Lockylew wrote:You have no idea how patronizing that is like seriously. i worked real damn hard to get this forum where it is today and to try and make it a great place to come and chat and now Hallis has taken the reins and done an awesome job keeping everything running and for someone who uses this forum for free the same as everyone else i don't expect you to tell me or anyone else how to run a forum.
Lew
I'm no more telling someone how to run their forum, than I would be instructing forces of nature when I say magnets stick together.
What I am doing is pointing out the tried and true methods of popular websites that make sense.
We all know the Amazon's, Ebay's, Youtube's, Craig's List's, and Slashdot's of this world. Ask yourself, how many of them multiple focuses? Ebay sells stuff, Amazon sells stuff, Youtube plays videos, Craig's list helps weird people, Slashdot is a Tech forum.
Does ebay have a motor-mechanics forum? Infact it does. But when was the last time you thought "Bugger it, I'll ask about this on the ebay forum" ?
I've no interest in personal reasons behind running the site, this matters nothing to me and nothing to most members, or any guests. What matters to Joe Bloggs and people visiting this site is Locksport.
That is the focus of this forum, that is why people come here. Would you visit Amazon.com looking for advice on how to replace a fuse?
Keeping a forum, or any website, in-focus and on-topic is a crucial aspect.
Too many people think that if they make their forum cover every topic imaginable that they will attract more visitors since they will inevitably be interested in at least one of those topics. It is a good strategy but it has a few flaws. What makes someone visit and then join a forum in the first place?
1. Subject(s) that interest them and
2. an Active Community
Making a forum that has 12 different categories and 7 forums in each one of those categories may sound like a good idea because while this certainly covers a broad array of subjects it also makes your forum look inactive which will turn people away. Empty forums are an unattractive aspect of a forum and could make people click the back button of the browser instead of registering.
Having a member base with less than 5% of people interested in a specific topic means that topic isn't worth having on the site. Why would you or anyone visit a site with the opinions of 15 people, vs a site dedicated to that subject, with the combined opinions and experience of thousands of people.