what do you do first when starting a forum?

**Steve** · Feb 3rd, 2008, 8:46 pm

I've been into forums for a while so I'm eager to know what you guys do first when you start a forum. whats more important to get going in your opinion.

Do you promote first?

do you get it designed then worry about traffic or do you do the opposite?

do you have a launch team to help you get started?

do you have contests the first few days or wait til you have a good amount of members?

**Autumn** · Feb 3rd, 2008, 9:06 pm

I usually get everything setup up and check to make sure everything is working first. I will signup in a new name to be sure the signup procedure is all working and that I receive notification etc.

I believe in having it all ready to go so that I'm not changing things after they join. People in general don't like change

**Steve** · Feb 3rd, 2008, 9:22 pm

Originally Posted by Autumn

I usually get everything setup up and check to make sure everything is working first. I will signup in a new name to be sure the signup procedure is all working and that I receive notification etc.

I believe in having it all ready to go so that I'm not changing things after they join. People in general don't like change

very true and the next question is how do you pick your forums? do you pick just the necessary ones or do you make em all in one shot?

i try to only make the ones i need and try to stay under 10 - 12 so that when i do launch the forum doesn't look dead and lonely . You dont want a bunch of forums with 1 post each lol

**Dulcepixels** · Feb 3rd, 2008, 9:45 pm

I think it would also be nice to invite some of your friends to have a dry run on the forum and if everything runs smooth, that's the time to announce it to a broader market.

**Autumn** · Feb 3rd, 2008, 11:00 pm

Originally Posted by Gasmoney

very true and the next question is how do you pick your forums? do you pick just the necessary ones or do you make em all in one shot?

i try to only make the ones i need and try to stay under 10 - 12 so that when i do launch the forum doesn't look dead and lonely . You dont want a bunch of forums with 1 post each lol

In general start with a few different ones that are relevant to the topic. As it picks up, you can stretch them out a bit. Say, for example, you had a news category, well keep it as a general news to start with, then break it up into World News and Local News and so on as the forum grows.

**nyunyu** · Feb 3rd, 2008, 11:14 pm

The best way to start after you have finish messing around your forum is to create only necessary thread. After you have bult your fan base or user base, only then you can expand your thread scope. You don't want people to come and see there is so many empty threads. If they need a specific thread, they will make a suggestion. aahh..the suggestion corner is a must!

**Richie_Ni** · Feb 4th, 2008, 6:16 am

I'd get the design up and hire some paid posters first,then start the promotion.

**geekonetwothree** · Feb 4th, 2008, 6:38 am

Don't hire best if you can get some classmates or friends to post.

**Richie_Ni** · Feb 4th, 2008, 6:45 am

Originally Posted by geekonetwothree

Don't hire best if you can get some classmates or friends to post.

Why not?

**Autumn** · Feb 4th, 2008, 11:35 am

Another idea to get some content to start with is to add rss feeds to your different categories, even if you only allow it to run for one session each forum, you at least have something for the new members to discuss when they join and it gives the forum a more "lived in" appearance

**MrCat** · Feb 6th, 2008, 1:34 am

First things first! That would have to be niche selection

No one seemed to mention that...

**Steve** · Feb 6th, 2008, 11:21 am

Originally Posted by MrCat

First things first! That would have to be niche selection

No one seemed to mention that...

yea this thread was meant to be after you have that. i should put that in the first post. sorry , and trust me thats another thread in its self.

*Mysanctuary23* · Feb 7th, 2008, 2:44 am

Putting information on my profile and then I never failed to make
an introduction thread first before anything else.:scool:

**jamaine12** · Feb 7th, 2008, 3:55 am

Originally Posted by Mysanctuary23

Putting information on my profile and then I never failed to make
an introduction thread first before anything else.:scool:

Same here..I make sure that I'll introduce myself first..

**ForumsFirst** · Feb 18th, 2008, 7:55 am

Make sure you don't overdo it with the number of catagories, nothing is worse than a site with 50 catagories and 20 are empty.

One big thing I have found, is don't make your authentication for new memebrs to strong, nothing like a really noisy image identification that you can't get right to scare of new members - If you are using visual ID plus a 'Are you human' style question dont also have email activation.

Good lUck

:swink:

**EmmaB** · Feb 18th, 2008, 8:03 am

Meh, I always plan out the content first and get the perfect look that matches my main website

**Red Hot Mama** · Feb 18th, 2008, 8:18 am

I'd get everything set up (design, colors, categories, etc) and then get some posters in there. Get as many people to do it for free to cut the costs, but don't hesitate to hire some good paid posters (yes, I am available.

) Get some good content going in every category, and then start promoting it... Then it looks nice and active to the new people, and once the new people get going, your original posters can slip quietly out the back door and nobody will notice.

**010081** · Feb 18th, 2008, 8:41 am

1. Research for my forum niche
2.Work for design related to my niche together
3. Build number of good quality content thread myself with 5-6 usernames.make sure other don't know about it.
4. Research for mistakes others are making by going to related forums and looking for feedback and suggestions.
5. Promote it in the most appropriate places .

**rockinlinux** · Feb 19th, 2008, 7:55 am

start small and then go bigger. Build it so it wokrs well, get a couple mods together and then start trying to advertise and all that fun stuff.

**twenty4web** · Feb 21st, 2008, 6:56 am

test, test and more testing. Start out with a basic structure (categories etc) Then build from there. Don't make to many child boards or confusing topics.

**Kate Anderson** · Feb 21st, 2008, 3:11 pm

I would get everything done before ever promoting it. This includes the template/skin, the plugins/hacks, set up the categories (limit them to only a few when you start out so your forum doesn't look bare), start up a few accounts and have conversations with yourself (always fun, lol), get some banner ads designed, tweak it and then start promoting it..

How? Just like you do anything else.. signature ads, contests, give away freebie downloads on your board, etc.. Paid posting is a last resort for me, but a lot of people use it to jump-start their boards. Perhaps choose carefully if you do go that route though and make sure that these people are contributing solid content (or interesting conversations).. otherwise it will just look like your board was taken over by spam-bots.

Good luck, I'll definitely check your board out =)

**MrCat** · Feb 24th, 2008, 2:38 pm

Deciding on an apt domain for branding and one that would have a good keyword on it is something that's also worth considering IMO

**webster13045** · Feb 24th, 2008, 2:58 pm

not saying you have to but it is a good idea to make your forum about something you like yourself

example if you enjoyed doing php work make a forum for php resources

anything realy just a suggestion