Post by Cam on Jun 23, 2010 21:45:00 GMT -5
The guide To A Successful Forum
Hey there, I wrote this for the users of FP as I have seen some good boards and some crap ones. So, if you don't mind leaving feedback and comments on this to help me improve my articles in the future. I used Bold and some color tags to help fast searching. Now, I am not the best forum owner in the world, I mean, seriously, I think I suck at running a board to be honest. So don't think I wrote this because I thought I was. Now on to the Content..
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Section One - Tree Layouts
Tree Layouts, commonly refereed to as the basic layout or layer diagram, is almost every forums layout. An example has been provided below.
[b]Announcements and Site Information[/b]
---> News
---> Support & Feedback
---> Intros
[b]Main Content[/b]
---> Content 1
---> Content 2
[b]Other (MISC)[/b]
---> General Chat
---> Media Discussion
---> Games/Admin Discussions
---> Advertising and AffiliatesI have yet to see a board break this trend, it is the universal layout. To spice your forum up, mix it around. There is no other known (to my knowledge) board layout. Simply because it is never thought of.
Section Two - Copying
Best Advice Ever: COPYING SUCCESS WITH END IN FAILURE. You cannot copy success, it is not something you can highlight and CTRL+C to. You must work to make success. Remember, Hard work will pay off in the future, and good things come to those who wait. In some cases copying is illegal and can be brought to court.
Section Three - Board Staff
Hiring staff is, no lie, the hardest thing you will ever do as a webmaster. It is hard to trust anyone now-a-days. So you need to look for qualities in staff such as a out standing personality, leadership qualities, dedication, and interest. If someone has two posts on your board, that doesn't show too much dedication does it? You need someone with leadership qualities to take over when the board isn't doing to well or another member is on break, being quick on his/her feet. Remember when hiring, read over all applications, don't just pick your friends, and find the qualities.
Section Four - Themes
Themes are hard to make look good for everyone. Most of the time, not everyone will love your theme. It is their personality and traits, it doesn't mean the theme looks bad at all. Just try and find a good medium and have more than one, but not too many that you can't keep up. A good light theme and dark theme in your arsenal is the best success. Make sure you don't remove copyrights, or say you made it if you didn't. Make sure your smilies fit the theme, like on FP1, nothing fits, although I use it anyway :lol:
Section Five - Managing Dead Times
Every owner dreads this, Dead Zones. Every forum has them, heck even FP has them once in a while. IT may be caused by schools starting, a big news story, or holidays. Maintain the forum and make sure you keep them. If you see another member active on another forum that is on yours, try and win them back with posting contests, prizes, awards, a revamp or something to gain them. Advertise more and to exchanges to build activity again, you can even make a drone account, another account made by you to be posed as an active user.
Thanks for reading, this covers just content. Nothing with forum softwares or domains, servers, ect. If you want something added reply here. We are still under construction on this
So be kind, and rewind.[/quote]Special thanks to The Hat Tipper for this wonderful guide.
