starting a forum?

[boxerdog]

i would really like to start my own forum "nothing to do with domains" but to be honest i dont really have a clue what it involves.
could anyone give me all the info a newbie would need to get started?

many thanks

wayne.

 

[dragon]

Blood, sweat and tears lol

http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/new-domainers/52617-forums.html

http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/website-design/4851-promoting-forum.html

http://www.affiliates4u.com/forums/affiliate-marketing-lounge/143114-whats-like-managing-forum.html

http://www.affiliates4u.com/forums/...e/134843-anyone-know-how-get-forum-going.html

and ... http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/internet-marketing/41043-building-up-forum.html

 

[RSK3000]

There is no one place to learn it all.

There are a couple of large forums for 'community admins', (people who manage forums). Read them as much as you can.

I'd recommend this blog highly for learing the ropes. http://www.communityspark.com/

Free forum software includes SMF - Simple Machines Forum and PHPBB. Everyone has their favourite.

Paid software includes VBulletin which is the one running Acorn.

Its possible to start off with free software and migrate to paid software later on, but its not a straightforward process, from what I've read.

 

[boxerdog]

thanks for the info chaps, will spend some time reading up on it all to decide if its for me or not.

 

[accelerator]

I have quite a good forum domain that in an ideal world I'd put a forum on, but I reckon a forum would take up a lot of my time for not that significant a return, so that's what puts me off.

Rgds

 

[uthink]

I used to run a successful forum, my advice is you need a alot of time and commitment with very little financial return (if that was the intention)

 

[jimm]

MyBB is my favorite free forum software and vB 3 would be for paid versions but im really not convinced by vB4 and would probably look very closely at IPB.

They do indeed take a lot of time and effort, especially before they reach critical mass.

As for profitability, well I make a lot more per hour from forums than other online marketing. The key is finding the right advertisers.

 

[aZooZa]

ya i also do need help in this direction .
i want to uplift my business with the help of internet marketing which will totally beneficial in Natural Stone (hotlink removed) Supplying business.

And of course you have to constantly deal with this type of thing

 

[Leeroy]

I would use a "forum booster" service to kick it off. You can get a 1000 posts from contentcurrent.com for the best part of $600. Well worth it in my opinion.

I have used the above a few times, always a great service.

Cheers,
Lee