And then play dumb on my poster account when people imply I'm the Admin.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

I'd just create two accounts. One as the Admin and another as the member. And then play dumb on my poster account when people imply I'm the Admin.

"Play" dumb?