A few quick questions on building a forum?

[nparkin0]

Hi everyone,

I have a few questions about building a forum. I have just registered what I think are two rather decent forum domains and intend on developing them, one .co.uk the other .net. (Well in my opinion they are anyway)

The questions I have are:

1. Should I have the main site on .co.uk with the .net pointing to it or the other way around? Which is more likely to do well in the serps considering they are both fresh registrations?

2. Do any of you know any good forum software with the ability to add mods etc to it, especially Adsense as I want to monitize it hopefully? I am wanting free software for the moment because it is my first forum development.

Anything else you think is relevant would be helpful and thanks for taking the time to answer in advance

Nick.

[suzi]

Will it be a UK biased / based forum - or one with wider appeal.

If it is likely to be of UK interest only, personally, I'd go with the .uk as main. If you're hoping to attract a wider audience - it may be better being the .net.

Depends a bit on what the forum is about too. fishing.net would be quite good

But anything specifically or mainly about a UK topic on a .co.uk, could still have worldwide value.

PS I've never run or built a forum - so really have no clue what I'm talking about.

[retired_member8]

Hello Nick,

When building a forum, you should think about your target audience. If your forum(s) are based to attract British members then you would use the .co.uk else if your forum(s) was worldwide then you would use your .net. I think the rest is self-explanatory.

As for your forum scripts I have made a sort list of paid and free scripts.

Free Scripts:

phpBB (Link)
InvisionFree, sub division of IPS (Link)
punBB (Link)
XMB Forum (Link)
Vanilla (Link)
Yabb (Link)
SMF (Link)
bbPress (Link)


Paid Scripts:

vBulletin (Link)
IPB (Link)


As a web developer I can say that I have worked with all scripts listed, and many scripts not listed. I can vouch for SMF or phpBB if you are looking for a free script. Both have a massive client base with many modifications and skins. Both support ad sense too, one way or another.

If you have any more questions feel free to contact me.

[lufc]

As a forum owner I would defiently reccomend Vbulletin. I used phpbb for many years but when you get popular the amount of spam is never ending.

Vbulletin has a big community around it with plenty of mods.

[nparkin0]

Thanks for the replies guys its a great help.

The forum could potentially apply to anyone in the English speaking world to a certain extent but I would say that the main concentration will in the UK so I guess that would mean that I should go for the .co.uk as the main domain.

I will look at all the suggested links above and go with the one which seems to best suit my needs.

Thanks for the help so far guys