Comments on: A common mistake with forums http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/ Community Building Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:04:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-17817 Martin Reed - Blog Author Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:46:49 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-17817 <strong>goundoulf</strong> - Start small; just a few categories. Invite friends to join. Get them involved even before the community launches. That way, you'll have content from day one. goundoulf – Start small; just a few categories. Invite friends to join. Get them involved even before the community launches. That way, you’ll have content from day one.

]]> By: goundoulf http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-17743 goundoulf Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:01:54 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-17743 I think the hardest part in a forum is to start from scratch, when you have only 1 account (yours), and 0 post. Then you post a few messages. But as a visitor of the forum, I wouldn't be interested in it if all the messages are from 1 person, and if there are not a few other members asking questions or answering them. And do you divide the forum in several categories from the start? The problem is that they will be mostly empty. Or just have 1 or 2 categories, and then create more specific categories later as needed? I think the hardest part in a forum is to start from scratch, when you have only 1 account (yours), and 0 post.

Then you post a few messages. But as a visitor of the forum, I wouldn’t be interested in it if all the messages are from 1 person, and if there are not a few other members asking questions or answering them.

And do you divide the forum in several categories from the start? The problem is that they will be mostly empty. Or just have 1 or 2 categories, and then create more specific categories later as needed?

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-14129 Martin Reed - Blog Author Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:19:42 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-14129 <strong>Mark</strong> - Keep at it! You are going through the most difficult period of developing a new online community. Keep posting, but make sure you take a couple of days off every now and then to see if your new baby is ready to walk on its own. Mark – Keep at it! You are going through the most difficult period of developing a new online community. Keep posting, but make sure you take a couple of days off every now and then to see if your new baby is ready to walk on its own.

]]> By: Mark F http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-14032 Mark F Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:45:36 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-14032 As the creator of a new forum I'd say this is great advice. I'm currently creating most new topics myself, but am hoping it will change in time, before I get tired of talking to myself. As the creator of a new forum I’d say this is great advice. I’m currently creating most new topics myself, but am hoping it will change in time, before I get tired of talking to myself.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-13389 Martin Reed - Blog Author Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:46:02 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-13389 <strong>Kevin</strong> - A forum should always contain fresh content. In the early stages, this will often need to be posted by the forum owner. For the new community I am currently developing, I plan on posting about four new threads each day along with a few new posts in addition. You're right that first-time visitors love seeing active topics; one way of reducing the number of failed threads is by <a href="http://www.communityspark.com/here-is-a-method-that-is-helping-forums-succeed/">asking questions</a>. Kevin – A forum should always contain fresh content. In the early stages, this will often need to be posted by the forum owner. For the new community I am currently developing, I plan on posting about four new threads each day along with a few new posts in addition.

You’re right that first-time visitors love seeing active topics; one way of reducing the number of failed threads is by asking questions.

]]> By: Kevin Malone http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-13364 Kevin Malone Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:56:18 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-13364 I remember when I read a related article at TAZ forum, and it was advised, as best as I can remember, that you submit at least 4 posts a day. I haven't taken that rule fundamentally (actually posting at least 4 posts EVERY DAY), but the general idea really hit me, as if I had just discovered the meaning of life (OK, maybe I'm overreacting, but you get the point). I decided, hey, I'll post several new topics as often as I can. Maybe not every day, but every few days. Maybe sometimes just one or two. Just knowing that you keep posting content, it encourages the members, keeps them wanting to come back knowing you'll post something new, and interesting. I alluded to this method in another post I made on this blog: that of browsing the forum lists of forums that have good discussions, finding ones you like, and submitting similar ones at your own forum with YOUR OWN meaningful input, because, of course, you wouldn't be able to come up with good new topic ideas yourself all the time. And the members do keep coming back. They have good discussions. They even feel compelled to start their own topics every now and then, knowing the members there provide good input. I do delete a topic I submitted if it has failed to accumulate any posts, and has gotten sufficiently old (weeks, maybe), though, so as to not discourage first-time visitors who may be browsing the forum list. They like seeing active topics, right? I remember when I read a related article at TAZ forum, and it was advised, as best as I can remember, that you submit at least 4 posts a day. I haven’t taken that rule fundamentally (actually posting at least 4 posts EVERY DAY), but the general idea really hit me, as if I had just discovered the meaning of life (OK, maybe I’m overreacting, but you get the point).

I decided, hey, I’ll post several new topics as often as I can. Maybe not every day, but every few days. Maybe sometimes just one or two. Just knowing that you keep posting content, it encourages the members, keeps them wanting to come back knowing you’ll post something new, and interesting.

I alluded to this method in another post I made on this blog: that of browsing the forum lists of forums that have good discussions, finding ones you like, and submitting similar ones at your own forum with YOUR OWN meaningful input, because, of course, you wouldn’t be able to come up with good new topic ideas yourself all the time.

And the members do keep coming back. They have good discussions. They even feel compelled to start their own topics every now and then, knowing the members there provide good input.

I do delete a topic I submitted if it has failed to accumulate any posts, and has gotten sufficiently old (weeks, maybe), though, so as to not discourage first-time visitors who may be browsing the forum list. They like seeing active topics, right?

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-6762 Martin Reed - Blog Author Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:58:26 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-6762 <strong>Sara</strong> - Thanks for your comment. It's great that you are recognising there are times you do not need to create as much content yourself, but know that there are other periods when you do need to step to the plate and take the time to create new posts yourself. Sara – Thanks for your comment. It’s great that you are recognising there are times you do not need to create as much content yourself, but know that there are other periods when you do need to step to the plate and take the time to create new posts yourself.

]]> By: Sara http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-6682 Sara Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:53:06 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/a-common-mistake-with-forums/#comment-6682 These are really good points. In the beginning I was creating about 5 posts a day...after a few weeks, I have seen taht I can decrease the amount a little bit. Some days the members start alot of posts and I may not create a thread; but instead reply to them. I do keep a notepad with topics of discussion in it so I can make posts as soon as I need to. I find weekends I need to make a lot of posts as weekends are dead. These are really good points. In the beginning I was creating about 5 posts a day…after a few weeks, I have seen taht I can decrease the amount a little bit. Some days the members start alot of posts and I may not create a thread; but instead reply to them. I do keep a notepad with topics of discussion in it so I can make posts as soon as I need to. I find weekends I need to make a lot of posts as weekends are dead.

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