One thing all forums should have.

Before opening, a forum should have content. Never advertise an empty forum - it just doesn't make sense.

 

Exactly, when I first make a forum, I fill up the forums to make sure it dosent look empty, and then I advertise.

 

Content and design. Before you open or come out of beta get a nice design and some quality content.

 

I guess that sums it up. Have a nice theme and good content, you will do just fine.

 

Starting posts or content. Otherwise the user is going to feel awkward and will not want to post.

 

I agree. I see many new forums open these days, and newbie forum owners thinking they can advertise their site with little to no posts at all. Some of them don't have any posts period aside from maybe an announcement regarding their grand opening. I enjoy helping a new site out if it looks as though it may have potential of succeeding, but if I do help your site out, I want something to respond to. I'm not always good at coming up with topics on a brand new forum sometimes. I want some hint of what the forum is about, so topics need to be started so I and others have at least some idea of what's allowed to be posted and what isn't.

 

Well said Ashley, I agree.

 

Obviously posts, topics and members, but I think design is indeed important. Maybe 5 years ago, design wasn't the main thing to look at, but so were the existence of forums being rare. Nowadays, as forums are saturated, you need to stand out and what a better way than design.

 

Well said david, you said it for me. Design is very important.