Time traveling back to when you first started out with a forum...

Shawn Gossman

Shawn Gossman

Tazmanian Master
Joined
Dec 16, 2005
Messages
8,191
Like that title? Click bait. :p

But really... If you could travel back through time to tell your past self ONE TIP/STRATEGY about running forums, what would it be? You could even say "Don't start a forum" but do explain why you would if that it the case. Remember, only ONE (1) tip!!!

If you cheat and say two tips, I'm taking your time travel license away for a month and you'll sit in the corner!
 
radu81

radu81

Fan
Joined
Feb 17, 2012
Messages
657
Don't host images on external hosts, use the attachments system instead.
Why? Because I lost a lot of images in important topics like DIY or other tutorials thanks to imageshack or other similar websites
 
Paul M

Paul M

Super Moderator
Joined
Jun 26, 2006
Messages
4,077
What's a Moar forum ?

My tip would be dont bother with hosting company plans, get your own server [or vps] and host it yourself.

We finally did that after 5 years, should have done it sooner.
 
LeadCrow

LeadCrow

Apocalypse Admin
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Messages
6,818
Promote new blood to active roles sooner.

I think its a common mistake on forums to keep the average member exclusively stuck in the role of a passive participant, when so many of your members have their own distinct ways to contribute that are yet to be discovered and tapped into that only a direct personalized interaction with will allow a webmaster to realize. A community only need so many 'spam cleaners', and should be a conduit to discuss longterm subjects like community projects.
 
zappaDPJ

zappaDPJ

Moderator
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
8,450
I'd staple a note to my forehead to remind myself never to upgrade from vB3 to vB4.
 
we_are_borg

we_are_borg

Tazmanian
Joined
Jan 25, 2011
Messages
5,964
Start with better research and think instead of doing. I did that for almost 2 years after that i got smarter but i needed this from day one.
 
Maddox

Maddox

Habitué
Joined
Jul 29, 2016
Messages
1,243
Become the inventor of Facebook - get in before anyone else and then get out quick when the going is good lol.

;)
 
Lisa

Lisa

Chaotically Proportional
Joined
Jan 6, 2004
Messages
27,452
"I know what you're thinking. But don't. It might sound like a great idea, but you already got out of the game and no matter how sweet that forum idea is sounding back slowly away. You know what I'm talking about."

*rereads* Yup, that about covers it.
 
StaticAge

StaticAge

Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 1, 2007
Messages
232
Rather than mess around too much and stopping and starting different forums, I'd tell myself to stick to just one particular one for longer, and if that doesn't work out and lead to anything, leave it at that and don't keep trying. Go outside instead.
 
Alpha1

Alpha1

Administrator
Joined
May 28, 2007
Messages
4,268
As the use of external image hosting is already covered (I would include any external file hosting though), I'd add the following:

Do not wait for vaporware forum software. You risk waiting for something that may never materialize. In hindsight I should have gone fully custom in 2008 when Internet Brands demonstrated for the first time how well skilled they are in botching releases and acting against the interests of their customers competitors. I waisted many years waiting for a vbulletin release that offered something better than vb3, but this never came. Now a decade later XF does offer a better platform, and with 100 addons I have the same and even better features. But its still a lot of lost years.

The same goes for 3rd party software that could become the best thing since sliced bread, but is much more likely to go nowhere.
 
Alpha1

Alpha1

Administrator
Joined
May 28, 2007
Messages
4,268
Yes, And backups of backups of backups of anything at anytime.
 
drumchannell

drumchannell

Neophyte
Joined
Sep 3, 2018
Messages
3
Don't let a good community slip away!

I closed the doors on my first (successful) discussion forum about 10 years ago and have regretted the decision ever since.
 
Karll

Karll

Adherent
Joined
Dec 9, 2011
Messages
452
Be very selective when choosing moderators -- choose only the most dedicated, mentally stable, without obvious conflicts of interests, and remember that no moderator is better than a bad one. Beyond that, trust your instincts.
 
Lal

Lal

Aspirant
Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
21
Stop. Cart is waaay in front of the horse. Slow the H down.
 
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