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Is running/managing a forum a lot of work?

by Intermission
7 replies
I have a website that could use a forum as the niche is small and specialized. The people on my email list and Facebook page could use a place to interact with each other and I was thinking of adding this to my site. Not sure if I should do it in a membership area or not.

I'd like to know from those that have run a forum, if having a forum for the website would be a lot of work for myself? I don't have a minute to spare.

Also, what is the best way to add a forum, technically speaking?

Thanks for your help.
#forum #lot #running #running or managing #work
  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by Intermission View Post

    I'd like to know from those that have run a forum, if having a forum for the website would be a lot of work for myself?
    Yes.

    I don't have a minute to spare.
    Then you don't want to run a forum.
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  • Profile picture of the author officer_iron
    Whether or not you could actually get by running a forum with little work, it won't be any good. Just like anything else, you have to put time and effort into if you want anyone to use and enjoy it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Intermission
    Is all the work in the moderating? If so, if I got a couple of the most active people to do the moderating, would that be a possible solution?
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  • Profile picture of the author roley
    You can pay to have people post for you for 6 months and then by then it should gain some momentum but yes it is a lot of work and there are many many many GHOST forums all over the net
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  • Profile picture of the author Intermission
    My email list and Facebook page already have a lot of people. In just a few weeks they would all be active with each other. I don't think I have to do much at all to get them to use the forum. They WANT a forum and they need one.

    I'm just wondering what more work would be required from me once they are using it. If I could get a couple of the most active people to be moderators, what else do I have to do to maintain it?
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    • Profile picture of the author rts2271
      No not at all.
      Somethingawful, ar15.com are 2 of the most popular forums on the internet, while bandwidth and resource expensive, they are both managed and moderated by a volunteer workforce. Most forums fail because they never develop a core community. If your the first on the scene to a specific topic with a active user base you will grow quick and promotion and management efforts will be about the same. If you try to compete in a popular, over-saturated niche you will have to work more on promotion then on management.
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      Ralph Smith
      Mercenary development and deployment.

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  • Profile picture of the author robinincarolina
    I am a moderator on a forum in my niche. It is work. I don't get paid, but I do build a lot of credibility with it's members. The private messages are constant and I have created a nice size list from the forum alone. It is work, but it pays off for me.

    Not a minute to spare, then it may not be for you.
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