[Pico]

Stuff To Think About When Making A Forum

Well, when making a forum, you have to consider alot of options on how to improve the look of it, what skin to use etc. etc.

First note! Always think of the ideas BEFORE you make the forum, save your thoughts and ideas in WordPad/Notepad.

Let's start by thinking out a theme, easiest and best way to go is to start a forum about a hobby or interest you hold very much information about, then build it out so it has different areas to discuss different "styles" of it, like for example, if you are making a music forum, think of that other people likes different types of music, so try fitting it in so people can discuss their music style in a certain forum, then you can have a general music chatting forum, etc.

A forum really isn’t that much without a section for general discussioning, it's very easy to make, just make sure that it's at the bottom, so the general theme of the forum shows up more. But though, maybe you are not sure what to have in the general section? Well of course, I won't leave that part out, first, a general chat forum, basic names are "Chat box", "General Chat" etc., doesn’t have to be original, then comes the introduction forums, always a good forum to have, and the name for it can simply be "Introductions", or a similar thing, always an extra credit for coming up with your own name though of course. Now, how about a computer/technology forum? Though, if you are making a forum about computers and technology, it's just wrong to have it.

Next thing to do is to get a skin for your forum, remember to have it matching your forums theme, if you find a skin you very much like, it doesn’t mean you can just take it, it has to be smoothed out with the forums theme, or else it will look very wrong and will bring away members instead of getting members to join your forum.

Now, remember to always have a place where you announce updates etc. and a place where members can post feedback, these two fits good in the same category, and it looks best if they are on top, also, if you are holding a contest, it's good to have it in that category as well, so people notices it.

Let's move on to the name, the best way to come up with a name is to just randomize up words that doesn’t make any sense, combine it with the forum theme and just let the fantasy flow out of you until you can't come up with any names anymore, during that time you should have come up with a nice name.

Now, start the forum, if you are getting an InvisionFree forum for example, the beast thing to do is to short down the name as much as you can, for example we use The Staff Lounge, that would easily become TSL, which makes the access domain shorter, since the InvisionFree access urls are very long IMO, if you are getting an hosting account for example, do the same thing, TSL, then when installing your forum software, install it in a folder called "forums" for example.

Now when all of that is done, just go ahead and start making your forum! Good luck.

This "tutorial" belongs to TSL/Agravic and may not be posted anywhere else with strict permission from Agravic, and must contain copyright saying that Agravic made it if permission has been given, do not claim it as your own.

[Michael]

Excellent article, never ever forget that when you are making forums try and think about what other people are going to think about your forum; when you are making important changes such as skin/banner/forum changes. Just because you like the new addition doesnt mean the thousands of other surfers out their just waiting to register at your forum will do.

[Pico]

Thank you Michael.