Too many general discussion forums?

Discussion in 'Managing Your Online Community' started by Kaiser, May 19, 2011.

  1. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Whats your thoughts on so many general discussion forums today on the internet? Do you run one yourself, and how do you attract members when there are so many of them too choose from?
     
  2. SpacewardAsh

    SpacewardAsh Lurking From Space

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    I'm guessing it's probably another phase people are going through thinking they can have a piece of success that all the others have, etc.
     
  3. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Yea, but there are so many of them.. they have alot of competition and I never see any original ones anymore.
     
  4. SpacewardAsh

    SpacewardAsh Lurking From Space

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    I don't think there's such thing as "Original Content" these days, but that's another discussion all together...
     
  5. Queen of Ice

    Queen of Ice Regular Member

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    I don't see a problem with them, to be honest. If someone wants to make a general discussion forum, all the power to them. Whatever makes them happy, y'know? My forum has a lot of general boards as well, but that's because I don't want the site to be *specifically* Role Play. It's the focus, but definitely not the only aspect to it. The more the better I say. And each admin runs things differently. Each site will have its own flavor based on the users and how the site is run.
     
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  6. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Yea I agree with you. Nobody is saying they don't have the right to have one.. just the subject of this thread is how do they deal with so much competition and keep their forum different from other ones.
     
  7. cpvr

    cpvr Regular Member

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    I guess people think general discussion forums are the easiest to run, and learn how to run forums through that. I ran one before, but it was hard to maintain, so we ended up merging it with my community. I know http://www.brandonsheley.org/]Brandon Sheley[/url] runs
    http://general-forums.com/

    He merged a few forums with his, to make it larger.
     
  8. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Yea I have been to that one before, is it active? If anyone wants to be a part of an active general discussion forum, its best to join the older ones as they have been around for a while and usually are most active.
     
  9. mcrickeo

    mcrickeo Regular Member

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    I run a general forum that's just how I roll.
    I think each to there own I don't do it because everyone else does it and I'm not bothered about competition I do it because I enjoy it and it's a hobby I don't feel like I'm in competiton with anyone.
    Sure there are bigger and better forums out there but so what I could say the same about any niche.
     
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  10. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Good reasoning, couldn't agree more.
     
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  11. Queen of Ice

    Queen of Ice Regular Member

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    Well, in accordance with what I posted... they deal with it by running the site with their own flavor <_< seems like a reasonable way to handle it I'd say. Just make it distinct by having your own style of admining.
     
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  12. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Yea I agree, just spice it up and set it a part from others. Thats what I do ;)
     
  13. Ashley

    Ashley Regular Member

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    It does seem to be a sort of roller costar. One year there's no general discussion forums, next year there's loads, and the next year there's next to nothing. I myself run a general discussion community. We haven't come out with too many ideas to attract members... our first contest didn't go over too well, but really we do have unique forum section names and things like that, although I do feel we could be doing better...like Ash said though, nothing is really unique anymore so it's really hard to come out with anything truly unique. I'm grateful for the activity we do have, so that's the main thing.
     
  14. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    You are not just trying hard enough, there is many things you can do to get your forum going. Its never too late.
     
  15. Ashley

    Ashley Regular Member

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    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. So far we are getting rid of some troublesome mods, so that's a start.
     
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  16. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    You can create a thread in Planning & Brainstorming and we can discuss ideas there :)
    Back on topic.
     
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  17. Ashley

    Ashley Regular Member

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    Will do.
     

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