10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Online paid forums. What is your take on this?

by iRunThis
8 replies
I recently had an idea... I'm not going to share that idea here just yet.

I'm making this post because I had a question. Is it possible to run a successful forum without a "community"?

When people speak of paid forums online, a lot of people mention that people come for the information but stay for the community. Well, with this specific type of forum, it's almost impossible to have a "community" because the forum will stand for one purpose.

Is it possible to make a forum successful without a community as long as it gets updated often with the content that the members are paying for?

SORRY PEOPLE! I meant membership site. My mistake.

What do you guys think about this?
#forums #online #paid
  • Profile picture of the author RoflBerryFarms
    Well I dont know what your idea is so I cant really say but this sounds more like a plain old service and less of a forum. Why even make a forum if you have no desire to build a community? Just provide this paid content directly to users
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6272692].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Daveslaw
    hmmm hard to know but i spose it depends on the topic. Obviously if people were coming back to the forum all the time than eventually their posts will create the community while your content / posts will will be the material they are paying for maybe?

    A far less confusing way of describing what you are talking about maybe that of a membership site maybe? there doesn't have to be a community and content is only available to members. You may have a better success with this option as a forum with not much content in the beginning may be hard to sell, as a membership site can have content drop fed each month and this can be explained easily in the sales letter with better success in my opinion.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6272780].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
    Yes, it is entirely possible.
    Put up great content, and
    your "community" will form
    around it.

    In fact, I don't even update
    most of my forums very often...
    I only own one that I post in
    (almost) every day.

    What I like to do is put up all
    of the content at once, then
    market the forum. People will
    naturally stick around and the
    community forms on its own,
    with a little help from my friend
    the Moderation Hammer.

    Signature

    The bartender says: "We don't serve faster-than-light particles here."

    ...A tachyon enters a bar.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6272816].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author onSubie
    I agree- it sounds like you are describing a simple members site with regular added content.

    Even without added content, many products are sold as login/member sites for a one-time fee to access the content. Especially if the content would be too large to send a download link, like streaming videos.

    You can add user interaction by allowing comments on the pages. Not as rubust as a forum but for a niche that doesn't really 'community' it does allow feedback and comments on the content.

    Mahlon
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6272867].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author iRunThis
    Thanks to all that have responded. I apologize, I was originally talking about a membership site. I don't know why I said forum.

    My question has been answered though. Thanks again!
    Signature
    "Grammar: The difference between knowing your sh*t, and knowing you're sh*t." -A Wise Man
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6272934].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Daveslaw
    MikeTucker,

    You run a couple of Forums. Can we organise a chat sometime? I'm looking at venturing down this road on a large scale in the next 12 months if possible and would love some time to chat with you if you have any time free.

    Maybe Skype? I have mine on here if you wish to add me sometime?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6295126].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
      Originally Posted by Daveslaw View Post

      MikeTucker,

      You run a couple of Forums. Can we organise a chat sometime? I'm looking at venturing down this road on a large scale in the next 12 months if possible and would love some time to chat with you if you have any time free.

      Maybe Skype? I have mine on here if you wish to add me sometime?
      Sent you a PM with my email.
      Signature

      The bartender says: "We don't serve faster-than-light particles here."

      ...A tachyon enters a bar.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6295371].message }}

Trending Topics