Before advertising your forum - Page 2 - Forums Help - vBulletin, IPB, phpBB, SMF skins and community

ForumsHelp · 07-28-2006, 04:52 PM

it's my first time to hear of this book, but it's a good idea for a book especially that there are 1000s who are using vBulletin for their forums.
I think things differ from one person to another, for example forum owners with previous technical knowledge (PHP, mySQL) will have an advantage. And so does forum owners with practical experience as an other forum moderator or administrator will have an advantage as well.

I have a lot of points to state in this subject, so let me set this in numbered points. Forum Owners who are expected to understand how to run a forum (Technical Wise) within 6 months or less:
1- Forum owners who have HTML & CSS knowledge
2- Forum owners who have PHP knowledge
3- Forum owners who have mySQL knowledge
4- Forum owners who graphic design knowledge
5- Forum owners who have previous technical experience within forums

But again this is not a rule, as some forum owners tend to buy technical services or hire people with technical experience and this will save the time spent in technical knowledge.

Next and most important in my point of view is the forum managment process, and I beleive that forum managment knowledge is really even harder than managing a normal business. For example, if we look at the forum as a shop, imagine how much you have to do to attract your customers to visit your shop on daily basis. And not only to visit, but you have to make them interactive. And I think understanding forum managment depends on the following points:
1- The forum owner personality (patience, being freindly, understanding people, being open minded, ability to work under pressure, etc..)
2- Knowledge of business managment.
3- Knowledge of Internet marketing.

Some people say that they aren't making forums for business, well in my point of view all web forums are doing some kind of business. Even if the forum is a free forum, but aren't you making money from some ads here or there? selling links?
Some people will say our forum are just for our customers support, well, aren't these support forums giving you an edge against your competetors? what if customers didn't find this kind of support? will they stay?
Even for people who make forums to have their freinds on them and so on, what if somebody want to place an ad on your forum, will you make it for free?
In short forums are e-businesses that need managment, marketing and technical work.
I can't tell an exact time for understanding how to run a forum successfully but for running the basic forum, i can say 3 months are more than enough.

**jmar** · 07-28-2006, 05:13 PM

Nice post Ahmed,

yes, I believe forums are a good business model too. The fact that you can meet new people that have the same interest is a great. Also shared ideas, helping others and giving help to others is a nice growing experience.

I think forums can speed up the process of learning greatly. I'm looking forward to it.

ForumsHelp · 07-28-2006, 06:09 PM

yes very true jmar that forums help very much in spreading knowledge and exchanging ideas and experiences

Norman · 07-29-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForumsHelp

Forum Owners who are expected to understand how to run a forum (Technical Wise) within 6 months or less:
1- Forum owners who have HTML & CSS knowledge
2- Forum owners who have PHP knowledge
3- Forum owners who have mySQL knowledge
4- Forum owners who graphic design knowledge
5- Forum owners who have previous technical experience within forums

But again this is not a rule, as some forum owners tend to buy technical services or hire people with technical experience and this will save the time spent in technical knowledge.

Absolutley really.

--

My self:

Little bit knowledge in HTML and CSS
No PHP knowledge
No MySQL knowledge
A little bit graphic knowledge
Too much knowledge within forums

--

Ok, I'm a Noob.

But I'm "in the web" from.. mhh... only one year or less.

Quote:

1- The forum owner personality (patience, being freindly, understanding people, being open minded, ability to work under pressure, etc..)

And this is one others that a great admin must have, in all the time running he's forum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmar

yes, I believe forums are a good business model too. The fact that you can meet new people that have the same interest is a great. Also shared ideas, helping others and giving help to others is a nice growing experience.

Yeah. I have learned much from forums.

ForumsHelp · 07-29-2006, 11:45 AM

Norman, so after one year of experience with forums, what problems do you face in running your own forum?

Norman · 07-29-2006, 12:43 PM

We must see what problems you mean.
However, I don't have a presonal forum, yet.

ForumsHelp · 07-29-2006, 12:47 PM

Ok

First let me say that I love your avatar lol
What I meant is, did you face any technical problems running a forum before? or even did you face any kind of problems as a forum user?

pharmacist · 07-29-2006, 12:48 PM

Yes indeed. I have just one question. Most of forums, for example vbulletin.com, don't have good skin for their site. I know they're making money selling forums, but their skin (default) look terrible. Even with portals too, they don't even have nice skins for their site. Whenever I visit portals or boards with their default skin, I usually would close my brower and go to another site. It's only when those graphic designers come in, like yourself that make it look better. I just wonder why they don't hire a graphic designer to make it look nicer, for example, vbulletin.com

Second point, most boards I know are about listing software hacks. The majority of the softwares from hacks, ie key-gen contain malicious codes. I don't know if they make money from them. At least, I don't buy from them since I know it's not secure. I dont' pay with paypal anyway because I know people can hack paypal accounts. I rather pay with 2checkout, etc. but still have some worries about it. Sometimes it's not how much you pay, it's how secure it is to pay over the internet.

