Which Forum

[Aiden Roberts]

Hi All

Building websites is not my strong point, in fact most would say I am rubbish at it (just thought I would get that in first), anyway I have a blog/site on:

Personal Independence Payment

I want to add a forum to it but that's where I get stuck, which forum software should I use (preferably free), what's involved, would it be part of the same site or on a separate url?

As you can see I haven't got a clue what I am talking about but I think this site would benefit from a forum so I am investigating how to do it.

Any advice people can give will be much appreciated.

Thanks

Aiden

 

[Systreg]

If you have the Fantastico 1 click install on your webhosts, you could use PHP BB3, you would just need to set up a sub domain on your host such as forum.personalindependencepayment.co.uk and install the forum on that sub domain, then link to it from your main site, and from the forum back to the main site, PHP BB3 is easy to use and set up a forum.

 

[Aiden Roberts]

Brilliant thanks Systreg

I have Fantastico on my host so I will investigate that, hopefully it's not too complicated

Thanks again

Aiden

 

[Systreg]

hopefully it's not too complicated

Aiden, I'm useless at doing stuff like that, but it was very simple to do, even for me

 

[Aiden Roberts]

Thanks again I am investigating it now, wish me luck!

 

[Alien]

I use vBulletin on one of mine, not free, but exceptional, safe, feature filled and robust.

 

[accelerator]

Personally I have found any forum takes a lot of time and effort to administer properly, so be sure that you think the effort will be worthwhile. When I tried PHP BB, I did get an awful lot of spammers, but maybe it's improved since then.

 

[Aiden Roberts]

Personally I have found any forum takes a lot of time and effort to administer properly, so be sure that you think the effort will be worthwhile. When I tried PHP BB, I did get an awful lot of spammers, but maybe it's improved since then.

Thanks accelerator

There does seem to be a lot to it but I think the site in question will benefit from it in the long term, it helps that it is a very specific interest of mine.

Aiden

 

[Aiden Roberts]

I use vBulletin on one of mine, not free, but exceptional, safe, feature filled and robust.

Thanks Alien

I like the style of that forum, I am wondering now if ads can be incorporated into php BB one? I am off to check!

Thanks

Aiden

 

[Paullas]

Forums are hard work IMHO. If i was you i would setup a facebook page, alot easier to handle.

 

[accelerator]

Forums are hard work IMHO. If i was you i would setup a facebook page, alot easier to handle.

I would second this.

What kind of community size are you expecting? I would say quite a large active community, say at least 500 members, is need before a forum would be worth the overhead. Otherwise, Facebook will be easier.

Rgds

 

[Aiden Roberts]

Forums are hard work IMHO. If i was you i would setup a facebook page, alot easier to handle.

Now there is a point, good thinking. In fact the more I think about it that's a really good point. Has anybody got examples of a page they have set up on Facebook instead of a forum, believe it or not I only ever use FB occasionally.

More research and homework


Aiden

 

[Paullas]

I wouldnt waste time on a forum for a new site. You will be forever banning spammers,removing unwanted posts, finding people interested,denying 99% of new registration as all they want will to post links.

Setup a fb and twitter account then you can tweet you fb page to people in your niche and start that way.

 

[Paullas]

Yes when you have enough info on how strong your community will be then you can decide on another alternative community but until then spend 30 mins a day tweeting and retweeting your site and fb page to your followers and find new followers that are interested in your niche/area.

 

[Aiden Roberts]

@seemly
@SecNam

Thank you both this seems like really sensible advice.

Aiden

 

[jimm]

Of course done well a forum can add a lot of value to your site, and earn a decent bit too
Where as a facebook page just makes facebook money.

 

[Aiden Roberts]

I have opened a twitter @pipchat

I will sort FB and I think a basic forum will do for now, this is a site that will gather momentum over the next 2 years and I think I am in the position to really make a great community. I installed a forum then uninstalled it so I know I can do it but does anyone know if the php BB can be monestised in the future or am I better using different software?

Regds

Aiden

 

[Blossom]

phpBB is the best free software around at the moment in terms of functionality.

You can always port stuff over to something like vBulletin if you change your mind in the future, it's easy enough to transfer everything across and there is free functionality built-in to the popular boards that will do it for you.

It's worth considering that popular forums are a HUGE time-sink, even with great moderators. You may find the time is better spent elsewhere for greater reward.

 

[Aiden Roberts]

Thanks Blossom

 

[Paullas]

phpBB is the best free software around at the moment in terms of functionality..

phpBB is also the worst one for spammers.