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Want to create a big forum style site

by TomBuck
6 replies
Brought a good domain and have a good idea for a successful forum style site.

Just a tiny problem, I have no idea how to create, maintain or promote a forum. I just know its one of those ideas that once taken off will go viral and users will do all the work after the first 6-12 months if I can start it out well. I have a good idea of categories and subcategories like here on WF or any other forum site and have a decent budget but don't want to spend to much too early.

So is it better to hire a web designer to design the forum from scratch, then I can get it the way I want, but will probably cost a lot. (How much estimate too?)

Or install wordpress and try to do it via themes/plugins etc as I have heard there are a few good wordpress forum plugins.

1.) What sort of price would I be looking at to hire someone to create a forum?
2.) General more information/opinions.
#big #create #forum #site #style
  • Profile picture of the author its
    It depends. Do you want a custom made theme or one of the thousands out there with your logo? One can cost thousands, the other, not so much at all.

    -A webdesigner
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  • Profile picture of the author NatesMarketing
    If you're good with spending some money - I'd go with something like vBulletin 5 Connect, The World's Leading Community Software

    vbulletin is pretty awesome and worth the money. There are free options like phpBB - which I've also used before. But nothing beats vbulletin...IMO
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    • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
      Originally Posted by NatesMarketing View Post

      If you're good with spending some money - I'd go with something like vBulletin 5 Connect, The World's Leading Community Software

      vbulletin is pretty awesome and worth the money. There are free options like phpBB - which I've also used before. But nothing beats vbulletin...IMO
      $400 is pretty steep but whats the set up like? Im an SEO guy not a web designer, Im fine designing wordpress sites but whats the installation like on this?
      Step by step or like a flash designer?
      Or we talking I would need to hire someone to integrate it and everything?
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      • Profile picture of the author NatesMarketing
        It's very simple to install - it's essentially like wordpress.

        Upload it, create a database, run the install file, and you're done.

        If you're not up to spending that kind of money right off the bat. I would install a free forum...BUT...make sure it has the ability to transfer to something more high powered like vbulletin.

        For example: https://www.google.com/search?q=phpb...hrome&ie=UTF-8
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        • Profile picture of the author JDArchitecture
          vBulletin is not what it used to be.

          A few minutes with google and you'll quickly realize that VB is currently a poor choice unless you use an older version (3.8.x is probably best) and stick with it until v5 is truly up to par.

          If you buy VB now, your only choice is V5; however, they say that you will have access to downloading and using older versions.

          Unfortunately, the company has gone through some major changes over the past few years. The main developers have left the company and their support has taken a nosedive.

          This is the kind of sad story that often follows the sale of a solid niche company.
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  • Profile picture of the author laracoates28
    I agree with NatesMarketing, you can go with vBulletin. You will get pretty much everything with vBulletin.
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