Do's and Don'ts

[moni]

Here's a list of some important things you should do, and things you should never do when building a community.
(in my opinion, of course, so if you don't agree, just add what you think people building a community should or shouldn't do)

• Right off the bat, make sure you want to start a community. You have to be invested, it's not a week long project, or a month long project, it's one of those things that will haunt your dreams for years till it picks up pace.
  
  The way I best tackle this when starting a community, and I have built a few successful ones in the past, is ask myself an important question before I do anything. "What would I do differently, in terms of running a community, 2 years from now?" Complicated I know, but what that means is, plan ahead, don't just start a community with no real focus, aim or plan. Think of it this way, as a Forum Owner, are you ready to lead your community? Are you ready to go far and beyond your average run of the mill community here and there? Think you can stay up for endless nights while you build it from the ground up at first? Willing to stay up for days on end when you gain momentum to fend off people aiming to hurt you community, hackers, competitors, spammers? Planning on keeping at it day in day out till it becomes a thriving community, and then some more?
  
  If you don't answer YES! with enthusiasm for each point above, there's no point in reading on, you're done for before you even start. I'm serious.

• Create something unique, a new idea, or one with a spin, and STICK TO IT. A Niche, something you can focus on and expand on within that bubble. That way you'll be attracting like minded people, possibly regulars and that's how it starts, focused. The worst thing you can have a new member ask is "What the bloody hell is this site about?".

• Content. CONTENT. See, even with TONS of motivated members, regulars even, none will come together as a "community' without compelling, unique, fresh content, the best of the best. If it's a photography forum you need the best photography on there, if it's design community then have the best design related content really stand out.
  
  To get there, you need to convince users to contribute, to post, interact, and to do that, first you need amazing content, so that's always key. When you start, keep this in mind, QUALITY, not necessarily quantity. But once you find someone posting quality threads etc, then make sure you do what you can to keep that going, have them pump out great content on a daily basis!

• Set the standard bar high and ward off the "Great post" - "Woohoo yes ok woohoo" - "all your baby milk is belong to us" - "i agree thank you" etc sort of interaction. Really, if the great content you have started with is followed with debating things in an intelligent way, then new readers that see this will see the quality standard, how helpful and engaging people are and react accordingly. But if you have a whole bunch of mumbo jumbo "i don't understand your post" or off topic drivel in a seriously creative thread, then some other users, that love dribble and trash talk etc will see that, and react accordingly. That's how forums fill up with bad quality content, all starts with those few members you let in.
  
  And I know, trust me, I KNOW how important it is to get active members to help you build content at first, really understand. But there's NO WAY of raising that quality bar years later, it'll take 100000x times more effort, than sticking to high standards from the start. That doesn't mean being unfriendly to new members, we were all 'new members' at one point, but simply expecting them to respect the community and take quality thread seriously! Great content and intelligence debates act as a repellent to those with no quality input!

• Guidelines, as a forum admin/owner, you have to set guidelines people can follow. Contribute to your own community, stay active or enroll other admins to stay active, this will spread a nice wave of authority, show that you community is looked after day and night and will scare of 'most' trouble makers.
  
  It's important, when enforcing your guidelines, or amending them and implementing new ones, that you're open with your community. Remember, without valuable members, your community would simply not exist.
  
  Remember, that while guidelines and rules are important, members are humans, and no one likes dictatorship. I don't want to be around a community owner running things with an iron fist and smashing first time offenders. Remember that these guidelines also apply for everyone, don't be biased, if the community gets a whiff of that, you're in for a bumpy ride!
  

And finally, something that in my opinion helps build loyal members, reward those that contribute, in any way, the smallest way helps, leaving them a comment yourself, sending them a private message letting them know their contribution is appreciated and never overlooked. Most importantly, listen to them, and don't give them a reason to go and help your competitors with their quality content posting!

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by moni

[B]...
And finally, something that in my opinion helps build loyal members, reward those that contribute, in any way, the smallest way helps, leaving them a comment yourself, sending them a private message letting them know their contribution is appreciated and never overlooked. Most importantly, listen to them, and don't give them a reason to go and help your competitors with their quality content posting!

“People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” (John Maxwell)

You can't fake this. People can tell if you are truly passionate about the community or if it is all about the money. It's an old saying, but one of the truest ways to get where it is you want to go - - find something that you are truly passionate about, and then find a way to make a living doing it. That's why I get so frustrated when someone asks me what would be a good niche (money wise) for a new forum. They have it all backwards . . .

[DigitalAlien]

Originally Posted by moni

If it's a photography forum you need the best photography on there, if it's design community then have the best design related content really stand out.

Just to emphasize this a bit more: whatever the content on your forum is about should be reflected throughout your website.

For example:

If you run a web design forum, you should not have an ugly design for your forum.

If you run a web development forum, you should not have tons of errors popping up whenever people try to access certain parts of your site.

I am sure you get my point

[HTMLBasicTutor]

Originally Posted by CyberWizard

If you run a web development forum, you should not have tons of errors popping up whenever people try to access certain parts of your site.

My Pet Peeve especially when it is a web design/development related site/forum/blog.

[DigitalAlien]

I actually brought that up because I was looking at the website for a local web dev company. But, almost every link I clicked on led to a 404 page. I just don't understand what makes them think that someone would be interested in using their service if they can't even make their own site work.

[Cricket]

Moni (one of the authors for the V7N Blog) expanded this topic nicely this afternoon.

5 Do’s and Don’ts of Building a Website Community

Thank you Moni! Nice Work!

[turf]

is it okay to have a warzone, where they can fight and no mod will care in that section ?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by turf

is it okay to have a warzone, where they can fight and no mod will care in that section ?

Here at the V7N we call that outside!

[DigitalAlien]

I wouldn't ever have an unmoderated section. If mods never go to the section then how do you know members won't be posting illegal material such as child porn?

[pvignola]

I am just starting out a couple of forums and there are some gems in this thread. I am passionate about the 2 forums I have and will stick with them. I know it will take a while to build content and members and I will be as patient as I can. The niches I have are a bit crowded so I need to make sure my forums stand out but that is hard to do it seems. This forum is helping me so thanks to all that have contributed to this forum!

[DigitalAlien]

Originally Posted by pvignola

I am just starting out a couple of forums and there are some gems in this thread. I am passionate about the 2 forums I have and will stick with them. I know it will take a while to build content and members and I will be as patient as I can. The niches I have are a bit crowded so I need to make sure my forums stand out but that is hard to do it seems. This forum is helping me so thanks to all that have contributed to this forum!

I have taken a look at your forums and like them! Keep up the good work and if you have any questions feel free to ask.