Would You Buy a Science Forum & Monetize It?

In cold, financial terms, they should bite your hand off. But if it's almost dead and yet staggering on, it sounds like a labour of love for the owner(s), so maybe there are other motivations involved.

Is the name itself recognisable and respected enough to be worth paying for?

The platform is interesting, but the question is: who visits?

If you are able to buy it, you have marketing issues. People need to know it exists, and not just any people: the right people. Do you have plans on how you're going to reach that audience?

Then you need a 'draw'. What or who is going to interest these potential audience members into coming over to, joining and participating in your forum? Mere existence is not enough. A name change is not enough.

Be thinking about brand: what's your promise to the audience?

$1700 /$2500/ £177.66.

A grand is too much. Offer £500/pay up to £750?

It was 18 thousand dollars four years ago.

Waiting response from owner but messages went to mod and admin panel. May need to look them up elsewhere.

I was going to ask whether you already had a relationship with the owner or whether you're going straight in with a cold offer. My own preference would be to first try to get a feel for any interest in selling.

OK. This being Christmas Eve, I suppose they might have other priorities. But, fingers crossed - let us know how you get on.

£650 ( $880.00 USD ) could be a steal.

The real question that needs to be asked is are you buying the "Domain" or are you buying the turnkey setup? I would look to see what software they are running the Forum on and consider the value of that.

Any web property that was once ranked well can easily be brought back.. a web property that has never really been monetized in any way shape or form can easily be turned to profit.

If the topic is of interest to you, I would say go with it... All the indicators of being able to turn it around "financially" seem to be there.

Seems like a good price, the platform here, (starting from scratch) is about $275, (the WF platform hasn't been updated, as they would most likely lose some of their well won options and data) and about $70 per month, mainly for help if something breaks, (but that is an option).

The one l am with Invision has no up front costs, but a monthly cost that add,s up, (you can PM me about that, or just type in Invision).

Invision is a hell of a platform, but it will take months to learn it all, so you have to take into account learning a lot, while managing, (any platform is the same, it is big and takes time to learn it all).

I used to be part of a great forum, that got overrun with Porn spam, and in the end the kid running it, had to let it go, (he literally couldn't afford it anymore).

My forum, (as yours seems to be for subjects) is based on a very successful platform, that is poorly run, without going into the details. Or l am basing my one, (monetization, areas of interest, etc) on theirs, since l know it works. But l care more about making it active than profitable, since other interests cover that.

Annoying, but sure if someone new comes in, they may go on a rampage, so becoming a member there with some reassurances would help.

Lol, yes, one thing at a time, l have been running my one, from scratch for the last 5 months, and had the advantage of doing all of the graphics myself.

And after working pretty hard at it, am slowly seeing SEO movement, as well as ways of getting new signups.

But suffice to say every member is gold, and you will be paying for that, either through effort or time.

Good luck.

$600 is the usual price for a reasonably profitable website or blog, although pounds as does US currency in Australia ramps up the price.



I took this on during lockdown, (the longest in the world) and in between, that and other things got me through, (at least this wave)

But it is like learning a new language, which is great if you are trapped in your house or restricted in travel distance, or to put it another way it keeps your mind active.


Invision has great AntiSpam software, and Invision also has an area for other Theme owners, so l know how bad Spam can get, and have moderated also.

Agreed, that is the reason l chose my domain name, since l could play with the theme, (can't have fun with text when it is called TESLA).

I can understand that after being a mod, and then not being one. It is a horrible experience, and not something l would put anyone through, not without talking to them first, instead of keeping them guessing and pressing a button.

If you only want the basics, then probably Paint, which may be free for Windows 10, and is free with W7 or earlier versions. And if you want more involved, then just go to Fiverr, and find someone new, who is desperate for a gig.

Also tried video, but you probably have to do a series to get traction with those.



Or cash.

Good luck.

Worth a try, and true about YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, they are saturated platforms with little room to move for independence.

Best to go to the owners profile on his forum and see if he has any blog links, etc.

Ok, your mind will be very active then.

Arr, invision does sell third party options, and does have images you can click on to go to each of their areas, (Invision members only forum uses that). The live feed is probably more of a YouTube, elite account, or that other company that does seminars?

Gone through all of their options and didn't come across anything like that, but Invision themes, work like a dream with YT videos.

Agreed, unless you piss off the wrong members, and they go after you, then less so.

But being an Admin, on that forum, well, enlightening on steroids is more accurate.


Phew not off hand, l have an account with Envato, and they allow or don't allow your work through, to sell, based on composition, tension of elements and color relationships to name a few, by some of the best graphic artists and illustrators in the industry.

Or they are tough, and you learn a lot, (just type in Envato, Graphics to get started, l can't really post my account link here).

I wouldn't take any forum under any circumstances.

Would I take a corpse in hopes I can revive it? No.

I hope so, or this is like flying a plane, the mod is the co-pilot, who has to learn about 30 things, and the admin is flying the plane and has to learn 1000 things.

From the reply you gave to someone else's remarks, sounds like you have had your fare share of deleted posts and threads, over the years. But when you are running a forum, you make the rules.

No better feeling than posting something controversial, knowing it will still be there the next day.

It is a challenge, or most typically fail to get anything accepted for up to 10 times when starting out.

I concentrated on Flyers, and did about 300 before ditching it, and tension means doing a design that is off sided, but looks balanced or works. My skills are pretty advanced now, and l can just do it, without thinking, so it is hard to explain.

Or you may attract a very large flock of birds....

If I gave a crap about science. Otherwise, I'd buy and not do anything.