How to run a successful forum!

[StateDOG]

I started a small forum just over a year ago. It's done okay, but I'm looking to really kick some life into it in the next few months. I know there's not necessarily a cookie-cutter approach for immediate success in running a forum, but I was going to see if everyone can share a couple of tips that they think are vital in running a successful forum.

We can make a big list of it all. As I said, I'm still fairly green in all of this, but I'll start.

1. When you first start your forum, register a few names and then have conversations with your self. Have the different names disagree with each other over things and raise some issues that others might join up in order to respond. If someone visits a large, empty forum with out any/much action going on, then they're less likely to return.

2. If a member of your community asks a question, always try and make sure someone has given them an answer, even if it is an "I'm not sure" answer. Don't leave them hanging.

[KeithMcL]

http://www.sitepoint.com/article/983
http://www.sitepoint.com/article/947
http://www.sitepoint.com/article/858
http://www.sitepoint.com/article/131

I think there's enough there for anyone looking to build a community