Why forums fail to take off
My biggest gripe with people who start forums is the vast topics they impose on their readers. I came across somebody who was starting a webmaster forum (because we don’t have enough of those) and was immediately turned off by the 20+ subforums.
There was a subforum for php, asp, html, javascript, seo, google, adsense, yahoo, ebooks, msn, YPN, link exchange, sell your site, buy a site, sell a domain etc etc. It was overwhelming to say the least and many of them had no posts.
My advice for those that are starting forums - keep it simple stupid. Drill down your niche and focus on something not as widespread. Only the big boys such as Sitepoint and Digitalpoint have the traffic and readers to widen their topics.
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POSTED IN: Web Tips
5 opinions for Why forums fail to take off
Dave Starr
Jul 8, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Very cogent advice. I was just talking to an online acquaintance whose starting a web master style forum. Wish I had thought to give him similar advice.
There’s time enough to start making the categories marrow when, as, and if the number of members and posts grow sufficiently. It’s boring and counter productive to have a forum with perhaps 50 posts total and have those posts spread across 60 categories. Most forum software allows moving of posts to different categories at a later date anyway … the challenge is getting critical mass to begin with … one category is all you need to start.
Besides, a huge percentage of forum posters don’t “get” the concept of categories anyway … they’ll read a thread in one category and then post something on a whole different line of thought, hit send, and be on their way. This is definitely a case of less is more.
Ed
Jul 9, 2006 at 11:24 am
Basic advice certainly but something so many forum owners fail to take heed of, despite the mistake being so elementary.
I lose count of the number of new forums emulating my own for example that think they can spread a tiny amount of posts across a number of forums akin to that of a big-board.
Jamsi
Jul 9, 2006 at 12:36 pm
Thanks for the comments guys and I agree with the both of you :)
Ed - I love your blogs design mate, defiantly a keeper. I’m also astonished at your forum that you built up when you were 14!! That’s incredible man, great work! It looks great too :)
I’d be interested to hear what your CTR is with that adsense advert you have at the top there :)
Alborz
Jul 12, 2006 at 12:01 am
I just don’t think forums have the potential to get that big anymore, I mean sure, you can start a forum on a popular blog / site but there are soooo many forums already that its almost too much to pick from and that alone turns people off.
Daniel Nicolas
Aug 6, 2006 at 5:25 pm
Make one or two sections, then as the forum grows in size, more sections will present themselves as being logical to have.
=) meaning… You’re exactly right!
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