Forums

[Atomic]

Hi all,

I run a small site for a bit of a laugh and see if I can earn a quid or two (the way you do) - and I want to put a forum on the site to attract users. Now the issue as I see it is - OK I put up a forum but how to get inital posters to give the appearence of a popular forum.

Have any of you used forum posting comapnies like forum-angels, and if you have are they any good - realistic post etc?

ANy help appreciated
Paul

[andy_jacko]

DIY,

set yourself up several accounts and have a good conversation.

try to keep it relevant with conflicting views, that way people can take a side and join in.


also get all your mates to do similar


HTH


andy

[pricethat]

Welcome to the world, you could try telling people this is a new forum so join up and help make it the best blah blah. Nothing like a good bit of honesty to get the ball rolling, especially when you show them that your just a guy trying to make something good for people, you would be suprised the amount of people that would take the time to lend a few words.

The one thing you have to remember is if you have to work so hard to get something working in the first place then its probably not going to work anyway.

Also keeping the forum to just one room or forum and not trying to have lots of forums will help keep it looking a bit better too.

[bapages]

What is the forum about, I have 2 pretty reasonable forums that I might advertise yours for Free for a month or so?

[accelerator]

I have to echo what pricethat said. Is the subject of the forum really something that people will want to discuss? Also ask yourself the question, what's in it for the user, what benefit will they derive from participating? If you can't determine a benefit, it probably won't be successful.

As an example, the first forum that I have created is at:

http://www.flatscreenforum.co.uk/phpBB2/

but whether flat screen technology is something that people will really want to discuss here remains to be seen. (All posts welcome!!!)

Rgds

[Atomic]

Originally Posted by bapages What is the forum about, I have 2 pretty reasonable forums that I might advertise yours for Free for a month or so?

Hi Steve,

Its will be for USB based discussions, new prodcuts, issues, developments etc. Plus there will be a general 'help' troubleshooting area for all technical issues



Cheers for the input from everyone else, your comments are appreciated and I will take up your tips

[rourkey]

Hi Paul,
i was thinking about a forum as well and i'm clueless about the whole process.
what does entail to set up a forum??
would appreciate any help
rourkey

[Atomic]

Hi Rourkey

Not a 100% sure myself yet - I will doing the install and config tommorrow - I will et you know of any pitfalls or issues I run into

Cheers
Paul

[bapages]

Originally Posted by rourkey Hi Paul, i was thinking about a forum as well and i'm clueless about the whole process. what does entail to set up a forum?? would appreciate any help rourkey

Use vbullrtin forum software which is easy to install.

[Atomic]

Originally Posted by rourkey Hi Paul, i was thinking about a forum as well and i'm clueless about the whole process. what does entail to set up a forum?? would appreciate any help rourkey

Hi Rourkey

I went for Simple machines in the end - all I had to do was extract the files up to my site, run the install.php file and give it its settings (database name etc) and voila! - The tricky bit will be customising it

anyhow its here at http://www.its-usb.com/smf/

If any of you kind folk want to join to help make it active that would be great