Tips for Successfully Starting a Forum

When I started my forum over a year ago I never expected it to turn into a success. In fact, that was not my goal at all. I was simply creating a place for my friend and myself to talk in hopes that a few people would join. We now have over 2,000 members and we are the second largest forum in our area of concentration. Here are a few tips that really helped our forum get a head start.

The most important factor in the success of your forum is the topic you select. As an example, my forum revolves around Sims 2 story writers. Select a topic that you are interested and knowledgeable in. Make sure it is something that you have had a long time interest in. You don't want to invest time in a forum that you will grow board of by selecting something you are just starting to learn about.

Once you select this topic do a quick search on Google. How many other forums are there for this same topic? Most likely whatever topic you have selected, there is already a forum out there about the same thing. Research these other forums. Do not take their ideas. You want to start out with something unique. You want your forum to stand out from those in the same topic area. When I first started my forum I chose to offer critique groups to members. This was something that other Sims 2 writing sites did not offer. This was the one thing that made us special.

Although you may pick a topic you know a lot about, and you create a unique forum, that does not mean that it will grow. This is the time when you want to advertise your forum. Ask yourself where you might find people online who are interested in this topic. Go to these sites and become active there. Through those sites you can tell others about your forum. Other ways to advertise include telling your friends, signing up on a forum that allows you to advertise your site, hyper linking your forum in your signature on forums that allow it, and linking your forum on other sites you may own.

It is very important that you begin posting on your own forum even when membership is low. To make your forum appear more active, make 2 or 3 profiles for yourself. Have conversations with yourself. Yes, this is cheating, but it really does help make your forum look active. After other members begin posting then delete your extra accounts. In a couple of months those deleted members will be forgotten and only you will know the secret to your success.

Starting a great forum is something that does not happen over night. The process is slow and in the end you will get most of your members by word of mouth. Once you gain a few loyal members they will tell others about your site. The key is to always remain unique and give members a reason to be at your site, instead of another forum.