Are you ready to start your own online forum community? Having a forum can channel interested traffic to your website and make money at the same time, making it a true multi-tasker. However, many people are confused by the process of starting an online forum. There is no reason for this confusion; starting a forum is a simple process that can be broken down into a few easy steps.
1. Choose a Niche. That's right; you will need to start your career as a forum owner by selecting a very narrow target audience, preferably one that doesn't already have an active web presence. The market for general sites is saturated, so opening a general forum is sure path to failure. If you want to use the forum to market another website, you should make sure this niche ties in well with that website's topic.
2. Work Out the Details. There are a variety of webhosts, and just as many companies offering several different types of forum software. You will want to make sure you have the bandwidth to support a large amount of traffic, because a successful forum can go from a handful of hits to several thousand overnight. You will also want to make sure the software you choose has the features you want to add in the future.
3. Drive Traffic to Your Forum. Maybe you can tell friends, family, and coworkers. Alternately, many people go to mailing groups such as Yahoo Groups and announce the forum's opening in relevant groups. If your website is targeted to the same niche as your forum, getting relevant traffic may be as simple as posting a link on your homepage.
4. Consider Paid Posting Agencies. These can 'prime the pump' by getting a forum off the ground. Very few people are willing to be the first poster in a forum, or even the second or third. Most of the time, you will need a busy forum running smoothly before unpaid traffic will join in. Quality posts can be bought for a surprisingly low price.
5. Create a Team of Moderators. A surprisingly large number of people are willing to be moderator solely for the respect that comes with the title. Moderators will manage the site in your absence and help with administrative tasks. A good moderator is difficult to find and even harder to get rid of, so choose thoughtfully.
6. Sign Up for Advertising. Don't worry about it cheapening your site; people have come to expect a minimal amount of targeted advertising everywhere they go. You will have to walk a fine line between using advertising that fits in with your site but stands out enough to invite clicks. However, advertising is the main source of income for online forums, and every day without ads is a day without revenue.
7. Have Regular Forum Events that Appeal to Your Target Audience. This could mean giving a comedy CD to the person who submits the funniest post at a comedy site, or having a book drawing at a children's literature site. These types of events bring in new blood while encouraging your existing users to remain loyal.
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