Post by Free Rider Master on Aug 3, 2008 14:53:16 GMT -5
It seems to me that a lot of people who are making forums don't have the proper personality to run a forum and would probably be better off as a member of another forum and helping to make it more successful than to be an admin of their own.
I see people who throw on the first generic template they can download off the first graphics site they come across and then they throw up a few general boards and proclaim their self as the greatest forum in the world. Personally I believe one of the keys to success for a forum is a unique look that distinguishes itself from someone who just uses a template that 2,000 other boards already use. If an admin cares enough to run a good quality forum they should be willing to spend the time to learn how to design it their self so they can offer something unique to their members and also offer upgrades and changes in the future.
I also see admins who refuse to post in their forum saying, "I am waiting until I get members and then they will start posting on their own". I know from experience that members will not just come in to an empty forum and start making threads on their own. If they have something that interests them enough to reply to then they will join to do so. Once your forum becomes active and new topics are made every day then new members will come in and start new topics and join in on the fun but never will they do that with a forum that is starting off with no topics or posts. Forum activity should be driven as equally if not more by the forum admin than anyone else.
You also need patience to run a forum and I see too many people who say, "I have had my forum for a week and I don't have any members". If you are not willing to suffer with your forum and endure with it for months at a time with no or little activity then maybe you shouldn't be an admin.
Basically not everyone is cut out to put in all the time, effort, and stress that is required to run a successful forum and they would be much better off if they were just a member on a forum that they enjoyed and were helping the admin of that forum create a successful forum.
So before you create a forum, ask yourself; are you an admin or a better member?
Duties as a main admin
The main admin is the heart of the forum. If your the main admin it is your job to stay active, provide your forum with fresh topics, resolve problems and do general things.
Without the main admin being active the forum could fall apart. Try to get on everyday, but that may not be nessaccery depending on the activeness.
If someone has said something "noobish" dont make fun of them, help them on their way and show them your forum has a good admin and there is every chance they will come back.
You have to be friendly towards members aswell as staff and even guests. Dont favour staff over members just because they are staff. The motto "the customer is always right" could be "the member is always right" therefore pay attention to the views the members have on your forum. When new people come on and intoduce themselves on the introduction board (If you dont have one I suggest having one) always welcome the new members.
Lastly you have to be devoted, pointless making a forum then abandoning it a few days later isn't it?
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This tread was made so that those of you who want to make your own sites could understand the qualities required to keep a site up and running.
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I see people who throw on the first generic template they can download off the first graphics site they come across and then they throw up a few general boards and proclaim their self as the greatest forum in the world. Personally I believe one of the keys to success for a forum is a unique look that distinguishes itself from someone who just uses a template that 2,000 other boards already use. If an admin cares enough to run a good quality forum they should be willing to spend the time to learn how to design it their self so they can offer something unique to their members and also offer upgrades and changes in the future.
I also see admins who refuse to post in their forum saying, "I am waiting until I get members and then they will start posting on their own". I know from experience that members will not just come in to an empty forum and start making threads on their own. If they have something that interests them enough to reply to then they will join to do so. Once your forum becomes active and new topics are made every day then new members will come in and start new topics and join in on the fun but never will they do that with a forum that is starting off with no topics or posts. Forum activity should be driven as equally if not more by the forum admin than anyone else.
You also need patience to run a forum and I see too many people who say, "I have had my forum for a week and I don't have any members". If you are not willing to suffer with your forum and endure with it for months at a time with no or little activity then maybe you shouldn't be an admin.
Basically not everyone is cut out to put in all the time, effort, and stress that is required to run a successful forum and they would be much better off if they were just a member on a forum that they enjoyed and were helping the admin of that forum create a successful forum.
So before you create a forum, ask yourself; are you an admin or a better member?
Duties as a main admin
The main admin is the heart of the forum. If your the main admin it is your job to stay active, provide your forum with fresh topics, resolve problems and do general things.
Without the main admin being active the forum could fall apart. Try to get on everyday, but that may not be nessaccery depending on the activeness.
If someone has said something "noobish" dont make fun of them, help them on their way and show them your forum has a good admin and there is every chance they will come back.
You have to be friendly towards members aswell as staff and even guests. Dont favour staff over members just because they are staff. The motto "the customer is always right" could be "the member is always right" therefore pay attention to the views the members have on your forum. When new people come on and intoduce themselves on the introduction board (If you dont have one I suggest having one) always welcome the new members.
Lastly you have to be devoted, pointless making a forum then abandoning it a few days later isn't it?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This tread was made so that those of you who want to make your own sites could understand the qualities required to keep a site up and running.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