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07-28-2006, 04:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
User Profile ForumsHelp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 31 Posts: 968 Total Points: 197,780 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (1) My Mood:	it's my first time to hear of this book, but it's a good idea for a book especially that there are 1000s who are using vBulletin for their forums. I think things differ from one person to another, for example forum owners with previous technical knowledge (PHP, mySQL) will have an advantage. And so does forum owners with practical experience as an other forum moderator or administrator will have an advantage as well. I have a lot of points to state in this subject, so let me set this in numbered points. Forum Owners who are expected to understand how to run a forum (Technical Wise) within 6 months or less: 1- Forum owners who have HTML & CSS knowledge 2- Forum owners who have PHP knowledge 3- Forum owners who have mySQL knowledge 4- Forum owners who graphic design knowledge 5- Forum owners who have previous technical experience within forums But again this is not a rule, as some forum owners tend to buy technical services or hire people with technical experience and this will save the time spent in technical knowledge. Next and most important in my point of view is the forum managment process, and I beleive that forum managment knowledge is really even harder than managing a normal business. For example, if we look at the forum as a shop, imagine how much you have to do to attract your customers to visit your shop on daily basis. And not only to visit, but you have to make them interactive. And I think understanding forum managment depends on the following points: 1- The forum owner personality (patience, being freindly, understanding people, being open minded, ability to work under pressure, etc..) 2- Knowledge of business managment. 3- Knowledge of Internet marketing. Some people say that they aren't making forums for business, well in my point of view all web forums are doing some kind of business. Even if the forum is a free forum, but aren't you making money from some ads here or there? selling links? Some people will say our forum are just for our customers support, well, aren't these support forums giving you an edge against your competetors? what if customers didn't find this kind of support? will they stay? Even for people who make forums to have their freinds on them and so on, what if somebody want to place an ad on your forum, will you make it for free? In short forums are e-businesses that need managment, marketing and technical work. I can't tell an exact time for understanding how to run a forum successfully but for running the basic forum, i can say 3 months are more than enough.

07-28-2006, 05:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
User Profile jmar FH Customer Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 39 Total Points: 227 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	Nice post Ahmed, yes, I believe forums are a good business model too. The fact that you can meet new people that have the same interest is a great. Also shared ideas, helping others and giving help to others is a nice growing experience. I think forums can speed up the process of learning greatly. I'm looking forward to it.

07-28-2006, 06:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
User Profile ForumsHelp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 31 Posts: 968 Total Points: 197,780 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (1) My Mood:	yes very true jmar that forums help very much in spreading knowledge and exchanging ideas and experiences

07-29-2006, 11:45 AM	#13 (permalink)
User Profile ForumsHelp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 31 Posts: 968 Total Points: 197,780 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (1) My Mood:	Norman, so after one year of experience with forums, what problems do you face in running your own forum?

07-29-2006, 12:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
User Profile Norman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: [Italy] Posts: 132 Total Points: 977 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0) My Mood:	We must see what problems you mean. However, I don't have a presonal forum, yet.

07-29-2006, 12:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
User Profile ForumsHelp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 31 Posts: 968 Total Points: 197,780 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (1) My Mood:	Ok First let me say that I love your avatar lol What I meant is, did you face any technical problems running a forum before? or even did you face any kind of problems as a forum user?

07-29-2006, 12:48 PM	#16 (permalink)
User Profile pharmacist Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 9 Total Points: 28 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	Yes indeed. I have just one question. Most of forums, for example vbulletin.com, don't have good skin for their site. I know they're making money selling forums, but their skin (default) look terrible. Even with portals too, they don't even have nice skins for their site. Whenever I visit portals or boards with their default skin, I usually would close my brower and go to another site. It's only when those graphic designers come in, like yourself that make it look better. I just wonder why they don't hire a graphic designer to make it look nicer, for example, vbulletin.com Second point, most boards I know are about listing software hacks. The majority of the softwares from hacks, ie key-gen contain malicious codes. I don't know if they make money from them. At least, I don't buy from them since I know it's not secure. I dont' pay with paypal anyway because I know people can hack paypal accounts. I rather pay with 2checkout, etc. but still have some worries about it. Sometimes it's not how much you pay, it's how secure it is to pay over the internet.