Comments on: Can general interest forums succeed? http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/ 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/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4285 Martin Reed - Blog Author Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:21:22 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4285 Ed - I think creating a successful forum is always both a challenge and a pleasure. Advertising on general forums can be tough due to their wide audience although you may well find that you are attracting a certain demographic despite the general nature of your community. Good luck with your own forum, and thanks for your comment! Ed – I think creating a successful forum is always both a challenge and a pleasure. Advertising on general forums can be tough due to their wide audience although you may well find that you are attracting a certain demographic despite the general nature of your community.

Good luck with your own forum, and thanks for your comment!

]]> By: Ed http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4241 Ed Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:33:45 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4241 Open discussion or general topic forums can be a challenge, but also they can be a pleasure. The difficulty as described well in your initial post is that advertising is hard because it's nearly impossible to target. "Word of mouse" may be the way to go, but that in itself presents challenges. My own general forum is growing, but I would not say it has reached critical mass just yet. Open discussion or general topic forums can be a challenge, but also they can be a pleasure. The difficulty as described well in your initial post is that advertising is hard because it’s nearly impossible to target. “Word of mouse” may be the way to go, but that in itself presents challenges. My own general forum is growing, but I would not say it has reached critical mass just yet.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4191 Martin Reed - Blog Author Wed, 11 Jul 2007 05:45:46 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4191 <strong>Smiley</strong> - It is essential to always take feedback and suggestions from all visitors seriously. After all, they are the very people you want to please if you are to retain your visitors. I am well aware of this fact and always practice what I preach! <strong>Blogging</strong> - I have no doubt that the vast majority of all communities fail. It is easy to install a forum, but a huge challenge to attract and retain members. Differentiation really does give you a huge advantage over your competition (as long as the differentiation is beneficial to your visitors!). <strong>James Pegram</strong> - I think developing any forum requires a huge amount of time and patience. You are right that many just do not realise the hard work involved! <strong>Justin</strong> - Your forum really does seem to be buzzing; congratulations on your initial success! Keep the momentum going and continue to keep yourself differentiated and I am sure you will reach all your goals. <strong>Melissa Odom</strong> - There are many ways of attracting traffic without having to spend any money on advertising. Take a look at the archives section of this blog for relevant articles I have already written (articles such as my link building series may be particularly helpful). Additionally, stay tuned as I will be writing additional articles on this area in the future. Smiley – It is essential to always take feedback and suggestions from all visitors seriously. After all, they are the very people you want to please if you are to retain your visitors. I am well aware of this fact and always practice what I preach!

Blogging – I have no doubt that the vast majority of all communities fail. It is easy to install a forum, but a huge challenge to attract and retain members.

Differentiation really does give you a huge advantage over your competition (as long as the differentiation is beneficial to your visitors!).

James Pegram – I think developing any forum requires a huge amount of time and patience. You are right that many just do not realise the hard work involved!

Justin – Your forum really does seem to be buzzing; congratulations on your initial success! Keep the momentum going and continue to keep yourself differentiated and I am sure you will reach all your goals.

Melissa Odom – There are many ways of attracting traffic without having to spend any money on advertising.

Take a look at the archives section of this blog for relevant articles I have already written (articles such as my link building series may be particularly helpful). Additionally, stay tuned as I will be writing additional articles on this area in the future.

]]> By: Melissa Odom http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4181 Melissa Odom Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:08:47 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4181 In regards to Justin's comment...How do people find your site if you have "No website or money spent on advertising?" In regards to Justin’s comment…How do people find your site if you have “No website or money spent on advertising?”

]]> By: Around the Web - Links of Interest | Everybody Go To http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4162 Around the Web - Links of Interest | Everybody Go To Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:06:58 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4162 [...] Community Spark - This post talks about if general forums can succeed or not. In this age of multiple social network accounts, IM’s, RSS feeds etc…bottom line - “Your community must be different to all the others that are out there.” [...] [...] Community Spark – This post talks about if general forums can succeed or not. In this age of multiple social network accounts, IM’s, RSS feeds etc…bottom line – “Your community must be different to all the others that are out there.” [...]

]]> By: Blogosphere Update: Blog posts of the week (plus a few extras) » Daniel B. Honigman’s site (Chicago 2016 news, restaurant reviews, etc.) http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4152 Blogosphere Update: Blog posts of the week (plus a few extras) » Daniel B. Honigman’s site (Chicago 2016 news, restaurant reviews, etc.) Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:34:25 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4152 [...] Martin wonders if general interest forums can succeed on the Web. [...] [...] Martin wonders if general interest forums can succeed on the Web. [...]

]]> By: Justin http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4144 Justin Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:27:44 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4144 I have a fairly successful general forum. It experiences ups and downs, but I think eventually we will be able to keep activity constant. 63,500 posts and 400 members in 7 months. No website or money spent on advertising. We clearly show how we stand out, and that's what inspired me in the new theme I made. :) I have a fairly successful general forum. It experiences ups and downs, but I think eventually we will be able to keep activity constant.

63,500 posts and 400 members in 7 months. No website or money spent on advertising.

We clearly show how we stand out, and that’s what inspired me in the new theme I made. :)

]]> By: James Pegram http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4130 James Pegram Tue, 10 Jul 2007 01:44:37 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4130 Making a general interest forum be successful requires a great deal of time and patience. More I think than most people are willing to put in, so I think it would be a daunting task for most people. Making a general interest forum be successful requires a great deal of time and patience. More I think than most people are willing to put in, so I think it would be a daunting task for most people.

]]> By: Blogging http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4074 Blogging Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:01:18 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4074 I definitely agree with your point on differentiating a general interest community. Most of them do fail, but there are some successful ones and their common point is they have something that differentiates them (I have seen a few which are general interest forums which offer other free services such as web hosting). I definitely agree with your point on differentiating a general interest community. Most of them do fail, but there are some successful ones and their common point is they have something that differentiates them (I have seen a few which are general interest forums which offer other free services such as web hosting).

]]> By: Smiley http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4057 Smiley Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:25:09 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/can-general-interest-forums-succeed/#comment-4057 I find it great that even with your vast experience, Martin, you still take in suggestions from others and take it on board, such as you now include pics in your blog that make your articles much more attractive to read. It really sets an example to others that even as you gain experience, you should never let an ego get in the way of improving via other peoples suggestions. I find it great that even with your vast experience, Martin, you still take in suggestions from others and take it on board, such as you now include pics in your blog that make your articles much more attractive to read.

It really sets an example to others that even as you gain experience, you should never let an ego get in the way of improving via other peoples suggestions.

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