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Post by merlange11 on Jul 24, 2011 20:09:06 GMT -5
Hi guys, anyone willing to share advice on how to start/run a forum? I'm a fan of 2 actors that either does not have an online fansite or the one that exists is run poorly (no updates). I am not tech or web savvy but I do love researching topics. What advice would you give to a newbie? What are the headaches of running a site like this? Is it possible for someone to do it on her own? Anything else I should consider before attempting this? Thanks  |
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Post by Pisces on Jul 27, 2011 16:15:01 GMT -5
Hi guys, anyone willing to share advice on how to start/run a forum? I'm a fan of 2 actors that either does not have an online fansite or the one that exists is run poorly (no updates). I am not tech or web savvy but I do love researching topics. What advice would you give to a newbie? What are the headaches of running a site like this? Is it possible for someone to do it on her own? Anything else I should consider before attempting this? Thanks Hi Merlange! Sorry I didn't see this sooner - I was a bit distracted with all the new Cillian goodies!  Yes, it's very possible to start a fan forum yourself. I started one for In Time, through ProBoards (like this forum), and it took me a few hours here and there to figure some things out, but overall, the process is relatively easy. Here is the link to start one: www.proboards.com/I would say that the most difficult thing for me was creating the forum's "skin" - in fact, it was a little on the frustrating side. LOL. But in the end, I figured it out. As far as getting topics started and keeping them going, can be pretty unpredictable. Doing what you can to promote your forum in other places will be the key to drawing in members - they have to know it exists to begin with. If you have social networking pages, feature a link on those. Tell all your friends about it. Also, there are places like the IMDb and Wikipedia where you can namedrop about your forum as well - all this stuff makes a difference. The main thing is to create topics and threads that will get people talking. Stay positive - I cannot stress this enough. A basic rule of human behavior is that people move toward pleasure and away from pain - so, if there is bickering and drama on a forum, people will leave in disgust. Keep things light and fun, and make your forum a place that people look forward to connecting with other people who share the same interest, and you should be golden. But don't get discouraged if things don't take off right away. If your subject is a lesser-known actor, things may be quiet for a while before you build up enough regulars to stay busy. Don't give up!  I hope this helps. If you need any specific assistance in starting your forum (if you go with ProBoards, very little technical expertise is necessary), feel free to PM me and ask me questions. I will help if I can! Good luck! |
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Post by merlange11 on Jul 28, 2011 18:44:18 GMT -5
Thank you so much! I am going to give it a try |
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